University of Alaska Fairbanks vs. USD

Should I go to University of Alaska Fairbanks or University of South Dakota? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if University of Alaska Fairbanks or USD is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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University of Alaska Fairbanks vs. University of South Dakota comparison
University of Alaska Fairbanks University of South Dakota College 3 College 4
University of Alaska Fairbanks University of South Dakota
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Overview

University of Alaska Fairbanks USD
Location Fairbanks, AK Vermillion, SD
Setting Small Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 6,607 9,856
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1024 #597
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uaf.edu usd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of Alaska Fairbanks USD
Tuition (In State) $6,240 $7,773
Tuition (Out of State) $19,824 $11,283
Room & Board $10,650 $8,224
Avg Net Price $9,450 $18,378
Avg Grant Aid $8,704 $6,308
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 79%

Admission

University of Alaska Fairbanks USD
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 4,480
Admitted - 4,456
Acceptance Rate Open 99.5%
Enrolled % Open 29.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.4 3.43
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/27 19/25
SAT Range 1110/1360 1020/1300
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jun 15, 2024

Academics

University of Alaska Fairbanks USD
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (12%)
  • Engineering (10%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Health Professions (32%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

University of Alaska Fairbanks USD
Graduation Rate 31% 47%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,200 $48,200
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $16,975 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $175 $258

Diversity

University of Alaska Fairbanks USD
% Men 38% 37%
% Women 62% 63%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 42% 85%
% Black 2% 3%
% Hispanic 6% 3%
% Native American 14% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 29% 0%

Students

University of Alaska Fairbanks USD
% In-State 78% 54%
% Out-of-State 20% 43%

Campus

University of Alaska Fairbanks USD
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of South Dakota is larger than than University of Alaska Fairbanks based on total student enrollment (9,856 students vs. 6,607 students)

University of Alaska Fairbanks vs. USD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Alaska Fairbanks or USD?

  • University of South Dakota is 24.6% more expensive to attend than University of Alaska Fairbanks for in-state tuition ($7,773.00 vs. $6,240.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 75.7% higher at University of Alaska Fairbanks than University of South Dakota ($19,824.00 vs. $11,283.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Alaska Fairbanks than USD ($9,450 vs. $18,378)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Dakota are 29.5% lower than costs at University of Alaska Fairbanks ($8,224 vs. $10,650)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Alaska Fairbanks than University of South Dakota (99% vs. 79%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Alaska Fairbanks students is 38% larger than aid received University of South Dakota ($8,704 vs. $6,308)

Which college is harder to get into, University of Alaska Fairbanks or USD? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between USD or University of Alaska Fairbanks .

  • The average SAT score at University of Alaska Fairbanks (1058) is 9 points higher than at USD (1049)
  • Incoming USD students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at University of Alaska Fairbanks (22)
  • Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.43) than students at University of Alaska Fairbanks (3.4)

University of Alaska Fairbanks vs. USD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of Alaska Fairbanks or USD? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between USD and University of Alaska Fairbanks.

  • The graduation rate at USD is higher than University of Alaska Fairbanks (47% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from University of South Dakota earn on average $6,000 more per year than University of Alaska Fairbanks graduates after ten years. ($48,200 vs. $42,200)
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks students graduate with a $8,025 lower median federal student loan debt than USD graduates. ($16,975 vs. $25,000)
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks graduates are paying $83 less per month on federal student loans than USD graduates. ($175 vs. $258)
  • More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Alaska Fairbanks students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 53%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/