Media Contact:

Harper Estey Harper@NUNAConsultGroup.com 

Utqiaġvik (Barrow), AK – A landmark economic impact report released this week underscores the critical role Iḷisaġvik College – Alaska’s only Tribal College – plays as an engine of opportunity and prosperity for the North Slope Borough and the broader region.

Conducted as part of the national Building Local Economies of Scale: Impact of Tribal Colleges & Universities in Rural America study by the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) and Lightcast, the report quantifies Iḷisaġvik’s transformative financial and social contributions in fiscal year 2022-23.

“At Iḷisaġvik College, we see every day how higher education transforms lives and uplifts entire communities across the North Slope,” said Justina Wilhelm, President of Iḷisaġvik College. “This study confirms that our work not only strengthens local economies but also secures cultural preservation and opportunity for future generations. I'm proud of the people who make this impact possible: our students, the team that supports them, our board, and the many partners who stand alongside us.”

Located in Utqiaġvik (Barrow), Iḷisaġvik serves as an anchor for accessible, culturally-centered higher education, technical training, and workforce development – fulfilling the promise of Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) as powerful catalysts in rural communities. With a broad spectrum of endorsement, certificate, associate, and bachelor’s degree programs and deep integration of Iñupiaq language, culture and values, Iḷisaġvik prepares students for success and strengthens local employers by cultivating highly trained workforce.

“Having visited Iḷisaġvik College on many occasions, and spending time with the students, faculty, and community members, I know how deeply this institution is woven into the fabric of Utqiaġvik, the North Slope, and all of Alaska. Iḷisaġvik is more than a college—it reflects Alaska’s values of self-determination, cultural resilience, and respect for our unique history and heritage,” said Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). “This study confirms what I’ve seen firsthand: the university supports local jobs, prepares future leaders, and carries forward Alaska Native traditions. I’ve been proud to support their work—from securing federal funding to advance a new campus, to helping ensure Iḷisaġvik was recognized as a Tribal College. The credit goes to the college and its community—they’ve built something truly special. I’m proud to have partnered with them on their good work.”

The study finds that Iḷisaġvik College generated $34.9 million in added income for the North Slope Borough during FY 2022-23—an impact equal to 0.7% of the region’s entire gross regional product (GRP), supporting 165 local jobs. Iḷisaġvik alumni alone contributed $25.6 million, with annual returns stemming from higher productivity and earnings across sectors, including resource extraction, government, retail, and health care.

  • Operations spending impact: $9.0 million annually and 90
  • Student spending impact: $313,100 and 4
  • Alumni impact: $25.6 million and 71 jobs—showing the lasting value of Iḷisaġvik graduates throughout the local labor force.

For students, the rewards of attending Iḷisaġvik are substantial:

  • Average lifetime return: Each dollar invested by students yields $4.80 in future
  • Payback period: Students recoup their educational costs in under 5
  • Average annual rate of return: 5%, easily surpassing both bank savings accounts and stock market returns.
  • Associate degree premium: Iḷisaġvik graduates earn approximately $26,800 more per year than individuals with only a high school diploma within the North Slope Borough—amounting to significant financial security and upward mobility for local families.

For taxpayers and sustaining contributors like the North Slope Borough, the regional, home-rule government, Iḷisaġvik returns $1.50 in benefits for every public dollar invested, including increased tax revenues and public sector savings from improved health, reduced crime, and decreased reliance on income assistance programs.

As “one out of every 68 jobs” in the borough is directly supported by Iḷisaġvik activities, the College’s impact rivals that of entire major industries – proof that investments in TCUs profoundly benefit local economies, families, and future generations.

“A flourishing Tribal higher education sector doesn’t just benefit Native communities – it strengthens the entire nation,” said AIHEC President Ahniwake Rose. “TCUs equip students with the skills they need to thrive and lift up families, businesses, and economies far beyond reservation borders. This study makes it clear: when we invest in Tribal Colleges and Universities, we invest in expanded opportunity, upward mobility, and lasting prosperity for all Americans. Supporting TCUs is not only the right thing to do – it is a powerful strategy for building a stronger, more resilient future for generations to come.”

Iḷisaġvik College is the only federally recognized Tribal College in Alaska and a cornerstone for regional growth, serving 1,179 students in FY 2022-23. The Lightcast study utilizes data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Census Bureau, and Iḷisaġvik’s institutional reports, applying rigorous analysis and conservative assumptions to ensure reliable, actionable results for policymakers and community leaders.

For more information or to schedule interviews, contact Harper Estey at Harper@ NUNAConsultGroup.com.

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About the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC):

American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) provides a support network to the nation’s accredited Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) and works to influence public policy on American Indian and Alaska Native higher education issues through advocacy, research, and programmatic initiatives; promotes and strengthens Indigenous languages, cultures, communities, lands, and tribal nations; and through its unique position, serves member institutions and emerging TCUs.