Top 10 Best Nursing Schools in Alaska
Alaska is by far the largest state in the nation by size, but with relatively few cities and colleges, students interested in becoming registered nurses (RNs) have relatively few options.
While aspiring RNs don't have many choices available, online education allows current RNs to continue their education and earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). A BSN can help nurses find higher-paying positions.
Before that, nurses in Alaska must first earn an associate degree. Fortunately, there are a few options available for students.
Methodology
This is a panel-reviewed selection based on a number of factors, including,
- Reputation
- NCLEX pass rate
- Tuition
- Acceptance rate, when available
- Only ACEN or CCNE-accredited schools are eligible
Nurse Panel
Our selection panel includes 4 Registered Nurses with over 55 years of combined nursing experience and 7 nursing degrees:
- Tracy Everhart, MSN, RN, CNS
- Tyler Faust, MSN, RN
- Kathleen Gaines MSN, RN, BA, CBC
-
Leah Helmbrecht, BSN, RN
Because nursing careers take different forms, the top 10 Alaska nursing schools are ranked in no particular order.
Top 10 Nursing Schools in Alaska
Before reviewing the following schools, note that only the University of Alaska Anchorage and Charter College have campuses in Alaska. The other schools on this list offer online nursing degrees to students across the nation, including those in Alaska.
$6,192 per year
$19,776 per year
Perfect for students interested in city life while living close to nature, the University of Alaska Anchorage is a large, public school with nearly 12,000 students. The vast majority of students are Alaska residents and receive in-state tuition, though WUE students can also receive a tuition discount.
The nursing program is comprehensive and offers undergraduate programs in 15 different locations. Available to students in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Mat-Su and Kodiak, the BSN is the only traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in Alaska. Students can also choose to earn an Associate Degree in Nursing and then complete an online RN-BSN, all through the University of Alaska.
- Public or Private? Public
- Acceptance Rate: 65%
- Percent Enrolled Online: 39%
- In-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $258
- Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $824
- Address: 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK
- Website
- Retention Rate: 66%
- Median Earnings 2 Years After Completing a BSN: $72,101
Charter College is primarily an online school, though it does have satellite campuses across the U.S., including one in Anchorage. The Anchorage campus offers an Associate Degree in Nursing that satisfies the requirements to sit for the NCLEX.
After becoming an RN, students can also complete Charter College's RN-BSN, which combines online education with some in-person clinical hours. The AAS program is a blended learning format that combines classroom instruction with online learning, which allows students the flexibility needed to balance life, work, and family.
- Accelerated: No
- Bridge: No
Purdue University isn't based in Alaska, but they have a large online school that allows students all over the world to earn or complete degrees. For current RNs in Alaska, Purdue Global's online RN-BSN program provides a flexible way to earn a BSN. Purdue Global has plenty of other online programs for nurses, including multiple graduate degrees. Students may need to complete some in-person clinical work for specific certifications, but some or all coursework can be completed online through Purdue.
- Public or Private? Public
- Accelerated: Yes
- Bridge: No
- Acceptance Rate: 0%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 26:1
- Address: 2550 Northwestern Avenue, Suite 1100, West Lafayette, IN
- Phone: (866) 522-7747, extension NULL
- Website*
4. The University of Oklahoma
Based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the University of Oklahoma does not have an on-campus program available in Alaska. However, the University of Oklahoma's online RN-BSN is considered one of the best online RN-BSN programs.
Students need to have an RN license (which they can earn in Alaska), and the rest can be completed remotely. The school has additional programs, including traditional undergraduate and graduate programs, but they require students to commute -- something that's probably not an option for Alaska nurses.
- Public or Private? Public
- Accelerated: Yes
- Bridge: No
- Acceptance Rate: 0%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 12:1
- Address: 1105 Stonewall Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK
- Phone: (405) 271-2332, extension NULL
- Website
5. Aspen University
Aspen University is one of the top online schools for current RNs and has plenty of great degree options for Alaska nurses. The main option, the online RN-BSN, takes roughly 12 months to complete and offers accelerated courses to work around students' schedules. It isn't uncommon for students to continue working while earning their BSN. Aspen University also has plenty of RN-MSN options, some of which are available entirely online.
- Public or Private? Private
- Accelerated: No
- Bridge: No
- Acceptance Rate: 0%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 274:1
- Additional Costs:
- Annual Books and Supplies Cost: $1,900
- Annual On-Campus Room and Board Cost: N/A
- Address: 4615 E. Elwood St., Suite 100, Phoenix, AZ
- Phone: (303) 333-4224, extension NULL
- Website
Like other online programs, Western Governors University (WGU) offers some on-campus programs, only none are available in Alaska. However, the online RN-BSN* is among the best out there.
Most RN-BSN students graduate in less than a year and a half, though nurses can complete this program at whatever pace they want. WGU is also one of the most affordable online options for current nurses. In 2022 alone, over 7,000 students earned their RN to BSN degree from WGU.
- Public or Private? Private
- Accelerated: No
- Bridge: No
- Acceptance Rate: 0%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 53:1
- Additional Costs:
- Annual Books and Supplies Cost: $200
- Annual On-Campus Room and Board Cost: N/A
- Address: 4001 South 700 East Suite 700, Salt Lake City, UT
- Phone: (801) 274-3280, extension NULL
- Website
Grand Canyon University's online programs are accessible anywhere, including Alaska. The online RN-BSN is designed for working nurses who want to continue their education, and most students graduate in around two years. However, students can complete the program in even less time if they'd like. Grand Canyon University also has traditional and accelerated nursing degrees, but only in-person students can enroll in these programs.
- Public or Private? Private
- Accelerated: Yes
- Bridge: No
- Acceptance Rate: 78%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 185:1
- Additional Costs:
- Annual Books and Supplies Cost: $800
- Annual On-Campus Room and Board Cost: $7,800
- Address: 3300 W Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ
- Phone: (800) 800-9776, extension NULL
- Website
Chamberlain University only offers nursing and healthcare degrees. While the BSN program is currently available in 22 locations, none of those are in Alaska. Alaska RNs can enroll in the online RN-BSN, which takes just one year to complete when completed full-time. Tuition is higher than in other online schools, but Chamberlain offers tuition discounts to some online RN-BSN students. For nurses with a BSN, Chamberlain also offers an online MSN option.
- Public or Private? Private
- Accelerated: Yes
- Bridge: No
- Acceptance Rate: 83%
- Additional Costs:
- Annual Books and Supplies Cost: $600
9. Capella University* - Sponsored
Capella University's main nursing program, the online RN-BSN, was created for busy adults. Some students complete the RN-BSN while continuing to work, while others use Capella's FlexPath, which allows students to complete the program in as little as nine months. After earning a BSN, students can also use FlexPath to earn an online MSN.
- Tuition: RN-BSN Program Cost: $365 per 1000-2000 level credit and $3888 per 3000-4000 level credit (GuidedPath); $3,370 per 12-week billing session (FlexPath)
- Accelerated: Yes
- Bridge: No
- Acceptance Rate: 0%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 221:1
- Additional Costs:
- Annual Books and Supplies Cost: $429
- Annual On-Campus Room and Board Cost: N/A
- Address: 225 South 6th Street, 9th Floor, Minneapolis, MN
- Phone: (866) 808-4080, extension NULL
- Website
One of the most well-known online schools in the world, the University of Phoenix, also has some on-campus programs. Unfortunately, none of the on-campus programs are currently available in Alaska, though the online RN-BSN is. RNs with an associate degree can finish this program in just 14 months, and tuition is charged at a flat, per-credit rate. So, the more education you've previously completed, the cheaper and faster this degree becomes.
- Public or Private? Private
- Accelerated: No
- Bridge: No
- Acceptance Rate: 0%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 1111:1
- Additional Costs:
- Annual Books and Supplies Cost: $1,360
- Annual On-Campus Room and Board Cost: N/A
- Address: 4035 South Riverpoint Parkway, Phoenix, AZ
- Phone: (866) 766-0766, extension NULL
- Website
>> Show Me Alaska Nursing Programs
4 Key Factors That Affect Nursing School Tuition
Colleges and universities reserve the right to change tuition rates at any time. The yearly tuition rates listed here will vary for each student depending on various factors including,
- Transfer credits
- Completed competency exams
- Amount of credits taken per year
- Financial aid awards
Check with the specific school for current tuition rates.
Nurse Salary and Job Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS),
-
Alaska registered nurses earn a mean annual wage of $97,230.
-
Alaska employs 6,060 registered nurses, slightly lower than the national per-capita average.
The U.S. mean annual wage for RNs is $77,600, meaning Alaska RNs get paid well above the national average. In fact, according to the BLS, Alaska is the fifth-highest-paying state for RNs. Location matters, too; registered nurses working in non-metropolitan areas of Alaska earn a mean average of $100,470 per year, better than nurses everywhere other than Hawaii and California.
Next Steps:
Regardless of your long-term nursing career plans, you should apply to every nursing program in Alaska. There aren't many, but this increases your chances of getting accepted into competitive programs. Here's how to approach the application process:
- Contact each school’s admissions office. Every college has an admissions office that guides applicants through the admissions process. Get in touch with each admissions office early, and check with them if you have questions while putting together your application.
- Check to see if you meet the nursing school requirements. On top of college admission requirements, nurses must meet strict nursing school requirements. Find out each nursing school's requirements early so you're prepared when it's time to apply.
- Submit your application(s). The final step of the application process is to send in each application! Make sure you know when each college's application deadline is, and try to meet early application deadlines if there are any.
- When you apply, be prepared to submit:
- High school transcript (GPA)
- ACT and/or SAT scores
- College entrance essay(s)
- Letter(s) of recommendation
- When you apply, be prepared to submit:
>> Show Me Alaska Nursing Programs
Important Considerations When Comparing Schools:
If you're just starting out and don't yet have an RN license, you don't have many options in Alaska. Still, choosing the best option isn't as easy as picking the school closest to home. When comparing schools, consider the following:
- Total program cost, including in-state or out-of-state tuition and fees
- Financial aid, scholarships, and grants offered
- Cost of living on-campus or in the area
- School and nursing program acceptance rate
- Commute to school/hospital for clinicals
- Program length
- Program type (on-campus, online, hybrid)
- Program outcomes (NCLEX pass rate and job placement)
-
School accreditation (regional and national)
Why you should care about the nursing program’s accreditation
Accrediting bodies evaluate the academic quality of schools and select programs to determine whether they meet specific standards. When applying to schools in Alaska, make sure the school is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Be sure that the nursing program has programmatic accreditation, too.
The two nursing accreditation organizations to look for are
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
If you earn a degree from an unaccredited school, you may have trouble securing federal financial aid and finding work as a nurse after graduation. It is essential that the nursing program is fully accredited especially if you are interested in continuing your education.
>> Show Me Alaska Nursing Programs
Getting a License in Alaska
Alaska isn't yet part of the Enhanced Nursing Licensure Compact (eNLC), though the majority of Alaska nurses are in support of joining the eNLC. In fact, there is currently legislation pending (Alaska - SB 67) to become a permanent member of the eNLC. Until then, the process of obtaining an RN license in Alaska is as follows:
- Study at an accredited and approved nursing school
- Take and pass the NCLEX-RN
- Pass a criminal background check and submit fingerprints.
- Apply through the Alaska Board of Nursing.
While cities are far apart and not many nursing programs are available, Alaska nurses earn incredibly high salaries. For nurses that currently have an RN license, plenty of excellent online nursing school options are available, and nurses with a BSN typically earn higher wages than non-BSN-holding RNs. Alaska isn't part of the eNLC, but they could join at some point, and that could make finding a nursing position in Alaska even easier.
References:
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