University of Alaska Southeast

University of Alaska Southeast is a public regional university headquartered in Juneau, Alaska, with additional campuses in Sitka and Ketchikan. It is part of the University of Alaska System and serves communities across Southeast Alaska through on-campus and distance education programs. The university offers associate, bachelor’s, and graduate degrees in fields such as education, business, marine biology, environmental science, liberal arts, and career and technical education. Its coastal location influences academic programs connected to marine research, Indigenous studies, and public service. University of Alaska Southeast attracts traditional students, working adults, and learners in remote communities seeking flexible and community-centered higher education opportunities.

University of Alaska Southeast traces its origins to 1972, when the University of Alaska Juneau was established to expand access to higher education in the state capital. During the 1970s and early 1980s, the Juneau campus developed undergraduate programs to serve Southeast Alaska. On July 1, 1987, a statewide reorganization consolidated the University of Alaska Juneau with Ketchikan Community College and Islands Community College in Sitka, creating University of Alaska Southeast as a distinct institution within the University of Alaska System. This restructuring unified academic programs across the region and strengthened access to baccalaureate and graduate education. In the decades that followed, University of Alaska Southeast expanded distance delivery, marine and environmental studies, and teacher education programs. Today, with campuses in Juneau, Sitka, and Ketchikan, University of Alaska Southeast continues to serve coastal and island communities throughout Southeast Alaska.