University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ 85721-0066
About University of Arizona
University of Arizona (U of A) is a public research university in Tucson, Arizona, enrolling about 42,537 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 86.14% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $59,979 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- University of Arizona charges about 2.5× the national public median tuition ($13,926).
- Versus the Arizona median, sticker tuition is 59% above.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 67.52%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $59,979.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at University of Arizona is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 799% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Finding
University of Arizona awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 251 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arizona | $13,926 | $16,674 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| Arizona (state median) | $8,774 | $12,055 | 54 |
| Urban (City) (locale median) | $15,200 | $20,053 | 1,346 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is University of Arizona really?
Key findings
- University of Arizona charges about 2.5× the national public median tuition ($13,926).
- Versus the Arizona median, sticker tuition is 59% above.
University of Arizona tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $13,926
Finding University of Arizona charges about 2.5× the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $13,926. That is about 2.5× the national public median ($5,512). Versus the Arizona median ($8,774), sticker tuition is 59% above. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 17% above.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at University of Arizona versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at University of Arizona versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at University of Arizona is $16,674.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $16,674 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $4,619 above the Arizona median net price. Versus urban (city) campuses, net price runs $3,379 below the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At University of Arizona, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
University of Arizona: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for University of Arizona—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$13,926
Out-of-state tuition
$42,278
Avg. net price
$16,674
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $13,353 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $14,984 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $16,051 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $19,777 |
| $110,001+ | $22,307 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $55,704. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What University of Arizona is known for
Top program completions
- Psychology, General522
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse367
- Public Health, General343
- Business Administration and Management, General309
- Physiology, General300
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 19% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1246
- Midpoint ACT: 25
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is University of Arizona a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
University of Arizona is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for University of Arizona.
Campus
Location
Tucson, AZ
City / state
- ZIP
- 85721-0066
- NCES locale
- City
Compared with Urban (City) campuses nationally, net price is 17% below the median for Urban (City) campuses ($20,053 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Southwest
- Carnegie
- Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
Size
Enrollment
42,537
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 50,839
- Graduate
- 11,517
- Full-time share
- 83%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$19,620
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 25.70%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for University of Arizona.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at University of Arizona was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for University of Arizona in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $10,391 | $27,383 | $13,617 |
| 2014 | $10,957 | $29,421 | $15,215 |
| 2015 | $11,403 | $32,630 | $16,099 |
| 2016 | $11,769 | $34,967 | $16,150 |
| 2017 | $11,877 | $35,307 | $14,821 |
| 2018 | $12,467 | $36,366 | $14,553 |
| 2019 | $12,711 | $36,718 | $15,016 |
| 2020 | $12,716 | $36,743 | $13,358 |
| 2021 | $12,736 | $37,258 | $15,601 |
| 2022 | $13,275 | $39,577 | $14,721 |
| 2023 | $13,626 | $41,095 | $15,960 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1246 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 25 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.40
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
University of Arizona reported total enrollment of about 42,537 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 44% male and 56% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (45.9%), Hispanic or Latino (28.1%), and Race/ethnicity unknown (5.9%). About 25.70% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 31.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
83.5% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at University of Arizona in 2024 is 42,537 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 50,839 students. Graduate enrollment is about 11,517 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
82.8%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
49.93% 100% Completion Time
67.52% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 49.93% of students graduating from University of Arizona completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Psychology, General: 18% male / 82% female
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 15% male / 85% female
- Public Health, General: 22% male / 78% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
University of Arizona graduates earn a median of $59,979 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of University of Arizona.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $59,979. Median federal loan debt: $19,620. Average net price used in cost models: $16,674.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway University of Arizona graduates report median earnings of $59,979 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for University of Arizona.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (251 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at University of Arizona.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for University of Arizona graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for University of Arizona—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$1.29B
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Arizona median 299× the median ($4.3M)
- Southwest median 56× the median ($23.2M)
- U.S. median 49× the median ($26.4M)
- Arizona median 10× the median ($2,717)
- Southwest median 2.7× the median ($10,113)
- U.S. median 2.3× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 76.6%
- Arizona median 21.0 pp above median (55.6%)
- Southwest median 16.9 pp above median (59.7%)
- U.S. median 18.6 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $12,347
- Arizona median 1.7× the median ($7,187)
- Southwest median 1.7× the median ($7,078)
- U.S. median 1.6× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $15,271
- Arizona median 2.7× the median ($5,643)
- Southwest median 2.7× the median ($5,699)
- U.S. median 2.1× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
University of Arizona at a glance
University of Arizona
University of Arizona is a public institution in Tucson, AZ, classified as Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Psychology, GeneralRegistered Nursing/Registered NursePublic Health, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian45.9%Hispanic or Latino28.1%Race/ethnicity unknown5.9%
Schools near University of Arizona
Other campuses in Tucson, AZ when available, plus nearby institutions in Arizona.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C) within Arizona, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is U of A located?
University of Arizona is located in Tucson, AZ. The institution is also known as U of A.
What is U of A's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at University of Arizona (U of A) is 86.1% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 56,466 applicants and 48,369 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is U of A's tuition?
University of Arizona tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $13,926 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $16,674 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does U of A cost?
Reported tuition is $13,926 and average net price is $16,674 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $16,746 annually.
What explains U of A's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($16,674), completion (67.5% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($59,979). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at U of A?
University of Arizona reports undergraduate enrollment of about 50,839 students, White (45.9%), Hispanic or Latino (28.1%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend U of A?
About 31.4% of students at University of Arizona are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for University of Arizona?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, University of Arizona reports midpoint SAT about 1246 and midpoint ACT about 25.
What do graduates of University of Arizona earn?
Median earnings are $47,665 six years after entry and $59,979 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at University of Arizona?
The 150%-time completion rate is 67.5% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do University of Arizona students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $19,620.
Is University of Arizona public or private?
University of Arizona is a public institution located in Tucson, AZ.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Arizona college profile
- Arizona college costs
- Arizona colleges by ROI
- Arizona State University Campus Immersion vs University of Arizona vs Northern Arizona University
- Tucson, Arizona city profile
- Southwest regional profile
- Urban (City) college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Arizona
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.