Key Takeaways
- Sociology is one of the most popular subjects in the social sciences domain. An undergraduate degree in Sociology calls for crucial skills such as reading, writing, and research.
- There are over 2,600 colleges that offer a 4-year degree program, according to NCES.
- In Alaska, the number of colleges is limited as compared to its nearby states.
- The top colleges for a Sociology degree in Alaska are only a handful, but each of them has to offer something unique such as a high acceptance rate, low GPA requirement, and the best campus life.
- Firstly, the best sociology undergraduate program in Alaska is offered by the University of Alaska at Anchorage, which requires an average GPA of just 2.5.
- Secondly, Alaska Pacific University has the highest acceptance rate of 96%, allowing easier accessibility.
- Thirdly, the University of Alaska–Fairbanks offers the best campus life with several student clubs and sports teams. It also has a low student-to-faculty ratio.
- Lastly, the University of Alaska–Southeast, has the lowest GPA requirement. Therefore, it is ideal for students with low high school GPA.
- For Alaskans, colleges in states nearby are also great options. There are amazing colleges for Sociology degrees in California, Oregon, Montana, and Idaho.
Colleges and schools are abundantly available in the U.S. that offer outstanding undergraduate programs for a sociology degree. According to NCES, there are more than 2,600 institutes that offer a 4-year undergraduate program in various fields.
While most U.S. states are lucky enough to have a large pool of schools and colleges to choose from, Alaska might not be the luckiest in this regard. Rich with volcanos, glaciers, lakes, and scenic beauty, Alaska makes up to be an interesting place to live in. However, the college options for students may be too restrictive.
Nonetheless, if you have decided that sociology is the right major for you in your undergraduate degree, you have come to the right place. We curated a list of the top colleges for a Sociology degree in Alaska, allowing you to pick and choose an institute that has the perfect range of tuition and fees, is close to home, and has a solid sociology program.
How to choose the best college for a sociology degree in Alaska?
However, choosing a college for your next 4 years is an important decision to make. You need to take your time before concluding. Therefore, to help you get started with the decision-making process, here is a look at the most essential factors you need to consider when selecting a college for a Sociology degree.
Financial aid
Firstly, consider the financial aid option. Some colleges might seem to be too pricey. Tuition and fees, along with housing and food expenses, accumulate to a much higher cost than one expects. However, you can easily dodge this expense and seek financial aid offered by most public and private colleges. Every college offers a variety of financial aid programs, so you must carefully choose the one that fits well with you.
Student-to-faculty ratio
In any learning capacity, individual attention does wonders. A good college understands the importance of individual attention and therefore maintains a healthy student-to-faculty ratio. A good ratio should not exceed 14:1.
Areas of concentration
Secondly, your sociology bachelor’s degree would be incomplete without the right concentration subject areas. Different programs in different colleges offer a range of concentration areas that you can pick and choose. Make sure to go through the college’s concentration areas on the offer before making the final decision.
Accreditation
Thridly, a nationally or regionally accredited college will open many pathways for you. With an accreditation, you can apply for government-funded financial aid, your future employers will have a preference for you, and you can easily transfer credit hours from one institute to another.
Alumni post-graduation jobs
Lastly, to get a better idea of what a sociology degree from a particular college will do for you, it’s best that you explore and analyze what the alumni are doing. See what professions and job types are the alumni working in now, as it will reflect on the career outlook the college will train you for.
What are the most prestigious colleges for a sociology degree in Alaska?
Here are the top 4 colleges for a Sociology degree in Alaska!
University of Alaska at Anchorage — Best overall
Situated in the largest U.S. state, the University of Alaska – Anchorage is one of the most popular public colleges in the state. Its campus life is situated on a land of about 17,000 acres, with a vibrant and lively campus life that can easily retain freshmen and keep them engaged.
The college has a number of programs to offer, but its Humanities and Social Sciences majors are some of the most commonly picked subjects. An undergraduate Sociology degree at the University of Alaska – Anchorage will require you to invest your 4 years before you acquire a comprehensive skill set to pursue a professional career.
It has an acceptance rate of 65% and is a great place for high school graduates who have a 3.45 GPA or more. Lastly, the college assists students in catching up with the cost of attendance by offering lots of financial aid programs and options.
| Location
Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK |
GPA requirements
2.5 or more |
Acceptance rate
65% |
Tuition fee
$8,314 for in-state and $21,898 for out-of-state students Prices excluding housing and other charges |
University of Alaska–Fairbanks — Best campus life
At the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Sociology is offered as an important course work that you can complement with Psychology. These two are excellent subject choices to be put together, as both of them explore human behaviors in groups and individually, but from different angles.
It offers a mix of important and crucial courses necessary for a student to build a robust understanding of social issues and concepts.
Furthermore, the campus is built on a land of over 2,000 acres but has a small student body. Consequently, the college has a healthy student-to-faculty ratio of 12:1. If you are looking for a campus that is not only greater in size but also well-built and maintained over the years, this is it.
The college has multiple media channels through which they keep their students up to date. A dedicated body is responsible for planning and executing events and recreational activities for students. More importantly, it has over 100 student organizations and clubs that you can join and enjoy beyond classrooms.
Lastly, even though its acceptance rate is 65%, you can still get in easily because it has a low GPA requirement of just 3.0.
| Location
Fairbanks, AK |
GPA requirements
3.0+ |
Acceptance rate
65% |
Tuition fee
$5,355 for in-state students and $14,235 for out-of-state Prices excluding housing and other charges |
Alaska Pacific University — High acceptance rate
The Alaska Pacific University was founded in 1959. It is a private institution with a campus size of over 200 acres, focused on liberal arts and fields of study like Sociology.
The college is fixated on encouraging analytical skills and critical thinking in its students. Thus, it ensures exceptional learning and progress for the students by providing an impressive student-faculty ratio of just 8:1!
Not only that, but the college also has one of the highest acceptance rates in the state. It requires a GPA of just 2.0.
| Location
Anchorage, AK |
GPA requirements
2.0 |
Acceptance rate
96% |
Tuition fee
$20,350 Prices excluding housing and other charges |
University of Alaska–Southeast — Lowest GPA requirement
The social science department at the University of Alaska Southeast is known for its variety of areas of study. During your BA in Social Sciences, you can choose Sociology as your concentration and become an expert in that field.
The college has been around since 1983 and has one of the lowest GPA requirements in the state. The reason behind UAS requires only 2.0 GPA lies behind the fact that there are limited college options in Alaska for students.
Besides, not only does it have a low GPA requirement, but it also takes pride in its low student-faculty ratio which is just 8:1. You can expect focused individual attention in such classrooms.
| Location
Juneau, AK |
GPA requirements
2.0 |
Acceptance rate
63% |
Tuition fee
$7,896 for in-state students and $22,032 for out-of-state Prices excluding housing and other charges |
Most well-reputed colleges for a sociology degree in the nearby states
Alaska has a limited number of undergrad schools and colleges as compared to other states. For example, California, a state nearby to Alaska, has over 700 colleges. While the options may be limited in Alaska, you should definitely take a peek into the higher education landscape in nearby states.
California
Colleges for sociology in California include:
- California State University–Long Beach
- San Diego State University
Idaho
Colleges for sociology in Idaho include:
- University of Idaho
- Idaho State University
Oregon
Colleges for sociology degrees in Oregon include:
- Portland State University
- Warner Pacific University
Montana
Colleges for a sociology degree in Montana include:
- Montana State University
- The University of Montana
Get enrolled now in a sociology degree program in Alaska
In summary, before pursuing any undergraduate degree, students often find themselves torn between the abundance of college options. Since you have made up your mind and are confident that you want to pursue an undergraduate Sociology degree, it should not be difficult for you to find just the right college in Alaska.
Additionally, to have a value-adding time getting your sociology degree in Alaska, you must look for important factors and considerations before deciding where to get the degree. Go for the aforementioned top colleges for a Sociology degree in Alaska, despite there being limited options as compared to other states like colleges in Alabama, and colleges in Arkansas.
Lastly, if you can, going to nearby states to leverage their excellent pool of colleges for a Sociology degree is also an option for you. For instance, California, Montana, Idaho, and Oregon are just some states with great outlooks on undergraduate schools.