Montana U vs University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF)

Nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, The University of Montana (UM) and the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) stand as prominent institutions of higher learning, each offering a unique educational experience. UM boasts a higher acceptance rate, welcoming a more diverse student body, while UAF maintains a smaller student population, fostering a close-knit community. Both universities excel in different academic areas, with UM excelling in fields like journalism and forestry, and UAF leading in engineering and natural resources. While UM students enjoy the vibrant energy of Missoula, UAF students immerse themselves in the breathtaking landscapes of Fairbanks. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to discover more distinctions between these two exceptional universities and make an informed decision about your academic journey.
The University of Montana logo

The University of Montana

University of Alaska Fairbanks logo

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Overview

Location Missoula, Montana Fairbanks, Alaska
Campus setting City: Small Suburb: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 75.0% 68.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 82.1% 64.7%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $30

Graduate: $60
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $75
SAT range 1070 - 1280 1110 - 1360
ACT range 18 - 26 17 - 27
Students submitting SAT score 9.0% 12.0%
Students submitting ACT score 41.0% 16.0%
Total number of applicants 7,233 1,402
Total number of admissions given out 5,941 907
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,542 678
Yield rate 26.0% 74.8%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $23,736

Out of state: $44,720
In state: $25,548

Out of state: $39,684
Average net price $15,228 $9,379
Tuition
In state: $5,352

Out of state: $26,112
In state: $5,616

Out of state: $19,200
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,730

Meal plan: $6,324
Room/dormitory: $5,150

Meal plan: $5,390
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

97.0%
Average amount $6,340
90.0%
Average amount $8,808
Students receiving federal student loan 44.0%
Average amount $5,401
21.0%
Average amount $5,312
Students taking out private loans 4.0%
Average amount $13,104
2.0%
Average amount $13,596

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 7,223
Men 41.9% Women 58.1%
5,844
Men 38.4% Women 61.6%
Graduate students 2,883
Men 37.0% Women 63.0%
982
Men 38.7% Women 61.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students N/A 17.1%
International students 1.9% 2.4%
Campus local/setting City: Small Suburb: Small
Dormitory capacity 2,886 1,554
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Alaska Washington California Oregon Florida

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Natural Resources and Conservation
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Education
  • Business
  • Education
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
Students to faculty ratio 15:1 12:1
Institutional accreditation Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Outcome

Graduation rate 47.7% 38.4%
Dropout rate 49.1% 39.6%
Transferred out N/A 18.1%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $114,396
  • Year 2: $113,016
  • Year 3: $118,046
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,692
  • Year 2: $55,286
  • Year 3: $71,476
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,746
  • Year 2: $58,673
  • Year 3: $65,366
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $52,107
  • Year 3: $65,302
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,886
  • Year 2: $62,707
  • Year 3: $64,764
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,287
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $61,703
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,687
  • Year 2: $52,433
  • Year 3: $59,094
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,412
  • Year 2: $47,260
  • Year 3: $52,044
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,236
  • Year 2: $39,729
  • Year 3: $50,914
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,604
  • Year 2: $45,852
  • Year 3: $48,041
Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $75,889
  • Year 3: $89,097
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,843
  • Year 2: $63,997
  • Year 3: $79,303
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,735
  • Year 2: $68,219
  • Year 3: $73,558
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $63,997
  • Year 3: $62,935
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,188
  • Year 2: $43,798
  • Year 3: $53,812
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,355
  • Year 2: $30,771
  • Year 3: $44,672
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: $33,666
  • Year 2: $44,942
  • Year 3: $43,923
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $32,119
  • Year 3: $34,458
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $26,635
  • Year 2: $31,314
  • Year 3: $32,564
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,241
  • Year 2: $26,739
  • Year 3: $32,435

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