Surprise, Arizona Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Surprise, Arizona: median public in-state tuition $35,880 (+550.9% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $55,552 (+2.1% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 88.6% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $21,500 (+62.0% vs U.S.) 836 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 2 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 836 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $35,880 (+550.9% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $55,552 (+2.1% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 88.6% (+0.6 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $33,393 (+235.0% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $21,500 (+62.0% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $11,004
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 18.2%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 50.0%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Surprise serve students across Arizona with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 836 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $35,880. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Surprise, Arizona and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Surprise vs Arizona & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surprise, Arizona | $35,880 | $33,393 | $21,500 | 18.2% | 836 |
| Arizona (state median) | $2,358 | $12,055 | $9,500 | 38.0% | 531,808 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Surprise, Arizona vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surprise, Arizona | $55,552 | 88.6% | 50.0% | 6.0% | — | 61.6% | 0.39 |
| Arizona (state median) | $42,359 | 80.3% | 67.9% | 7.1% | — | 61.8% | 0.35 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Arizona (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surprise, Arizona | $35,880 | $33,393 | $21,500 | 18.2% | 836 | $55,552 | 88.6% |
| Phoenix | $10,888 | $21,291 | $9,500 | 28.8% | 191,290 | $42,186 | 79.0% |
| Tempe | $12,219 | $20,907 | $9,500 | 40.3% | 88,450 | $48,662 | 83.5% |
| Tucson | $13,926 | $20,372 | $9,500 | 67.5% | 61,547 | $47,318 | 84.3% |
| Scottsdale | $2,808 | $22,586 | $9,500 | 8.7% | 59,711 | $62,668 | 87.8% |
| Chandler | $11,960 | $14,916 | $8,834 | 10.7% | 33,298 | $35,774 | 75.9% |
| Flagstaff | $7,980 | $13,996 | $14,625 | 60.7% | 25,354 | $54,384 | 89.8% |
| Mesa | $7,290 | $21,957 | $9,500 | 15.6% | 17,626 | N/A | N/A |
| Glendale | $15,529 | $24,689 | $15,917 | 27.9% | 14,477 | $51,612 | 86.1% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in Surprise, Arizona by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 18.2%, Ottawa University-Surprise
Ottawa University-Surprise
Top college in Surprise, Arizona by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 88.6%, Ottawa University-Surprise
Ottawa University-Surprise
Most selective college in Surprise, Arizona (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 78.1%, Ottawa University-Surprise
Ottawa University-Surprise
Top college in Surprise, Arizona by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $75,385, Ottawa University-Surprise
Ottawa University-Surprise
Top college in Surprise, Arizona by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $82,317, Ottawa University-Surprise
Ottawa University-Surprise
Top college in Surprise, Arizona by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $49,139, Ottawa University-Surprise
Ottawa University-Surprise
Top college in Surprise, Arizona by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $53,089, Ottawa University-Surprise
Ottawa University-Surprise
Top college in Surprise, Arizona by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $55,552, Ottawa University-Surprise
Ottawa University-Surprise
Top college in Surprise, Arizona by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $96,250, Ottawa University-Surprise
Ottawa University-Surprise
Most affordable college in Surprise, Arizona (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $33,393, Ottawa University-Surprise
Ottawa University-Surprise
Top college in Surprise, Arizona by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 50.0%, Ottawa University-Surprise
Ottawa University-Surprise
In-state tuition: Surprise, Arizona vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Surprise, Arizona median in-state tuition is $35,880, +550.9% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Surprise, Arizona vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Surprise, Arizona is $21,500 (+62.0% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $11,004.
Median earnings (10 years out): Surprise, Arizona vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Surprise, Arizona center around $55,552 (+2.1% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Surprise, Arizona vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 88.6% at the median Surprise, Arizona campus (+0.6 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Surprise, Arizona median public in-state tuition is $35,880, about +550.9% vs the national median. Versus the Southwest region, tuition is +873.4%.
Median graduate debt is $21,500 (+62.0% above the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Surprise, Arizona are $55,552, about +2.1% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 88.6% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (+0.6 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 50.0% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 6.0% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 61.6% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Ottawa University-Surprise (88.6%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Surprise, Arizona is 18.2% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Surprise?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in Surprise, Arizona with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Surprise?
Median in-state tuition in Surprise is $35,880 and median net price is $33,393. For Arizona overall, medians are $2,358 and $12,055; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Surprise?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Surprise is $55,552 vs $42,359 for Arizona and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Surprise colleges?
Median completer debt in Surprise is $21,500 vs $9,500 for Arizona and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Surprise?
Top campuses on this page include Ottawa University-Surprise (graduation) and Ottawa University-Surprise (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Surprise?
Among 2 campuses in Surprise, Arizona, 1 campus with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Ottawa University-Surprise; 1 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campus (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: American Baptist (1).
Sources & related
- Arizona college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON