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Living in
College.
College is an unincorporated community in Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in College
College is a community of 11,730 people in Alaska. The median household income is $83,895, median rent runs about $1,454 per month, and median home values are around $297,500. Unemployment is low at 4%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
College at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
32.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.5%
Foreign-Born
8.0%
Broadband Internet
93.5%
of households
Population Growth
-8.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics8.0% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in College: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In College, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (13.4%), and 4.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.8%
of residents
65 and Older
17.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
23.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.5%
of households
Married Couples
45.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.42
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for AK
Rent, home values, and income in College
In College, home values are 16% below the AK average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.2
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,697
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
61.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1980
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.4%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts below AK average
Unemployment in College
Unemployment in Fairbanks North Star Borough, which includes College, is 0.6 percentage points lower than the AK average.
Unemployment rate
College: Fairbanks North Star Borough rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Fairbanks North Star Borough (county-wide) · Annual averages
What College Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute16 min avg
How College residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In College, most residents drive alone to work (65%), and 91% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 mi
Fairbanks International Airport (FAI)
Small hub564k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safety
Crime rates
Crime data not available
No police agency in the FBI's crime data covers College, so there's no local crime rate to show.
Natural DisastersHeavy Snow most common — 2 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
88.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Fairbanks North Star County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Fairbanks North Star Borough, which includes College, the most common type is heavy snow, with 2 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2024 | 2 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
82 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Fairbanks North Star Borough, county-wide
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Fairbanks North Star Borough, which includes College, is typically good — 206 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
206
per year
Moderate Days
139
per year
Unhealthy Days
10
per year
Fairbanks North Star Borough, county-wide
Climate69°F summers, -8°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
College has cool summers (avg high 69°F) and very cold winters (avg low -8°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
43°/20°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
69°/48°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
33°/17°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
6°/-8°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
13.3"
Annual Snowfall
64.3"
Hot Days/Year
0
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
229
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
116
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2°F | -12°F | 0.66" |
| Feb | 12°F | -5°F | 0.57" |
| Mar | 24°F | 1°F | 0.45" |
| Apr | 44°F | 22°F | 0.37" |
| May | 60°F | 37°F | 0.61" |
| Jun | 70°F | 48°F | 1.92" |
| Jul | 71°F | 51°F | 2.49" |
| Aug | 65°F | 46°F | 2.37" |
| Sep | 54°F | 35°F | 1.56" |
| Oct | 33°F | 18°F | 0.87" |
| Nov | 12°F | -1°F | 0.83" |
| Dec | 5°F | -8°F | 0.64" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in College
Uninsured
7.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside College's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Fairbanks Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.4 mi away · Fairbanks
Bassett Ach (ft Wainwright)
Acute Care - Department of Defense · ER available · 4.5 mi away · Fort Wainwright
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education39.9% college degree rate
Schools and degree attainment in College
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
39.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in College
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Public · 4-year · 4,207 students · in-state tuition $8,956 · 38% graduate · median earnings $52,180 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreation
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for College
Data not yet available
Cities Near College
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to College?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
College FAQ
Is College, Alaska affordable?⌄
College's median rent is $1,454/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $83,895/year. Median home value is $297,500.
What is the job market like in College, Alaska?⌄
Fairbanks North Star Borough, which includes College, has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in College, Alaska?⌄
The cost of living in College is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,454/month and median household income is $83,895/year. The median home value is $297,500. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in College, Alaska?⌄
The average commute in College is 16 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from