University of Arizona
#3 Best Master's Programs in Arizona- Graduation Rate
- 67% B-
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $59,979 B+
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $16,674 C
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 86% C-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 24.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $24.2 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Best Master's Programs in Arizona.
Every $1 spent returns $24.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,546,185.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Earnings 47% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $24.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- World Rank
- #161
- Times Higher Education
- Research Score
- 44/100
- Times Higher Education
Why University of Arizona Matters
University of Arizona is a public research university in Tucson, AZ ranked #161 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 42,537
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Health Professions, Psychology
Why students choose University of Arizona
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 86% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1150–1420. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $16,674 a year after grants and scholarships — 3% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $59,979 ten years after enrolling — 47% above the typical college, against $19,620 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.51 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
The University of Arizona has an impressive enrollment of 42,537 students, making it one of the largest universities in the country. This size translates into diverse opportunities and a vibrant campus life, with a wide range of programs available to students.
According to data from Chetty/Opportunity Insights, students from low-income backgrounds have significant mobility outcomes at this institution, although specific metrics like the mobility rate are not available. The university's focus on accessibility is reflected in its 86% acceptance rate, suggesting that many students can find a place here.
The net price for attending is $16,674, with a median debt of $19,620, which is manageable for many graduates. After ten years, alumni typically earn around $59,979. Students who thrive here often pursue degrees in Business, Biology, Health Professions, Psychology, or Engineering, fields that align with strong job market demands.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective University of Arizona is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Arizona? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Tucson, Arizona, University of Arizona admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 86%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,246. The graduation rate is roughly 67%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 86%
- Retention Rate
- 83%
- SAT Average
- 1246
- ACT Midpoint
- 25
- SAT Range
- 1150–1420
- ACT Range
- 21–29
- Full-Time Faculty
- 77%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $12,347
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.70
- First-Gen Students
- 31%
- Applicants
- 52,091
- Admitted
- 45,194
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2025-26
The acceptance rate tells you how hard University of Arizona is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 16% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 16%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 12%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 23%
- of enrolled freshmen
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 35% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Arizona? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Arizona is $42,278, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $16,674. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,353 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,620 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $13,926
- Out-of-State
- $42,278
- Avg Net Price
- $16,674
- Median Debt
- $19,620
- Pell Grant Rate
- 26%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 26%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $13,353
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $14,984
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $16,051
- Family Income $110K+
- $22,307
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at University of Arizona — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University of Arizona Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Arizona earn a median of $59,979, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $47,665
- 8 Years
- $55,966
- 10 Years
- $59,979
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.33x
- Earning > $25K
- 69%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (3,412)
- 49%
- 100% (3,412)
- 49%
- 100% (3,412)
- 49%
- 100% (3,412)
- 49%
How University Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is University of Arizona Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of Arizona delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $16,674/year ($66,696 total). Graduates earn $59,979 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,612,881 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,546,185 (24.2× your investment). The median debt is $19,620, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 67% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $66,696
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,612,881
- Net Return
- $1,546,185
- ROI Multiple
- 24.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $16,674
- Median Debt
- $19,620
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 67%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Research & Teaching
Data: Times Higher Education World University Rankings
How Research-Intensive Is University of Arizona? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places University of Arizona at #161 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 44/100, teaching at 43/100, and citation impact of 67/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
- World Rank
- #161
- Teaching
- 43
- Research
- 44.1
- Citations
- 66.9
- International
- 24.1
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
- Research Score
- 44/100
- Times Higher Ed
- Academic Influence
- 67/100
- Citation impact (THE)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-47,210,000
Top Programs
The fields University of Arizona awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 16% $75,451 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 10% $37,688 early-career
- Health Professions 9% $76,777 early-career
- Psychology 8% $38,986 early-career
- Engineering 6% $86,780 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 5% $94,104 early-career
- Communications 4% $49,719 early-career
- Social Sciences 4% $52,703 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of Arizona's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Arizona? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Tucson, Arizona, University of Arizona admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 86%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,246. The graduation rate is roughly 67%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Arizona? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Arizona is $42,278, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $16,674. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,353 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,620 in federal student loans.
Is University of Arizona Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Arizona earn a median of $59,979, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is University of Arizona? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Arizona. Its economic connectedness score is 1.51, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.07). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
How Research-Intensive Is University of Arizona? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places University of Arizona at #161 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 44/100, teaching at 43/100, and citation impact of 67/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
Does University of Arizona offer Early Decision?
No. University of Arizona does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2025-26 Common Data Set).
Is University of Arizona really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 35% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at University of Arizona (2025-26 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at University of Arizona?
About 16% of admitted students choose to enroll at University of Arizona — its yield rate (2025-26 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Compare University of Arizona
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Arizona.
- Texas State UniversitySan Marcos, TX · Close peer56% grad $56,906 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- University of HoustonHouston, TX · Close peer65% grad $62,377 earn 74% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe, AZ · Close peer68% grad $62,668 earn 90% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Colorado State University-Fort CollinsFort Collins, CO · Close peer67% grad $60,543 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Indiana University-BloomingtonBloomington, IN · Close peer81% grad $63,742 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- The University of AlabamaTuscaloosa, AL · Close peer74% grad $59,221 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of Arizona? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Arizona. Its economic connectedness score is 1.51, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.07). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note