Best Online Nursing Programs in Anchorage, AK (2026)

Anchorage, Alaska has 2 accredited schools offering nursing programs. Anchorage has a population of about 289,069. Median household income is $98,152 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 37.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Alaska, the top-earning nursing-related role is Nurse Anesthetist at a median $341,210 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Nursing Schools to Anchorage

The 2 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 2 schools in our directory that offer nursing programs near Anchorage. Distances are calculated from Anchorage city center.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Anchorage. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Alaska Pacific University

Anchorage, AK 23.2 miles from Anchorage BOC Score67.6
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes

Visit website

#2

University of Alaska Anchorage

Anchorage, AK 23.8 miles from Anchorage BOC Score43.8
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes

Visit website

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Alaska schools on the Alaska nursing page.


Nursing Wages Near Anchorage

Anchorage is part of the Anchorage, AK metro area (BLS area code 11260). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Alaska statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Registered Nurse$115,290Anchorage, AK$109,383
Licensed Practical Nurse$82,330Anchorage, AK$78,112
Nurse Anesthetist$341,210AK statewide$323,729
Nurse Midwife$133,430Anchorage, AK$126,594
Nurse Practitioner$157,430Anchorage, AK$149,364
Nursing Assistant$45,370Anchorage, AK$43,046

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.


Anchorage at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population289,069Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$98,152Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+37.7%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)105.4 (above U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024
Nursing-related employment in Anchorage County10,179 workers, 261 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited nursing schools are near Anchorage, AK?

Our directory has 2 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Anchorage. The closest is Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage, AK (23.2 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is University of Alaska Anchorage (23.8 miles). 2 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying nursing roles near Anchorage?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles near Anchorage are: Nurse Anesthetist ($341,210), Nurse Practitioner ($157,430), Nurse Midwife ($133,430). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Alaska statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Is Anchorage an affordable place to study nursing?

Anchorage’s median household income of $98,152 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Anchorage while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Alaska public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.


Learn More About Nursing Programs

Other Programs Available in Anchorage

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Anchorage:

Data verified: June 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.