8 Best Community Colleges in Alaska

In this Article, community colleges in Alaska have been outlined and discussed, for students seeking admission to acquire a two-year Associate Degree Program.

Alaska is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. Alaska is the land of superlatives: largest national park, the highest peak, longest coastline, biggest state, longest day and night.

Alaska is home to not many Community Colleges that are in various locations in the State. The two main Community Colleges in Alaska are; ilisagvik College and Prince William Sound Community College.

Most developed countries have community colleges designed to serve the educational and academic needs of that locality. In the US, for example, there are Community colleges in California, Community Colleges in San Diego and there are also more in Florida and Washington.

Some students prefer community colleges and this is because of the lower tuition, less theory and more practical, and gaining skills you can apply to real-life situations. For example, if you love professions like carpentry, electrical repair, plumber, cosmetology, cooking, automotive repair, etc., and want to venture into the career, a community college is the right place of learning for you.

You can check out the list of low tuition community colleges in the US for international students. You can find a cheap school that fits your financial requirements there.

$3,960 is the in-state cost of tuition for Alaskan community colleges. If you are an international student, seeking admission to a community college with a low tuition fee, you can look up Cheapest Community Colleges in the US for international students to find out more information on other community colleges with low tuition fees.

Universities and four-year colleges don’t offer programs of this kind, only community colleges do and these colleges provide students with quality hands-on practical education that would make them start working immediately after they complete their program.

It takes at most two years to complete a degree program at a community college and earn an Associate Degree, certificate, diploma, or the necessary qualification which is recognized and accepted by employers worldwide. Additionally, the credit from your program can be transferred to a university or four-year college.

What is a Community College in Alaska?

Community colleges in Alaska are local public schools that provide a great first step towards a full four-year college bachelor’s degree. Community college programs are traditionally two years in length at which time you are awarded an associate’s degree. These Alaska schools are usually affordable and have open admission policies.

If you have a high school degree or GED you can usually get into your local Alaska community college regardless of your GPA and without taking any SAT or ACTs.

Community Colleges in Alaska for International Students

There are two community colleges in Alaska for International Students namely: Prince William Sound Community College and Ilisagvik College

Requirements for Community Colleges in Alaska

If you have a high school degree or GED you can usually get into your local Alaska community college regardless of your GPA and without taking any SAT or ACTs.

community colleges in Alaska

Community Colleges in Alaska

Ilisagvik College

Iḷisaġvik College is the first on our list of community colleges in Alaska. it is a public tribal land-grant community college in Utqiaġvik, Alaska. Operated by the North Slope Borough, a home rule government of the Iñupiat, it is the only tribally controlled college in Alaska, and it is the northernmost accredited community college in the United States. It is a public college located in Barrow, Alaska.

It is a small institution with an enrollment of 42 undergraduate students. The Ilisagvik acceptance rate is 100%. Popular majors include Business, Liberal Arts and Humanities, and General Construction Trades. Ilisagvik graduates 35% of its students.

The 2022 tuition & fees of Ilisagvik College are $4,780 for Alaska residents and $4,780 for out-of-state students.

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Prince William Sound Community College

Prince William Sound Community College (PWSCC) is the second on our list of community colleges in Alaska. it is a one-of-a-kind institution of higher education located in Valdez, Alaska.

The main campus, together with the extension centers in nearby Glennallen and Cordova and Coppe Basin outreach sites located in Mentasta, Slana, Chistochina, Kenny Lake, and Chitina, is set amidst some of the country’s most breathtaking scenery and rich cultural history.

PWSCC is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and is the only remaining community college in the state of Alaska. PWSCC offers Associate degrees and occupational certificates that are hard to find elsewhere, such as our Millwright, Oil Spill Response, and up-and-coming Outdoor Leadership programs.

With over 25 undergraduate programs to choose from, including baccalaureate programs offered through partnerships with our sister universities in the University of Alaska system is easy to find a program to fit the academic interests of almost anyone.

With NO OUT-OF-STATE TUITION, Prince William Sound Community College caters to a total student population of 1,400 students, comprised of many out-of-state and international students, distance learners, and rural students taking courses through one of several outreach delivery sites.

Small class sizes, a close-knit campus community, and one-on-one interaction with staff and faculty shape an intimate learning experience.

We have no crowded lecture halls, long lines for registration, or limited parking. Newly remodeled student housing affords students a chance to live independently in fully furnished apartments among their peers. Recreational opportunities abound for outdoor enthusiasts in the nearby mountains, waterways, and glaciers.

The small-town charm of Valdez and the surrounding beauty of the state’s most pristine wilderness help to make Prince William Sound Community College one of Alaska’s best-kept secrets. Daily flights and a well-maintained highway connect residents to the shopping and cultural attractions of Anchorage’s city life.

With several highly transferrable Associate Degrees and several Bachelor’s Degree opportunities, PWSCC is an optimal place to start your college career and the next step in your life’s adventure. P-Dub is not just a small college in a small town; it is a dynamic living/learning community that fosters inspiration, growth, and learning naturally.

This College offers the best Nursing Program.

Tuition for Prince William Sound Community College is $3,480 for the 2020/2021 academic year

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Alaska Career College

Alaska Career College is the third on our list of community colleges in Alaska. it is a private for-profit institution in Anchorage, Alaska. Its campus is located in a city with a total enrollment of 415. The school utilizes a continuous academic year. The student-faculty ratio is 15-to-1. The highest degree offered at Alaska Career College is an associate degree.

At Alaska Career College, 86 percent of undergraduates receive grants or scholarship aid and the average scholarship or grant award is $5,784.

The application fee is $25.

Students can earn degrees and certificates in 3 different fields. Popular programs include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Health Professions and Related Programs, and Transportation and Materials Moving

This College Offers the Best Massage Program.

For the academic year 2021-2022, the average tuition & fees are $16,270 at Alaska Career College.

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Alaska Christian College

Alaska Christian College is the fourth on our list of community colleges in Alaska. it is a private not-for-profit institution in Soldotna, Alaska. Its campus is located in a rural with a total enrollment of 81.

The school utilizes a semester-based academic year. The student-faculty ratio is 10-to-1. The highest degree offered at Alaska Christian College is an associate degree. The school has an open admissions policy.

The tuition and fees for 2018-2019 were $8,014. There is no application fee.

Students can earn degrees and certificates in 3 different fields. Popular programs include Theology and Religious Vocations, Education, Health Professions, and Related Programs.

At Alaska Christian College, 97 percent of undergraduates receive grants or scholarship aid and the average scholarship or grant award is $14,278.

This College Offers the Best Christian Ministry Program.

For the academic year 2021-2022, the undergraduate tuition & fees at Alaska Christian College is $8,414

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Charter College

Charter College is the fifth on our list of community colleges in Alaska. it is a network of private, for-profit independent institutions of higher education. Charter College offers programs in healthcare, business, veterinary science, information technology, and select trade careers.

This College Offers the Best Veterinary Assistant Program

The 2022 tuition & fees of Charter College are $17,289 for their students and the 2022 graduate school tuition & fees are $9,604.

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AVTEC – Alaska Institute of Technology

AVTEC is the sixth on our list of community colleges in Alaska. it is a public college located in Seward, Alaska. It is a small institution with an enrollment of 60 undergraduate students.

The AVTEC acceptance rate is 100%. Popular majors include HVAC and Refrigeration Engineering Technician, Welding, and Diesel Mechanics. Graduating 82% of students, AVTEC alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $37,400.

This College Offers the Best workforce development program.

The 2022 tuition & fees of Alaska Vocational Technical Center is $3,490 for Alaska residents and $4,572 for out-of-state students.

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UAF Community and Technical College

This College is the seventh on our list of community colleges in Alaska. It offers the Best IT program. It educates more than 3,000 students each year as it prepares them for in-demand occupations. With more than 40 associate degree and certificate programs available, its options include transfer degrees, technical degrees, and specialized training programs.

The undergraduate 2022-2023 estimated tuition & fees for UAF is $5,729 for Alaska residents and $17,698 for out-of-state students

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Kenai Peninsula College

Kenai Peninsula College is the eighth on our list of community colleges in Alaska. it is a community campus system within the University of Alaska Anchorage. More than 2,800 students find their place at KPC each semester and pursue unique academic goals in a variety of disciplines and degree programs.

Students have the choice to study at one of KPC’s three locations – beautiful Soldotna, Homer, and Seward – as well as take courses through KPC’s expanding virtual college.

The Tuition Fee for in-state and state Students is $5,616

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Community Colleges in Alaska – FAQs

Are Community Colleges in Alaska Affordable?

Yes, Community Colleges in Alaska are Affordable. $3,960 is the in-state cost of tuition for Alaskan community colleges. $18,000 is the total cost to live on-campus. $7,220 is the out-of-state tuition. For 4-year public institutions, annual in-state tuition and fees total $7,438.

How Many Community Colleges are in Alaska?

Currently, there are 13 public community campuses in Alaska affiliated with the state’s four-year universities.

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