Nursing Education › Alaska
Alaska Nursing Programs

Top Nursing Schools in
Alaska — 2026

Compare the best BSN, MSN, ADN, and RN programs in Alaska. Tuition costs, NCLEX pass rates, accreditation, and unique program highlights for prospective nursing students.

7 programs listed BSN · ADN · LPN · MSN Alaska Board of Nursing Not a Compact state

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Nursing Programs in Alaska

BSN · On-Campus
University of Alaska Anchorage
BSN Program — Anchorage

UAA's nursing program is uniquely positioned to prepare nurses for Alaska's challenging healthcare landscape, including rural and frontier health settings. Students gain hands-on clinical experience across Anchorage's major hospital systems and Alaska Native Medical Center.

$8,500/yearAvg Cost
4 yearsLength
88%NCLEX Pass
Only Major BSN Program in Anchorage Visit Program →
ADN · Hybrid
University of Alaska Fairbanks
LPN-to-RN Bridge — Fairbanks

UAF's nursing bridge program is designed for working healthcare professionals looking to advance their credentials in Alaska's underserved interior region.

$7,200/yearAvg Cost
2 yearsLength
86%NCLEX Pass
Best Value Nursing Program in Interior Alaska Visit Program →
BSN · On-Campus
University of Alaska Anchorage
BSN Program — Anchorage

Only public university BSN in Alaska; rural health emphasis

$16,000/yrAvg Cost
4 yearsLength
85%NCLEX Pass
Top choice for Alaska nursing students Visit Program →
BSN · Hybrid
University of Alaska Fairbanks
BSN – Rural Health Focus — Fairbanks

Emphasizes indigenous health and rural nursing practice

$15,500/yrAvg Cost
4 yearsLength
83%NCLEX Pass
UAF prepares nurses for Alaska's rural communities Visit Program →
LPN · On-Campus
Charter College
Medical Assisting & LPN Pathway — Anchorage

Career-focused LPN program in Anchorage with job placement support

$14,000 totalAvg Cost
14 monthsLength
82%NCLEX Pass
Fast track to nursing in Alaska Visit Program →
LPN · On-Campus
AVTEC – Alaska Vocational Technical Center
Practical Nursing Certificate — Seward

Hands-on vocational program with strong placement rates

$9,500 totalAvg Cost
12 monthsLength
84%NCLEX Pass
State-funded vocational training with low tuition Visit Program →
MSN · Hybrid
University of Alaska Anchorage
MSN Program — Anchorage

Advanced practice focus; designed for rural and underserved communities

$18,000/yrAvg Cost
2.5 yearsLength
N/ANCLEX Pass
Graduate nursing designed for Alaska's healthcare needs Visit Program →

About Nursing Programs in Alaska

Alaska presents a nursing market unlike any other, shaped by vast geography, remote and frontier communities, and a strong tribal health system. Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage is the state's largest hospital, but much of the need lies in rural and village health, where nurses often work with significant autonomy and travel by small aircraft to reach patients.

Program options are more limited than in the Lower 48 but include ADN and BSN pathways through the University of Alaska system, along with online RN-to-BSN and MSN options that many Alaskan nurses use to advance without relocating. Distance-delivery education is especially important given the state's geography.

Licensure is handled by the Alaska Board of Nursing. One important planning note: Alaska is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact. Alaska RNs hold a single-state license, and nurses from other states — including compact multistate holders — must apply for Alaska licensure by endorsement before practicing.

Licensing authority: Alaska Board of Nursing.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Alaska is not part of the Nurse Licensure Compact. Alaska RNs hold a single-state license, and out-of-state nurses must apply for Alaska licensure by endorsement, even if they hold a compact multistate license.
Complete an approved ADN or BSN program, pass the NCLEX-RN, and apply for licensure through the Alaska Board of Nursing. Many students train through the University of Alaska system.
Vast geography and remote communities mean many nurses work in rural and tribal health with significant autonomy, sometimes traveling by small aircraft, and distance-delivery education is common.
Entry-level RN programs require in-person clinicals, but RN-to-BSN and MSN options are widely available online, which many Alaskan nurses use to advance without relocating.
About two years for an ADN and four for a BSN, with accelerated BSN options finishing in roughly 12 to 18 months for second-degree students.
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