Alaska Trade Schools: Cost, Completion & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Trade schools in Alaska: 5 trade and vocational campuses (5 trade schools, 0 community colleges) median net price $12,635 (-6.0% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $39,541 (+12.7% vs U.S.) median completion rate 84.4% employment-outcome proxy 82.9% working & not enrolled at 8 years.
Overview
Trade schools and vocational programs in Alaska include certificate-focused campuses and community colleges with career and technical education pathways. 5 campuses in this profile (5 trade schools, 0 community colleges), with about 3,547 students enrolled, and median net price near $12,635. Programs span healthcare, skilled trades, manufacturing, and other workforce credentials—tables below compare completion, earnings, and employment outcomes with U.S. and Far West medians.
Alaska vs regional & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska (AK) | — | $12,635 | $14,176 | 84.4% | 3,547 |
| Far West (region median) | — | $12,272 | $10,028 | 70.3% | 1,505,356 |
| United States | — | $13,448 | $9,792 | 61.5% | 5,468,807 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Alaska vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska (AK) | $39,541 | 82.9% | 76.5% | 10.1% | — | 59.7% | 0.39 |
| United States | $35,086 | 81.0% | 65.2% | 11.1% | — | 50.5% | 0.28 |
Alaska vs peer states (Far West region)
Peer states are other campuses in the same Scorecard region, chosen by similar total enrollment.
| State | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska (AK) | N/A | $12,635 | $14,176 | 84.4% | 3,547 | $39,541 | 82.9% |
| Hawaii (HI) | N/A | $8,942 | $9,500 | 41.4% | 14,707 | $38,439 | 78.3% |
| Nevada (NV) | N/A | $20,771 | $8,812 | 72.7% | 47,189 | $32,601 | 81.1% |
| Oregon (OR) | N/A | $11,910 | $10,750 | 59.2% | 65,460 | $36,792 | 78.6% |
| Washington (WA) | N/A | $11,010 | $10,556 | 73.7% | 107,638 | $43,403 | 79.3% |
| United States | N/A | $13,448 | $9,792 | 61.5% | 5,468,807 | $35,086 | 81.0% |
Outcomes by sector in Alaska
Median campus-level metrics within each ownership type (public, private nonprofit, private for-profit).
| Sector | Campuses | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working share (8 yr) | Retention | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public | 3 | $48,475 | 83.6% | 88.2% | 8.9% | — | 70.9% |
Top 2 trade schools in Alaska by completion rate (150% time, certificate programs)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate among trade schools and community colleges in this profile (enrollment ≥ 50). Source: College Scorecard.
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Rank 1, Completion Rate, 100.0%, Alaska Vocational Technical Center
Alaska Vocational Technical Center
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Rank 2, Completion Rate, 68.7%, Alaska Career College
Alaska Career College
Top 5 trade schools in Alaska by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 87.2%, Ilisagvik College
Ilisagvik College
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 83.6%, Alaska Vocational Technical Center
Alaska Vocational Technical Center
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 82.9%, University of Alaska Southeast
University of Alaska Southeast
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Rank 4, Employment Outcome, 80.9%, Charter College
Charter College
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Rank 5, Employment Outcome, 76.3%, Alaska Career College
Alaska Career College
Top 5 trade schools in Alaska by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $42,187, Alaska Vocational Technical Center
Alaska Vocational Technical Center
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $38,811, University of Alaska Southeast
University of Alaska Southeast
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $35,863, Alaska Career College
Alaska Career College
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Rank 4, Mid-Career Earnings, $35,427, Charter College
Charter College
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Rank 5, Mid-Career Earnings, $31,396, Ilisagvik College
Ilisagvik College
Top 5 trade schools in Alaska by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $46,336, University of Alaska Southeast
University of Alaska Southeast
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $44,687, Alaska Vocational Technical Center
Alaska Vocational Technical Center
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $35,567, Charter College
Charter College
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Rank 4, 8-Yr Earnings, $33,844, Alaska Career College
Alaska Career College
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Rank 5, 8-Yr Earnings, $30,950, Ilisagvik College
Ilisagvik College
Top 5 trade schools in Alaska by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $51,083, Alaska Vocational Technical Center
Alaska Vocational Technical Center
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $48,475, University of Alaska Southeast
University of Alaska Southeast
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $39,541, Ilisagvik College
Ilisagvik College
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Rank 4, 10-Yr Earnings, $35,504, Charter College
Charter College
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Rank 5, 10-Yr Earnings, $34,468, Alaska Career College
Alaska Career College
Top 5 trade schools in Alaska by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year ROI among trade schools and community colleges with enrollment ≥ 50.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $216,644, Alaska Vocational Technical Center
Alaska Vocational Technical Center
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $211,244, University of Alaska Southeast
University of Alaska Southeast
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $161,562, Ilisagvik College
Ilisagvik College
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Rank 4, 10-Yr ROI, $153,034, Alaska Career College
Alaska Career College
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Rank 5, 10-Yr ROI, $142,670, Charter College
Charter College
Top 5 most affordable trade schools in Alaska (net price)
Lowest median net price among trade schools and community colleges with enrollment ≥ 50.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $6,743, Ilisagvik College
Ilisagvik College
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Rank 2, Net Price, $12,635, Alaska Vocational Technical Center
Alaska Vocational Technical Center
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Rank 3, Net Price, $12,357, University of Alaska Southeast
University of Alaska Southeast
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Rank 4, Net Price, $20,150, Alaska Career College
Alaska Career College
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Rank 5, Net Price, $34,860, Charter College
Charter College
Student debt: Alaska vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Alaska is $14,176 (+44.8% vs U.S. median $9,792). Regional median: $10,028. Rank: #52 nationally of 58 (lower debt = better rank); #6 in Far West of 6.
Median earnings (10 years out): Alaska vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Alaska center around $39,541 (+12.7% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Alaska vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 82.9% at the median Alaska campus (+1.9 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Median graduate debt is $14,176 (+44.8% above the U.S. median of $9,792, and +41.4% vs the Far West regional median of $10,028). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Student debt rank: #52 nationally of 58 (lower debt = better rank); #6 in Far West of 6 (1 = lowest median debt).
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Alaska are $39,541, about +12.7% vs the U.S. campus median ($35,086).
The median campus reports 82.9% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 81.0% (+1.9 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 76.5% vs a U.S. median of 65.2%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 10.1% (U.S. 11.1%); 3-yr repayment progress 59.7% (U.S. 50.5%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Nationally, Alaska ranks earnings #10 and employment proxy #19 on these outcome medians (1 = best).
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Ilisagvik College (87.2%), Alaska Vocational Technical Center (83.6%), University of Alaska Southeast (82.9%), Charter College (80.9%), Alaska Career College (76.3%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within Alaska, sector medians diverge: Public median 10-yr earnings $48,475 (3 campuses). Public campuses often dominate enrollment while private nonprofits can show higher earnings medians at selective institutions.
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Alaska is 84.4% (national institution average about 61.5%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do trade schools cost in Alaska?
Among trade schools and community colleges in Alaska, median net price is $12,635 vs $13,448 nationally (-6.0% vs U.S.).
What is typical student debt at Alaska trade schools?
Median federal loan debt among completers at trade and vocational campuses in Alaska is $14,176 vs a U.S. median of $9,792 (Alaska ranks #52 nationally for median debt among states.)
What do trade school graduates earn in Alaska?
Median earnings 10 years after entry for Alaska trade schools and community colleges reporting to the College Scorecard is $39,541 vs $35,086 nationally. Six-year medians are $35,863.
What share of Alaska trade school students are working after completion?
The federal employment-outcome proxy on this site (8-year cohort working and not enrolled) has a median of 82.9% in Alaska vs 81.0% nationally.
How many trade schools are in Alaska?
This profile covers 5 trade schools and 0 community colleges (5 total) in Alaska with roughly 3,547 total reported enrollment.
How many public vs. private trade schools are in Alaska?
Among trade schools and community colleges with outcomes in the College Scorecard extract: 3 public, 0 private nonprofit, and 0 private for-profit institutions.
What are the top trade schools in Alaska?
Rankings on this page use College Scorecard medians for trade schools and community colleges; standouts include highest completion rate: Alaska Vocational Technical Center; highest 10-year earnings: Alaska Vocational Technical Center; lowest net price among large campuses: Ilisagvik College. See the ranked lists below for full details.
Are there Hispanic-serving or other designated trade schools in Alaska?
Among 10 campuses in Alaska, 1 tribal college (IPEDS TRIBAL flag), including Ilisagvik College; 1 campus with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Charter College; 3 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Undenominational (1), United Methodist (1), Evangelical Covenant Church of America (1).
How does Alaska compare to its Census region for trade schools?
Alaska is in the Far West region. Regional median net price is $12,272 and median 10-year earnings are $38,493 vs $12,635 net price and $39,541 earnings in Alaska.
Sources & related
- All trade school profiles
- Alaska college profile
- Trade school costs by state
- Trade schools and public community colleges (College Scorecard)
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
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