Nursing Schools in Alaska

While there are currently very few nursing schools in Alaska with campuses based there, residents in the country’s largest state in area wanting to start a nursing career can still do so through the many nursing school outreach sites and online nursing programs available.

Located at the northernmost part of the USA, Alaska has a population of less than 700,000 with most living in the state’s biggest cities Anchorage, Juneau, College, Fairbanks, and Wasilla. Even with a relatively small population, Alaska is also experiencing severe nursing shortage just like the other states. The state Labor of Employment foresees that the demand for registered nurses will continue to rise year after year.

Alaska is a great place to live in with its scenic coast land and its flourishing cities. And contrary to what most people think about Alaska being a complete freezer, residents in some parts of the state, particularly in the Anchorage area and in the Panhandle or Southeast, do get to enjoy mild temperatures.

And while the cost of living is admittedly higher than in many other states, this shouldn’t be any cause of worry for registered nurse working in hospitals here as they are among the highest paid in the country. Because of the shortage, RNs who don’t want to relocate to Alaska can still find gainful employment here as travel nurses. A travel nurse receives 20 to 30 percent more than the typical earnings of a staff nurse, plus added benefits. On the other hand, aspiring nurses who are still unable to get in an ADN or BSN program in the handful of nursing schools in Alaska, start off as Medical Assistants.

Employment: 5,010
Hourly Mean Wage: $36.04
Annual Mean Wage: $74,970
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

State Nursing Board: Alaska Board of Nursing
State Nurses Association: Alaska Nurses Association
State Hospital Association: Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association

Alaska Nursing Schools

School Name: Alaska Vocational Technical Center
Address: 809 Second Avenue, Seward, Alaska 99664-0889
Contact: (907) 224-3322
Website: www.avtec.edu
Type of School: 2-year, Public
Program Types: LPN/LVN
Accreditation: N/A
School Name: University of Alaska Anchorage
Address: 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage, Alaska 99508
Contact: (907) 786-1800
Website: www.uaa.alaska.edu
Type of School: 4-year, Public
Program Types: Associate Degree Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, LPN to ADN, Masters in Nursing, RN to BSN
Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
School Name: University of Alaska Southeast
Address: 11120 Glacier Highway, Juneau, Alaska 99801-8697
Contact: (877) 465-4827
Website: www.uas.alaska.edu
Type of School: 4-year, Public
Program Types: Less than one year certificate; One but less than two years certificate; Associate’s degree; Bachelor’s degree; Post Baccalaureate certificate; Master’s degree
Accreditation: N/A
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