Computer Science at University of Alaska Anchorage

A bachelor's in computer science from UAA comes with an estimated debt load of $22,500—below the national median for CS programs—while comparable programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $71,000. That 0.32 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates would need roughly four months of gross pay to cover their borrowing, a manageable starting point for a field known for strong earning trajectories. The challenge here is that we're working entirely from estimates: Alaska has only three schools offering CS degrees, and none report actual graduate outcomes publicly, so these figures reflect what typical CS programs produce elsewhere rather than UAA's specific track record.

The national CS landscape shows considerable variation, with top-quartile programs placing graduates into $81,000+ roles. Where UAA falls in that range is unclear without actual data, but the school's 67% admission rate and relatively low Pell enrollment (19%) suggest it may serve students who have other college options. The bigger question for Alaska-specific families is whether local tech employers value UAA credentials sufficiently, or whether graduates need to relocate to capture those typical CS salaries—something the estimated figures can't address.

For parents, this program appears financially reasonable on paper, but you're making decisions with limited visibility. If your student plans to stay in Alaska post-graduation, connect directly with UAA's CS department about job placement rates and employer relationships in Anchorage and beyond. The estimated debt burden isn't alarming, but you need real outcomes data from this specific program to assess whether it's worth the investment.