Opinion: UAA is a beacon of affordability and quality

Students are increasingly associating higher education with the burden of student debt, leaving students and parents searching for affordable alternatives or delaying enrollment. Fortunately, most degrees still pay out in the long run, and attending university can be a smart first step in a young person’s career path. The well-known risks and downsides of accumulating education debt are leaving families to seek budget-friendly options without sacrificing quality or reputation.

The University of Alaska Anchorage stands out as a beacon of affordability and has departments that rival premier state schools in quality. In-state tuition at the university is reasonable and its location in the commercial hub of the state means easy access to employers for internships and jobs after graduation, as well as allowing many students to save the cost of room and board by living at home. With the Alaska Performance Scholarship, UA Scholars Award and other scholarships available, many students pay close to nothing out of pocket.

But affordability is only one part of the decision of where to attend school. Quality education often leads to a professional network and access to opportunities upon graduation. The University of Alaska Anchorage College of Business and Public Policy sets an example of excellence by being AACSB accredited, a standard met by only 6% of business schools worldwide. This prestigious accreditation ensures that students receive top-notch education and are equipped with skills that are highly sought after in the professional world.

I am most familiar with my own home department, the Department of Economics in the College of Business and Public Policy. A recent market analysis showed strong demand for economics graduates to meet state industry needs. The University of Alaska Anchorage Economics programs are highly flexible and available both in person and online, and faculty are engaged and available to students. UAA has small class sizes and students can participate in academic research as undergraduates. UAA is ranked in the top 10% of all economics departments in research productivity in experimental economics. This ranking includes universities like Yale and Harvard. We regularly have high-profile speakers who meet with undergraduate students and give research presentations students can attend. In the last three years, we’ve had Nobel Prize winners and speakers who served in the Clinton, Obama, Trump and Biden administrations give lectures and meet with students.

University of Alaska Anchorage Department of Economics alumni have secured spots at top graduate programs and law schools at institutions like Cambridge University, Johns Hopkins University, the London School of Economics, Harvard Kennedy School and the University of Chicago. Moreover, many have received fully funded scholarships to pursue graduate degrees, including Ph.D.s, along with stipends to cover living expenses. Some of our alumni are now faculty at top universities. Students who attend UAA are more likely to stay in Alaska — taking jobs in state government and the private sector. Our alumni are equipped to lead in the private sector, serving in the state government and working as economists as well as in more general business roles.

Because of the UA Scholars program, students who take advantage of these opportunities often end up with advanced degrees with little to no debt and credentials that compete with those from the best schools in the Lower 48 states. By choosing to take advantage of local opportunities like studying in the University of Alaska Anchorage College of Business & Public Policy, students position themselves for success, leaving the worries of education debt behind and embracing a bright and promising future.

Kevin Berry is a professor of economics and chair of the Department of Economics in the College of Business and Public Policy at the University of Alaska Anchorage. This commentary reflects his personal views.

The views expressed here are the writer’s and are not necessarily endorsed by the Anchorage Daily News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, email commentary(at)adn.com. Send submissions shorter than 200 words to letters@adn.com or click here to submit via any web browser. Read our full guidelines for letters and commentaries here.