The University of Alaska Anchorage is the largest member of the University of Alaska System. The UAA comprises seven teaching units at the main campus, they are the Colleges of Education, Health and Social Welfare, Arts and Sciences, Business and Public Policy, Community and Technical, and the Schools of Engineering and Nursing. There are four community campuses: Matanuska-Susitna College, Kenai Peninsula College, and Prince William Sound Community College.

UAA traces its history back to 1954, classes for what eventually became UAA. In 1954 Anchorage Community College was formed. Anchorage Senior College began providing upper-division classes in 1969. In 1978, the four year University of Alaska Anchorage was created and separated from Anchorage Community College. The two institutions, along with the Community Colleges Rural Extension units merged in 1987 to become the present united university.