University of Alaska Fairbanks

Higher Education and Researchuaf.edu

The University of Alaska Fairbanks is a public research university founded in 1917 serving 7,486 students through on-campus, regional, and eCampus online channels. It operates unique Arctic research facilities including Poker Flat Research Range and the UAS Test Site, generating revenue from tuition, state appropriations, federal grants, and private donations.

Company typePublic
Founded1917
HeadquartersFairbanks, United States
Headcount1,001–5,000
GTM typeB2C
OfferingServices

What University of Alaska Fairbanks does

The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) is a public research university founded in 1917, operating as part of the University of Alaska state system under the UA Board of Regents. It serves 7,486 students from 52 states/territories and 51 countries with a 12:1 student-faculty ratio, offering 180+ undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates across multiple colleges and schools. The institution delivers education through on-campus instruction at the 2,250-acre Troth Yeddha' Fairbanks campus, four regional campuses in Kotzebue, Bethel, Nome, and Dillingham serving remote Alaska communities, and eCampus online education reaching students globally.

UAF's core research infrastructure is anchored by unique facilities including Poker Flat Research Range (the world's only university-owned scientific rocket launching facility, with 355 major sounding rockets launched over 56 years), the UAS Test Site for autonomous flight testing, the Geophysical Institute, the International Arctic Research Center, and the Rasmuson Library (Alaska's largest, with 1.2M+ items). Specialized research spans Arctic and polar science, plasma physics, geophysics, atmospheric science, marine biology, and Alaska Native languages and cultures. Recent technical collaborations include autonomous air cargo testing with Merlin (25 test flights, 60+ hours), cold-weather UAV testing with Windracers, hydrokinetic power evaluation with the Galena community, and a heliophysics coloring book co-developed with NASA featuring translations into seven Alaska Indigenous languages.

Revenue is generated through four primary streams: tuition and fees (~$12,205/semester Alaska resident, ~$21,205/semester non-resident, with WUE and military discounts), State of Alaska appropriations, federal research grants from NASA, NSF, NOAA, USDA, DOE, and DOD, and private donations/endowments. Distribution reaches students through direct-to-consumer recruitment (admissions office, campus visits, transfer pathways, military outreach), distance/online education via eCampus, and a Cooperative Extension Service. UAF positions itself as "America's Arctic University" with a Land-Sea-Space Grant institution status providing access to specialized federal research funding.

University of Alaska Fairbanks firmographics

Firmographics

Name: University of Alaska Fairbanks
Legal name: University of Alaska Fairbanks
Website: https://uaf.edu
Company type: Public
Founded year: 1917
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 1,001–5,000 employees
Short description: The University of Alaska Fairbanks is a public research university founded in 1917 serving 7,486 students through on-campus, regional, and eCampus online channels. It operates unique Arctic research facilities including Poker Flat Research Range and the UAS Test Site, generating revenue from tuition, state appropriations, federal grants, and private donations.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

University of Alaska Fairbanks industry classification

Industry

Product category: Higher Education and Research
NAICS: Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Educational Support Services (611710)
SIC: Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
akta.pro primary industry: Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems (EDAHAAAI)
akta.pro secondary industries: Land-Grant Public Research Universities (EDAHAAAB), Public Research Universities with Major Extension & Outreach Missions (EDAHAAAG)

Keywords

Higher education
Arctic research
Online learning
Stem programs
Indigenous studies

Where University of Alaska Fairbanks is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Fairbanks
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

University of Alaska Fairbanks business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, with different rates for Alaska residents ($12,205/semester average) and non-residents ($21,205/semester average). Additional revenue from fees, housing, and meal plans.
State Appropriation: State of Alaska funding as a public university institution, forming a core part of operational funding alongside tuition revenue.
Federal Research Grants: Grants from federal agencies including NASA, NSF, NOAA, USDA, DOE, and DOD supporting research programs in Arctic science, climate, marine energy, and other specialized research areas.
Private Donations and Endowments: Gifts from alumni, foundations, and private donors supporting scholarships, research programs, and capital projects. Major donors include Walt and Marita Babula ($7.4M for planetarium).

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Subscription	Annual	Alaska Resident Full-Time Student
Subscription	Annual	Non-Resident Full-Time Student
Subscription	Annual	Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) Rate
Subscription	Annual	Military-Affiliated Students

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

University of Alaska Fairbanks product offering

Product offering

Core offering

The University of Alaska Fairbanks is a public research university offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs and certificates, delivered through on-campus instruction in Fairbanks and regional campuses, as well as online via UAF eCampus. The institution operates specialized research facilities including the Poker Flat Research Range and conducts research in Arctic, atmospheric, geophysical, and marine sciences. Supporting services include financial aid, health and counseling, library access, recreation, and intercollegiate athletics through the Alaska Nanooks program.

Product overview

The University of Alaska Fairbanks is a comprehensive public research university offering a unified educational service portfolio centered on undergraduate and graduate degree programs across multiple colleges and schools. The institution delivers education through on-campus instruction and UAF eCampus, its online and distance learning platform. Supporting the academic mission are student services including Financial Aid Services, the Student Health and Counseling Center, and Nanook Recreation facilities. The university also operates research facilities including the UA Museum of the North, Rasmuson Library (Alaska's largest library), and various specialized research stations. The Nanooks athletics program competes at NCAA Division I level. These offerings function as an integrated university service ecosystem rather than separate commercial products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

Alaska Nanooks: The athletic teams of University of Alaska Fairbanks, competing in NCAA Division I and II sports including hockey, basketball, cross-country, rifle, swimming, volleyball, and skiing

Products and services

UAF eCampus Online Education Online and distance education platform offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs, certificates, and courses accessible remotely to students statewide and beyond.
UAF Financial Aid Services Comprehensive financial aid services including scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study programs with dedicated counseling and application support for UAF students.
UAF Student Health and Counseling Center On-campus medical and mental health services providing primary care, counseling, health education, and insurance assistance for enrolled UAF students, including after-hours TimelyCare virtual services.
UAF Nanooks Athletics UAF's intercollegiate athletics program competing as the Nanooks in NCAA Division I hockey and Division II basketball, cross-country, skiing, rifle, volleyball, and swimming.
UAF Rasmuson Library Alaska's largest library with over 1.2 million items including books, periodicals, archives, government documents, maps, and specialized Alaska and polar regions collections, with electronic access to millions of titles worldwide.
UAF Nanook Recreation Campus recreation services including fitness facilities, intramural sports, outdoor adventures, climbing programs, pool, and ice arena access for students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
UA Museum of the North Research museum on UAF's West Ridge featuring exhibits on Alaska's biology, culture, and history, with collections including a bowhead whale skeleton, mummified bison (Blue Babe), Alaska Native art, and a planetarium addition opened in 2024.

Quantifiable outcome

355 major sounding rockets launched from Poker Flat Research Range over 56 years
+3 more outcomes

Companies that use University of Alaska Fairbanks

Customer profile

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

University of Alaska Fairbanks technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

University of Alaska Fairbanks partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

NASAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2026NASA partnered with UAF to release a Sun-centered coloring book 'Journey Through the Heliosphere: The Sun-Earth System in Color' featuring 28 pages of science facts and coloring activities. The two-year collaborative project involved staff from NASA, Oregon State University, UAF International Arctic Research Center, and the Geophysical Institute, including solar terms translated into seven Alaska Indigenous languages.
Merlin (autonomous flight technology company)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 January 2026Merlin completed 25 test flights in Alaska under a $1 million FAA contract in partnership with Everts Air Cargo and the UAF UAS Test Site, marking the first automated air cargo network in the US. Flights reached remote rural locations including Fort Yukon, Galena, Huslia, Tanana, and Prudhoe Bay, logging over 60 hours of autonomous flight time.
Mitchell Hamline School of LawcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Mitchell Hamline School of Law signed a 3+3 partnership agreement with UAF allowing students to earn bachelor's and J.D. degrees in six years instead of seven. The program increases access to legal education in Alaska, the only U.S. state without a law school, leveraging Mitchell Hamline's blended-learning option.
Sustainable Energy for Galena (SEGA) - Galena CommunityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024In 2024, SEGA partnered with UAF to evaluate hydrokinetic power from the Yukon River. The community launched SEGA in 2014 in partnership with the City of Galena, Galena City School District, and Louden Tribal Council to address diesel fuel dependence.
Windracers (British drone manufacturer)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWindracers is conducting cold weather logistics testing with UAF as part of civilian programs advancing from combat-proven experience in Ukraine. The partnership involves Antarctic research with British Antarctic Survey and Arctic climate studies with Norwegian research organization NORCE.
Everts Air CargominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Merlin and UAF UAS Test Site for automated air cargo network testing flights to remote Alaskan communities.
Colorado State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerComplementary effort under USDA NIFA grant programs. CSU received $250,000 to integrate livestock-focused education into high school and veterinary curricula, while UAF received a separate $250,000 grant to enhance livestock veterinary education in Alaska's remote communities.
British Antarctic SurveyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Antarctic research using Windracers UAV platforms, part of broader climate research collaboration involving UAF's cold weather logistics testing.
NORCE (Norwegian research organization)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArctic climate studies partnership with Norwegian research organization for UAV-based environmental monitoring in cold weather environments.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights8 records

University of Alaska Fairbanks competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

University of Alaska Anchorage: Sister campus within the University of Alaska system serving Alaska's largest city, offering comparable associate-through-graduate programs. Shares the same state appropriation, UA Board of Regents governance, and Arctic-focused research mission, making it the closest direct peer.
University of Alaska Southeast: Third campus in the University of Alaska system, based in Juneau. Operates in the same regulatory and funding environment as UAF and delivers overlapping online and place-based programs, including joint research with UAF on glacial flood monitoring.
University of Tromsø (UiT The Arctic University of Norway): Norway's northernmost university and the leading European Arctic research institution. Comparable as a publicly funded research university that brands itself around Arctic expertise, climate science, and Indigenous Sami studies — directly competitive for international Arctic research talent and grants.
University of Oulu: Finnish research university with explicit Arctic focus, northern Indigenous research, and cold-climate engineering. Direct international peer for Arctic and circumpolar research collaboration, including via the University of the Arctic consortium.

Regional players

Alaska Pacific University: Small private university in Anchorage serving Alaska students with undergraduate and graduate programs, including outdoor studies and sustainability. Comparable Alaska-based higher-education provider but private rather than public and substantially smaller in scale.

Broad incumbents

Oregon State University: Land-, sea-, space- and sun-grant R1 university with comparable marine, atmospheric, and Earth-system research programs. A peer in grant designation and research mix, though substantially larger in enrollment and federal funding scale.
Colorado State University: Land-grant R1 university with strong atmospheric science, veterinary, and extension programs. Active USDA NIFA grant partner of UAF and a directly comparable land-grant peer for cooperative extension and applied research delivery.
University of Saskatchewan: Canadian research university with significant cold-climate and Indigenous research programs (e.g., VIDO, cold-climate agriculture). Comparable in cold-region research scope and northern/Indigenous mission overlap, though operating under a different national funding regime.
University of Wyoming: Mid-sized public research university in a small-energy-state with land-grant status. Comparable in enrollment scale, state-appropriation funding model, and rural-state positioning, though lacking Arctic specialization.

Others

University of the Arctic: International circumpolar higher-education and research network in which UAF is a leading member. Not a direct competitor but a strategic consortium that channels collaboration, student mobility, and Arctic research funding to UAF and its peer institutions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

University of Alaska Fairbanks financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

University of Alaska Fairbanks leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

University of Alaska Fairbanks funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

University of Alaska Fairbanks M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about University of Alaska Fairbanks

What does University of Alaska Fairbanks do?

Is University of Alaska Fairbanks a public or private company?

University of Alaska Fairbanks is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.

When was University of Alaska Fairbanks founded?

University of Alaska Fairbanks was founded in 1917. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.

Where is University of Alaska Fairbanks based?

University of Alaska Fairbanks is headquartered in Fairbanks, United States, in the North America region.

How does University of Alaska Fairbanks make money?

Four revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are state Appropriation, federal Research Grants and private Donations and Endowments.

Who are University of Alaska Fairbanks's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are University of Alaska Anchorage, University of Alaska Southeast, University of Tromsø (UiT The Arctic University of Norway) and University of Oulu. Alaska Pacific University is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Oregon State University, Colorado State University, University of Saskatchewan and University of Wyoming. University of the Arctic is listed as an others.

Does University of Alaska Fairbanks have an API?

No public API is recorded for University of Alaska Fairbanks.

What industry is University of Alaska Fairbanks in?

University of Alaska Fairbanks's product category is Higher Education and Research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAAAI, Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems, with a secondary code of EDAHAAAB, Land-Grant Public Research Universities. Its NAICS code is 611310 and its SIC code is 8200.