Location: Anchorage, AK•In-State Tuition: $7,566•Out-of-State Tuition: $21,693•Admission Rate: 67%
Median Earnings (1yr)
$60,222
47th percentile
Median Debt
$40,742
63% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.68 ManageableSample: 25 graduates Limited data

Analysis

The most striking detail about UAA's Computer Science program isn't the near-median earnings—it's that graduates leave with 63% more debt than the national median for this degree. At $40,742, that debt load ranks in the 95th percentile nationally, meaning only 5% of similar programs saddle students with more. With just three schools offering this degree in Alaska, in-state options are limited, but this debt burden should prompt serious consideration of alternatives, whether that means online programs from lower-cost institutions or starting at a community college.

The first-year earnings of $60,222 land squarely in the middle of the pack nationally (47th percentile), which isn't inherently problematic for a CS degree. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68 is manageable—you'd expect to earn back the full debt amount in less than a year. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could swing considerably year-to-year, making this program harder to evaluate with confidence.

For Alaska families committed to staying in-state, UAA might be the most accessible path to a CS degree given the state's limited options. But the debt premium is real and substantial. Parents should compare the total cost of attendance here against out-of-state online programs from universities with stronger track records and lower debt loads—the remote work nature of many tech jobs makes geographic flexibility particularly valuable in this field.

Where University of Alaska Anchorage Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all computer and information sciences bachelors's programs nationally

University of Alaska AnchorageOther computer and information sciences programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How University of Alaska Anchorage graduates compare to all programs nationally

University of Alaska Anchorage earns $60k — 47th percentile among computer and information sciences bachelors programs.

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Computer and Information Sciences bachelors's programs at top institutions nationally

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
University of Alaska AnchorageAnchorage$7,566$60,222—$40,7420.68
University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia$66,104$146,204$246,946$15,0000.10
University of California-Los AngelesLos Angeles$13,747$136,099$164,612$15,2480.11
Yale UniversityNew Haven$64,700$133,293$203,685$12,7500.10
Rice UniversityHouston$58,128$131,154$172,391$12,3810.09
Northeastern UniversityBoston$63,141$115,587$132,227$23,0010.20
National Median—$61,322—$25,0000.41

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with computer and information sciences graduates

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

$171,200/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer and Information Research Scientists

Conduct research into fundamental computer and information science as theorists, designers, or inventors. Develop solutions to problems in the field of computer hardware and software.

$140,910/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Software Developers

Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.

$131,450/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

Develop and execute software tests to identify software problems and their causes. Test system modifications to prepare for implementation. Document software and application defects using a bug tracking system and report defects to software or web developers. Create and maintain databases of known defects. May participate in software design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, operational characteristics, product designs, and schedules.

$131,450/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer Network Architects

Design and implement computer and information networks, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), intranets, extranets, and other data communications networks. Perform network modeling, analysis, and planning, including analysis of capacity needs for network infrastructures. May also design network and computer security measures. May research and recommend network and data communications hardware and software.

$130,390/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Telecommunications Engineering Specialists

Design or configure wired, wireless, and satellite communications systems for voice, video, and data services. Supervise installation, service, and maintenance.

$130,390/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Information Security Analysts

Plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. Assess system vulnerabilities for security risks and propose and implement risk mitigation strategies. May ensure appropriate security controls are in place that will safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure. May respond to computer security breaches and viruses.

$124,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Database Administrators

Administer, test, and implement computer databases, applying knowledge of database management systems. Coordinate changes to computer databases. Identify, investigate, and resolve database performance issues, database capacity, and database scalability. May plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard computer databases.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Database Architects

Design strategies for enterprise databases, data warehouse systems, and multidimensional networks. Set standards for database operations, programming, query processes, and security. Model, design, and construct large relational databases or data warehouses. Create and optimize data models for warehouse infrastructure and workflow. Integrate new systems with existing warehouse structure and refine system performance and functionality.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Data Warehousing Specialists

Design, model, or implement corporate data warehousing activities. Program and configure warehouses of database information and provide support to warehouse users.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Data Scientists

Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Intelligence Analysts

Produce financial and market intelligence by querying data repositories and generating periodic reports. Devise methods for identifying data patterns and trends in available information sources.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At University of Alaska Anchorage, approximately 19% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 25 graduates with reported earnings and 22 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.