University of Arizona
University of Arizona — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
University of Arizona at a Glance
The University of Arizona is a public land-grant research university in Tucson, Arizona, United States. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, it was the first university established in the Arizona Territory. The University of Arizona is one of three universities governed by the Arizona Board of Regents. As of fall 2025, the university enrolled 54,384 students in 22 separate colleges/schools, including the Eller College of Management, the Wyant College of Optical Sciences, …
1885
141 years old
$1.4B
$1.39 billion ( FY 2024)
54,384
43,294 undergrad · 11,090 grad
3,374
392 acres
Identity
How to Apply to University of Arizona
Official admissions pageNovember 1 (Early Action)
$50
Is University of Arizona Worth It?
University of Arizona delivers solid financial returns for its graduates. At $16,674/year, it's priced 18% below average, while graduates go on to earn $59,979 — 12% above the national average.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.1 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 67% graduation rate means roughly 33% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How University of Arizona compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #17 of 38 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State University-Fresno | 100 | $7,000 | $61,244 |
| #2 | California State University-Fullerton | 100 | $6,555 | $62,951 |
| #3 | California State University-Los Angeles | 100 | $3,967 | $59,211 |
| #4 | California State University-Northridge | 100 | $7,021 | $59,115 |
| #5 | California State University-Sacramento | 97 | $9,338 | $64,876 |
| #6 | University of Illinois Chicago | 95 | $10,974 | $68,740 |
| #17 | University of Arizona | 60 | $16,674 | $59,979 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of University of Arizona's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 2 in AZ.
Best Programs at University of Arizona
The highest-earning program at University of Arizona is Computer Science at $74,000/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services at $18,500/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Science graduate from University of Arizona earns $74,000, while a Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services graduate earns $18,500. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Computer Science graduates carry $21,000 in median debt vs. $17,625 for Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $16,674/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $74,000 | $74,000 | $21,000 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $69,100 | $69,100 | $21,500 |
| Mining and Mineral Engineering | $69,100 | $69,100 | $22,150 |
| Systems Engineering | $68,000 | $68,000 | $22,489 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | $64,500 | $64,500 | $21,693 |
| Physics | $63,100 | $63,100 | $20,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $62,800 | $62,800 | $22,750 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $61,700 | $61,700 | $20,248 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $58,100 | $58,100 | $18,483 |
| Civil Engineering | $58,000 | $58,000 | $19,055 |
| Chemical Engineering | $57,000 | $57,000 | $20,921 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $56,900 | $56,900 | $18,500 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $56,000 | $56,000 | $19,500 |
| Materials Sciences | $55,500 | $55,500 | $20,375 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $53,600 | $53,600 | $20,500 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $49,500 | $49,500 | N/A |
| Marketing | $47,000 | $47,000 | $20,250 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $46,200 | $46,200 | $21,199 |
| Mathematics | $45,400 | $45,400 | $19,500 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $45,200 | $45,200 | $20,805 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $44,800 | $44,800 | $17,213 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $44,000 | $44,000 | $18,800 |
| Science Technologies/Technicians, Other | $43,200 | $43,200 | $19,700 |
| Economics | $42,900 | $42,900 | $21,450 |
| Architecture | $42,500 | $42,500 | $31,000 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $42,300 | $42,300 | $21,625 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $38,900 | $38,900 | $19,500 |
| Chemistry | $36,900 | $36,900 | $19,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $35,100 | $35,100 | $19,470 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $34,800 | $34,800 | $25,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $33,500 | $33,500 | $22,193 |
| Public Administration | $33,400 | $33,400 | $21,750 |
| Sociology | $33,400 | $33,400 | $20,000 |
| Homeland Security | $33,300 | $33,300 | $17,400 |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General | $33,200 | $33,200 | $21,718 |
| Journalism | $32,700 | $32,700 | $23,066 |
| Geography and Cartography | $31,800 | $31,800 | N/A |
| Psychology, General | $31,700 | $31,700 | $18,400 |
| Animal Sciences | $31,300 | $31,300 | $22,116 |
| Public Health | $31,300 | $31,300 | $20,500 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $31,200 | $31,200 | $19,340 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $30,400 | $30,400 | $17,375 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $30,300 | $30,300 | $23,535 |
| City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning | $30,200 | $30,200 | $25,000 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $29,500 | $29,500 | $17,900 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $28,400 | $28,400 | $20,010 |
| Area Studies | $27,900 | $27,900 | $20,659 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $27,900 | $27,900 | $21,294 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $27,100 | $27,100 | $21,500 |
| Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | $27,000 | $27,000 | $19,973 |
| History | $26,400 | $26,400 | $18,000 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $26,100 | $26,100 | $18,750 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $26,000 | $26,000 | $16,540 |
| Nutrition Sciences | $25,800 | $25,800 | $20,345 |
| Biology, General | $25,700 | $25,700 | $20,500 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $25,500 | $25,500 | $21,250 |
| Philosophy | $25,500 | $25,500 | $18,850 |
| International/Global Studies | $25,400 | $25,400 | $14,750 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $25,000 | $25,000 | $17,375 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $24,500 | $24,500 | $19,602 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $23,800 | $23,800 | $19,500 |
| Anthropology | $23,700 | $23,700 | $23,750 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $22,800 | $22,800 | $18,500 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $22,200 | $22,200 | $23,500 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $21,500 | $21,500 | $15,500 |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | $21,200 | $21,200 | $18,517 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $18,500 | $18,500 | $17,625 |
Similar Colleges in AZ
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Tucson, AZ
- Student Body
- 42,537 students
- Admission Rate
- 86%
- Graduation Rate
- 67%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $16,674
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $59,979
- Median Student Debt
- $19,620