Catholic School CompassTrue north for Catholic families.
University of Alaska Fairbanks: Group photo of Alaska legislators, 2013
Photo: RadioKAOS, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

College · Catholic life on campus

University of Alaska Fairbanks

  • LocationFairbanks, AK
  • Type and sizePublic · 4-year · 6,640 students
Official website

University of Alaska Fairbanks is not a Catholic college. This rating measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes.

The Diocese of Fairbanks says St. Mark's Campus Ministry offers a Catholic presence to students at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The ministry lists a weekly on-campus Mass during the fall and spring semesters, a Catholic Student Association, and parish formation programs, and it lists a Sunday Mass.

Mass, confession, and adoration

Confirm with the parish

Mass 1

  • Sunday5:30 PMSacred Heart Cathedral (off campus) · Per the campus ministry page. The parish profile places Sunday Masses at Muril Auditorium on campus; the pages differ and the conflict is noted in gaps.

Times come only from official parish, chaplaincy, or school pages, and can change with the season. Last verified Oct. 12, 2026.

Sources for these times (1)
  1. St. Mark's Campus Ministry | Diocese of Fairbanksdioceseoffairbanks.org/catholic-campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “St. Mark's University Parish has a weekly Sunday Mass at 5:30pm off-campus at Sacred Heart Cathedral.”
    The ministry lists a weekly Sunday Mass at 5:30 PM at Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Plan a campus visit Mass times for your dates, questions to ask, and a calendar button.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of University of Alaska Fairbanks, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches1 mi2 mi3 miSacred Heart Cathedral: 1.9 mi1University of Alaska Fairbanks (campus)N1 mi
CampusCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Sacred Heart Cathedral — 1.9 mi · 1300 Peger Road, Fairbanks

Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the parish or diocese.

Catholic life scorecard

Each line is one thing we looked for. A check means yes, a half means partly, a dash means no. “Not enough information” means official sources did not say.

N/ACatholic life on campus: Not enough information. Official sources do not cover enough of this to grade it yet.

Catholic life on campus

Not enough information: official sources cover less than 60% of this area.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic campus ministry serving this campus (Catholic center, campus ministry, or chaplaincy)Yes
    Sources (1)
    1. St. Mark's Campus Ministry | Diocese of Fairbanksdioceseoffairbanks.org/catholic-campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “St. Mark's Campus Ministry offers a Catholic presence to students at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks (UAF).”
      St. Mark's Campus Ministry serves Catholic students at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Dedicated Catholic center or chapel on or next to campusNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Priest chaplain assigned to campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Weekday Mass at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Sunday Mass at the campus ministry or a campus chapelOne weekend Mass (Sunday Mass at 5:30 PM is listed on the ministry page; the parish page places Sunday Masses at Muril Auditorium on campus. The pages differ on location; both support at least one Sunday Mass.)
    Sources (2)
    1. St. Mark's Campus Ministry | Diocese of Fairbanksdioceseoffairbanks.org/catholic-campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “St. Mark's University Parish has a weekly Sunday Mass at 5:30pm off-campus at Sacred Heart Cathedral.”
      The ministry lists a weekly Sunday Mass at 5:30 PM at Sacred Heart Cathedral.
    2. Parish Profiles | Diocese of Fairbanksdioceseoffairbanks.org/parish-profiles · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Instead the congregation gathers for Sunday Masses in Muril Auditorium in the Margaret Murie "Life Science" Building on UAF's main campus.”
      The parish that serves UAF gathers for Sunday Masses in a campus building.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Scheduled confession at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Catholic student groups and missionary outreach (e.g., FOCUS, Saint Paul's Outreach, Knights of Columbus, Bible studies)One (One Catholic student group is listed.)
    Sources (1)
    1. St. Mark's Campus Ministry | Diocese of Fairbanksdioceseoffairbanks.org/catholic-campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “followed by a meeting of the Catholic Student Association at 7:45pm”
      The ministry lists a Catholic Student Association that meets after the weekly Mass.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Formation programs (retreats, OCIA/RCIA, service, small groups)Two or more kinds (Retreats, RCIA classes, adult faith formation, and marriage and baptismal preparation are listed through the parish.)
    Sources (1)
    1. St. Mark's Campus Ministry | Diocese of Fairbanksdioceseoffairbanks.org/catholic-campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Adult Faith Formation, RCIA classes, retreats, marriage and baptismal preparation, and other programs are offered through the Parish.”
      Formation programs including RCIA, retreats, and adult faith formation are offered through the parish that serves the campus.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Catholic church within walking distance (computed from OpenStreetMap)Within 3 milesComputed from OpenStreetMap church locations.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Published weekly schedule of Mass, confession, and adoration1 to 5 times a week (1 weekly times documented: 1 Mass, 0 confession, 0 adoration.)Computed from the verified Mass, confession, and adoration times listed on this page (each day a time is offered counts once).

Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.

Strengths

  • The Diocese of Fairbanks lists a campus ministry for the university with a weekly on-campus Mass during the academic year.
    Sources (1)
    1. St. Mark's Campus Ministry | Diocese of Fairbanksdioceseoffairbanks.org/catholic-campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “St. Mark's Campus Ministry offers a Catholic presence to students at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks (UAF).”
      St. Mark's Campus Ministry serves Catholic students at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
      “Weekly Mass is held on-campus at 7:15pm in the Lola Tilly Commons during the fall and spring semesters”
      A weekly Mass is held on campus at 7:15 PM during the fall and spring semesters; the days are not stated.
  • Formation programs including RCIA, retreats, and adult faith formation are listed.
    Sources (1)
    1. St. Mark's Campus Ministry | Diocese of Fairbanksdioceseoffairbanks.org/catholic-campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Adult Faith Formation, RCIA classes, retreats, marriage and baptismal preparation, and other programs are offered through the Parish.”
      Formation programs including RCIA, retreats, and adult faith formation are offered through the parish that serves the campus.

Concerns

None recorded.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

Catholic clubs and student life

4 groups and regular activities · 3 on campus, 0 off campus, 1 location not published

Clubs and groups 1

  • Catholic Student AssociationOn campus
    7:45 PM after the weekly Mass (fall and spring)
    Meets after the weekly Mass with guest speakers, games, discussions, and fellowship.
    dioceseoffairbanks.org

Liturgy and prayer 1

  • Weekly Catholic Mass on campusOn campus
    7:15 PM weekly during fall and spring semesters (days not stated)
    Weekly Mass held in the Lola Tilly Commons.
    dioceseoffairbanks.org

Social life 1

  • Weekly Coffee BreakOn campus
    Weekly (day not stated)
    Weekly informal gathering at Arctic Java in the Wood Center.
    dioceseoffairbanks.org

Faith formation 1

  • Parish formation programs (RCIA, adult faith formation, retreats, marriage and baptismal preparation)
    Offered through St. Mark's University Parish, per the campus ministry page.
    dioceseoffairbanks.org

Everything listed is published by the school, its campus ministry, or the parish. Ask the campus minister what’s happening this semester.

Catholic campus ministry

Sources (2)
  1. St. Mark's Campus Ministry | Diocese of Fairbanksdioceseoffairbanks.org/catholic-campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “St. Mark's Campus Ministry offers a Catholic presence to students at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks (UAF).”
    St. Mark's Campus Ministry serves Catholic students at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
    “Weekly Mass is held on-campus at 7:15pm in the Lola Tilly Commons during the fall and spring semesters”
    A weekly Mass is held on campus at 7:15 PM during the fall and spring semesters; the days are not stated.
  2. Parish Profiles | Diocese of Fairbanksdioceseoffairbanks.org/parish-profiles · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Instead the congregation gathers for Sunday Masses in Muril Auditorium in the Margaret Murie "Life Science" Building on UAF's main campus.”
    The parish that serves UAF gathers for Sunday Masses in a campus building.

Reach out

Contact details for Michael Olsta (Director of Faith and Family Formation (contact for St. Mark's Campus Ministry)) and the campus ministry are available to signed-in users.

Sign in Create a free account

We keep campus ministers’ emails behind sign-in to protect them from spam.

My rating and notes

Sign in or create a free account to rate this school privately, keep notes, and save it to your list.

Academic Excellence

CAcademic Excellence: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
62 of 100
From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

  • Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.38%
  • First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.74%
  • Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.Not reported
  • Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.11 to 1
  • Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$19,769

Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.

Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))

Campus facts

SportsNCAA Division II · Great Northwest Athletic Conference
SettingCity
ROTCArmy
Study abroadOffered
Students per faculty member11 to 1

Federal data (IPEDS). None of this changes the faith grades.

Cost and value

Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.

Undergraduate students
Fall enrollment (IPEDS)
5,638
Total students6,640
Average net price (per year)
After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid
$10,892
Cost of attendance (per year)$22,407
Median federal debt at graduation$20,291
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
38%
First-year retention74%
Median earnings 10 years after entry$48,866
Admission rate—
Students receiving Pell grants22%

Value index: 53 / 100 (how it’s computed)

Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.

Local Church

Diocese of Fairbanks

The Most Reverend Steven J. Maekawa, Bishop of Fairbanks

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Source: usccb.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.

Diocese determined from the county using NCES Catholic school records. Confirm with the diocese.

About this school’s data

Questions families ask

Is University of Alaska Fairbanks a Catholic college?
No. University of Alaska Fairbanks is not a Catholic college. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead. Catholic students are served by St. Mark's Campus Ministry.
Where is Mass celebrated at University of Alaska Fairbanks?
Mass is listed at Sacred Heart Cathedral (off campus). Days and times are on this page; please confirm with the parish or campus ministry before you go.

Ask the school

Something you want to know that isn’t on this page? Ask it here. We send it to the school, and their answer appears on this page. Your name is never shared.

Sign in to ask a question

Reviews

Personal experiences from signed-in readers. Reviews are moderated automatically and never change a school’s grades.

No reviews yet.

Sign in to write a review.

Colleges like this one

Close in size, cost after aid, selectivity and faith life.

Catholic Life ScoreSaginaw Valley State UniversityUniversity Center, MI6,889 students · Net price $10,775 a yearCatholic Life ScoreSUNY Buffalo State UniversityBuffalo, NY6,470 students · Net price $11,346 a yearCatholic Life ScoreThe University of Tennessee-MartinMartin, TN6,941 students · Net price $10,701 a yearNot yet ratedColorado State University PuebloPueblo, CO6,691 students · Net price $10,051 a year

More in Alaska · Alaska rankings

0 school selectedCompare

What would it cost your family?

Pick your family’s yearly income. Each college then shows what families like yours paid on average after grants and scholarships (federal data).

Reach, Target or Likely?

Enter an SAT or ACT to sort every college in this search.