Tucson, Arizona Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Tucson, Arizona: median public in-state tuition $13,926 (+152.7% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $47,318 (-13.0% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 84.3% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $9,500 (-28.4% vs U.S.) 61,547 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 17 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 61,547 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $13,926 (+152.7% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $47,318 (-13.0% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 84.3% (-3.7 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $20,372 (+104.3% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $9,500 (-28.4% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $11,004
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 67.5%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 66.4%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Tucson serve students across Arizona with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 17 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 61,547 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $13,926. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Tucson, Arizona and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Tucson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson, Arizona | $13,926 | $20,372 | $9,500 | 67.5% | 61,547 |
| 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: Tucson, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson, Arizona | $47,318 | 84.3% | 66.4% | 9.3% | — | 57.1% | 0.30 |
| 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson, Arizona | $13,926 | $20,372 | $9,500 | 67.5% | 61,547 | $47,318 | 84.3% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| 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 Tucson, 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, 67.5%, University of Arizona
University of Arizona
Top 2 colleges in Tucson, 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, 89.5%, University of Arizona
University of Arizona
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 79.2%, Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson
Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson
Top 2 most selective colleges in Tucson, 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, 86.1%, University of Arizona
University of Arizona
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 100.0%, Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson
Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson
Top 2 colleges in Tucson, 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, $86,924, University of Arizona
University of Arizona
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $85,169, Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson
Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson
Top 2 colleges in Tucson, 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, $120,031, University of Arizona
University of Arizona
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $87,378, Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson
Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson
Top 2 colleges in Tucson, 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, $47,665, University of Arizona
University of Arizona
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $32,840, Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson
Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson
Top 2 colleges in Tucson, 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, $55,966, University of Arizona
University of Arizona
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $33,491, Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson
Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson
Top 2 colleges in Tucson, 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, $59,979, University of Arizona
University of Arizona
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $34,657, Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson
Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson
Top 2 colleges in Tucson, 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, $190,028, University of Arizona
University of Arizona
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $-17,452, Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson
Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson
Top 2 most affordable colleges in Tucson, 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, $16,674, University of Arizona
University of Arizona
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Rank 2, Net Price, $37,136, Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson
Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson
Top 2 colleges in Tucson, 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, 82.8%, University of Arizona
University of Arizona
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 50.0%, Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson
Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson
In-state tuition: Tucson, Arizona vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Tucson, Arizona median in-state tuition is $13,926, +152.7% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Tucson, Arizona vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Tucson, Arizona is $9,500 (-28.4% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $11,004.
Median earnings (10 years out): Tucson, Arizona vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Tucson, Arizona center around $47,318 (-13.0% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Tucson, Arizona vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 84.3% at the median Tucson, Arizona campus (-3.7 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
Tucson, Arizona median public in-state tuition is $13,926, about +152.7% vs the national median. Versus the Southwest region, tuition is +277.8%.
Median graduate debt is $9,500 (-28.4% below 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 Tucson, Arizona are $47,318, about -13.0% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 84.3% 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% (-3.7 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 66.4% 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 9.3% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 57.1% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include University of Arizona (89.5%), Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson (79.2%)—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 Tucson, Arizona is 67.5% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Tucson?
This city profile covers 17 campuses in Tucson, Arizona with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Tucson?
Median in-state tuition in Tucson is $13,926 and median net price is $20,372. For Arizona overall, medians are $2,358 and $12,055; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Tucson?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Tucson is $47,318 vs $42,359 for Arizona and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Tucson colleges?
Median completer debt in Tucson is $9,500 vs $9,500 for Arizona and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Tucson?
Top campuses on this page include University of Arizona (graduation) and University of Arizona (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Tucson?
Among 17 campuses in Tucson, Arizona, 11 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Empire Beauty School-Tucson, Carrington College-Tucson, and University of Arizona.
Sources & related
- Arizona college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON