Accounting Degree Overview for Alaska

Nicknamed “The Last Frontier”, Alaska hosts the third-lowest state population despite its geographical size. Of Alaska’s higher education students, 52.9% attend school online, and several of Alaska’s higher education institutions offer online accounting degree programs.

Alaskan accounting graduates can work as financial managers, accountants and auditors, or bookkeeping and auditing clerks.The latter two careers enjoy positive growth projections in the state, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Accounting-related careers also offer above-average salaries nationwide.

This page discusses relevant economic trends, educational statistics, and accounting program information for prospective Alaska accounting students. Read further to determine whether an Alaska education suits your needs, goals, and interests.

Adventurous, nature-loving students often enjoy attending school in Alaska. The largest state in the union, Alaska boasts nearly 100,000 glaciers, over 100 volcanoes, and the nation’s five highest mountains. For many Alaskans, the rich panoply of natural wonders makes up for the relatively sparse number of schools and jobs.

Alaska currently houses just nine higher learning institutions, several of which offer accounting degrees. University of Alaska’s Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Southeast campuses feature top accounting programs. Alaska Pacific University also runs a highly ranked accounting program. Over half of Alaskan college students attend school online, although some online programs may require periodic trips to campus.

Alaska’s private four-year college tuition averages over $11,000 less per year than the national average. Out-of- state tuition at four-year schools in the state costs nearly three times more than in-state tuition, so students can save money by obtaining Alaskan residency.

Students planning to work in Alaska may improve their networking and job prospects by attending local schools. Given the above-average demand for cost estimators in Alaska, pursuing concentrations in cost or management accounting may pay off for Alaska accounting graduates.

Alaska offers fewer school options than most other states. However, tuition in the state is relatively affordable. Over 11% of Alaska’s tax revenue goes to higher education, and education appropriations per student are double the national average.

The educational-attainment statistics in the table below indicate that Alaska’s population lags slightly behind national attainment rates. Consequently, bachelor’s and master’s degree-holders may enjoy a competitive edge when applying for jobs.

Prospective students should note a schools’ institutional accreditation status when evaluating accounting programs. The Council of Higher Education Accreditation approves certain accrediting agencies to evaluate and certify educational quality. These accreditors assess features such as faculty credentials, library size, and learning outcomes.

Only students attending accredited schools qualify for federal financial aid, and regionally accredited schools typically only allow transfer credit from similarly accredited institutions. Regionally accredited schools meet higher academic standards than nationally accredited schools, and therefore warrant more respect.

Each of the nation’s regional accrediting agencies covers a particular area. The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) regionally accredits Alaska schools. Students can verify a school’s accreditation status through NWCCU’s list of accredited higher education institutions.

Programs within a school may also hold accreditation. The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accredits accounting programs.

Sifting through accounting degree program options may prove less overwhelming in Alaska than in states with more schools, but prospective students should still consider many factors to identify the best program fit. The sections below discuss key considerations, such as accounting degree options, financing opportunities, and delivery formats.

The following list outlines various accounting degree levels. As you research prospective schools, note that some colleges do not offer every level of accounting degree.

Many accounting programs at the bachelor’s and graduate levels offer specialization options. Common concentrations include financial accounting, management accounting, auditing, and public accounting.

Alaska job outlook data indicates positive growth projections for cost estimators. accountants, and auditors, so Alaska accounting students may benefit from degree specializations in these fields. See below for brief descriptions and linked resources for these promising concentration options.

Explore More Accounting Concentrations

Partly due to commuting challenges in this massive and sparsely populated state, over half of Alaska students take advantage of distance learning options. Take some time to consider which attendance format best suits your learning style, lifestyle, and schedule and location constraints.

On-campus degree programs often work best for students seeking structure and networking opportunities. These programs typically offer more social interaction, in-person discussion, and collaborative learning than online equivalents. On-campus students also enjoy easier access to campus facilities, student services, and extracurriculars.

Distance learning typically offers considerable flexibility. Many online programs allow asynchronous attendance, permitting students to watch class lectures and post to discussion boards at their convenience. Some programs also feature self-pacing options. Successful online learners usually work well independently and are highly motivated, organized, and disciplined.

Combining on-campus meetings with online coursework, hybrid programs offer the flexibility of distance learning and the structure and accountability of on-campus learning. These programs may feature regular or only occasional on-campus requirements, depending on the program.

Alaska schools boast lower-than-average tuition rates, particularly private schools in the state. Attending college is a substantial financial investment, but Alaskan students can find various ways to finance their accounting education.

Students can determine their eligibility for federal financial aid, such as loans, grants, and scholarships, but submitting the FAFSA. Loans require repayment, whereas grants and scholarships do not. However, the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education offers low-cost supplemental education loans that can help pay tuition bills.

Many schools, professional organizations, and private foundations also grant scholarships to qualifying students based on factors like financial need, academic achievement, study area, and identity. Some graduate schools also offer fellowships that cover tuition costs in exchange for research or teaching work.

The data above suggests that many Alaska students enjoy below-average tuition rates, which may be partly due to the state’s various efforts to attract and support students. The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) runs a Western Undergraduate Exchange that allows students in other western states to pay in-state tuition rates in Alaska.

In collaboration with the Lumina Foundation, WICHE also provides extra education funding to Alaska schools in the Native-Serving Institutions Alliance. This initiative works to increase educational access and success for native students.

When budgeting for their accounting education, prospective Alaska students should consider the state’s cost of living. With a cost index of 129.9 (compared to the national average of 100), Alaska ranks 45th in the World Population Review cost-of-living index.

Alaska ships many of its goods and services from Canada and the lower 48 states, and Alaskans often pay high prices for the many groceries and goods not produced locally. Transportation, housing, and utilities also prove costly in Alaska, partly due to lack of economic development and infrastructure.

Many other key factors can influence the selection of the right accounting degree program, such as school size, program length, and alumni networks. The following list outlines several of these factors.

Larger schools often provide more specialization options, more diverse student resources, and larger alumni networks. Meanwhile, small schools typically boast smaller class sizes and more individualized attention.

Smaller student-to-teacher ratios often translate to more supervision, attention, and mentorship from faculty.

Top schools often boast diverse, accomplished faculty who hold doctoral degrees and current, global perspectives on course material.

Many accelerated programs cut graduation timelines in half by running shorter, intensive terms throughout the year. Part-time programs take longer than full-time programs, but they provide flexibility for busy adults.

Some schools maintain wider or more active alumni networks than others. Attending local schools can enhance alumni networking opportunities.

Top accounting programs receive many applicants, so students should check acceptance-rate statistics to make realistic application decisions.

Many programs require submission of standardized test scores such as the SAT, ACT, GRE, or GMAT, but some schools waive these requirements.

Many accounting and business degree program websites highlight post-graduation salary rates. Such numbers can indicate a high return on investment.

Perhaps due to its remote location, sparse population, and complex environmental constraints, Alaska currently does not boast a very robust or diversified economy. The state’s economy ranks 46th in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report. Ranked 47th in employment and 48th in growth, Alaska’s numbers lag behind most other states.

Nevertheless, Alaska job outlook data indicates positive growth projections for cost estimators, accountants, and auditors. The data in the following sections also indicate that Alaska pays accounting-related professionals high salaries. Alaska’s accounting firms typically cluster in cities such as Anchorage, Juneau, and Fairbanks.

Many accounting graduates work in the state’s leading industries, including oil production, research and development, fishing, government, and tourism. See below for data on Alaska employment trends, including descriptions of promising accounting-related careers in Alaska.

Curious About Other Accounting Jobs? Explore More Accounting Careers.

The chart above indicates that many accounting and financial professions in Alaska garner a higher-than-average annual salary. Budget analysts, personal financial advisors, and payroll clerks each average a few thousand dollars more than their counterparts across the nation. Cost estimators and tax examiners and collectors do particularly well, earning $20,000-$30,000 more than the national average.

An associate degree can help candidates land credit counseling jobs that bring home about $56,000 a year, and bachelor’s degrees sometimes lead to lucrative employment as cost estimators or tax collectors. Meanwhile, a master’s degree in accounting can help graduates qualify for the highest-paying careers above. Financial managers, the only professionals that earn significantly less in Alaska than in many other states, still make an annual mean salary of $110,410.

Aspiring Alaska accounting professionals should review the state’s CPA requirements. To earn CPA credentials in Alaska, candidates must meet the following requirements.