I really loved APU. I could go here for another 6 years! The hands-on learning that’s ingrained throughout the university was really impactful. I like how many resources APU has and how all of the teachers are super involved and passionate about what they do. I also love how small and tight knit the community is.
Core Distinctives
At Alaska Pacific University, we take pride in fostering a small, personalized learning environment where relationships and community are at the heart of everything we do. Our close-knit campus allows students to truly connect — not just with one another, but with faculty and staff who know them by name and genuinely care about their goals. This individualized approach means students are supported in creating academic paths that reflect their unique passions and interests. Every bachelor’s program culminates in a senior project tailored to the student’s chosen focus, ensuring their educational journey is as distinctive as they are.
Since welcoming our first students in 1959, Alaska Pacific University has emphasized hands-on learning and real-world experiences. Our students don’t just study concepts — they live them. Through active engagement, they apply theoretical knowledge to practical challenges, developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills along the way. Whether it’s camping on a glacier for Outdoor Studies or simulating investment strategies for Business Administration, our faculty prioritize immersive, experience-based learning that extends far beyond the classroom. Every bachelor’s degree culminates in a Senior Project shaped by each student’s unique interests, and abundant opportunities for internships and research further enrich the APU experience.
Learning at APU is intentional, intentional, meaningful, and rooted in purpose. Students come to APU seeking a high-quality education that fosters personal growth and prepares them to pursue their passions while making a lasting impact in their communities. Our learning environment is both rigorous and supportive, built on strong relationships that allow for personalized attention and deeply engaging experiences. Faculty guide students to reflect critically, integrate new knowledge, and draw connections between what they learn and who they are. With an emphasis on cultural perspectives, place-based learning, and individual purpose, APU cultivates education that is both transformative and driven by values.
Students of all backgrounds are welcomed into APU’s learning environment, which centers and honors Alaska Native ways of knowing and being. While APU has a strong connection to Alaska Native cultures, students of all ethnicities and backgrounds are encouraged to study here and engage in this inclusive and dynamic community. Our campus features Alaska Native culture, language, and art, creating a space that is both inclusive and reflective of the communities we serve. While we Many courses incorporate traditional knowledge, Indigenous scholarship, and applications rooted in the needs of Alaska Native communities today. Founded by Peter Gordon Gould, an Unangax̂ leader from the Aleutian Islands, APU was built on the vision of accessible, relevant education for all Alaskans. That vision lives on through our commitment to blending Western and Indigenous knowledge systems—inviting every student to bring their whole self into the classroom and learn in a way that is both innovative and transformative.
Your Next Steps
Living in Alaska gives you access to some of the best wilderness areas in the world, and we want to help you explore it.