PlainCollege

State profile · 128 colleges · Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Colleges in Arizona

Colleges in Arizona from PlainCollege's Scorecard dataset, compared on acceptance, cost, and 10-year former-student earnings.

128
Colleges
$44,538
Avg 10-yr earnings (99 of 128)
87.1%
Avg acceptance

Institution data retrieved July 2026; field-of-study data retrieved March 2026.

Arizona · the picture in one line

Arizona's 99 of 128 colleges that report earnings average $44,538 in 10-year former-student earnings - 20th highest of 56 states and territories that report.

According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.

#20
of 56 states by avg former-student earnings
$92,405
top earnings - Chamberlain University-Arizona
87.1%
avg acceptance (14 reporting)
44 / 17 / 67
public / nonprofit / for-profit

Best earnings-to-cost value among Arizona colleges with reported figures: Arizona State University Campus Immersion.

Arizona · enrollment ≠ earnings

In Arizona, University of Phoenix-Arizona leads by undergraduate enrollment (85,991 students, #1 of 80) but ranks #44 of 80 on 10-year median earnings ($37,752), while Chamberlain University-Arizona tops earnings at $92,405 (#1 of 80) with 693 students (#44 of 80). The biggest campus is not always the highest-paying outcome.

According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.

85,991
University of enrollment #1
$92,405
Chamberlain University-Arizona earnings #1
#1
Enrollment rank of earnings leader
#44
Earnings rank of enrollment leader

Enrollment is IPEDS fall headcount; earnings are Scorecard 10-year medians for federally aided former students. Different populations, not one ROI ratio.

Enrollment of Arizona's #1 campuses by size vs earnings

Same unit (undergraduate students) for both named leaders.

students

What this shows University of Phoenix-Arizona is largest by enrollment; Chamberlain University-Arizona leads on 10-year earnings at $92,405.

Source IPEDS via College Scorecard As of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

This page aggregates colleges and universities in Arizona returned by PlainCollege's U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard snapshot. It combines IPEDS-derived institutional fields with Treasury-derived earnings published for federal-aid recipients. Coverage includes public flagships, regional comprehensives, community and technical colleges, private nonprofit institutions, and for-profit schools.

The state-aggregate statistics below include all reporting institutions in Arizona as a single denominator, community colleges, public universities, private nonprofits, and for-profit institutions are pooled. State averages are therefore useful for high-level framing (in-state tuition is X, average admission rate is Y, average earnings are Z) but should not be read as representative of any specific sector or institution. Drill into individual school profiles for the full picture: admissions, costs (sticker and net), federal-aid usage, completion, retention, demographics, and earnings outcomes 6 and 10 years after enrollment.

The Scorecard data used here was retrieved in March–July 2026. That retrieval window is not the measurement year: tuition and enrollment fields retain their source reporting periods, while 10-year institution earnings describe federally aided former students who were working and not enrolled in the measurement year, a decade after entry.

Largest Colleges in Arizona by Enrollment

IPEDS Fall enrollment via College Scorecard.

students

What this shows Enrollment size reflects institutional scale, not quality or on-campus experience - a large school here can still be a small, selective program relative to its state peers.

Source IPEDS As of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Highest Earnings, 10-Year Median: Arizona

U.S. Treasury earnings linkage via College Scorecard.

USD

What this shows Former-student earnings vary by program mix and local labor market as much as by the school itself; this comparison does not isolate a school's causal effect.

Source College Scorecard As of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

The ROI lens

Arizona colleges: earnings vs. cost

Arizona colleges, positioned by earnings vs net price Two-by-two quadrant chart: x-axis median earnings 10 years after enrollment, y-axis average net price after financial aid. Each dot is a college, colored by completion within 150% of normal time (garnet ≥65%, amber 45-64%, red <45%). Net price increases upward, earnings increase rightward, so: bottom-right = best value (low cost, high earnings); top-right = premium (high cost, high earnings); bottom-left = community college tier (low cost, modest earnings); top-left = cost challenge (high cost, low earnings). Currently plotting 14 colleges. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard joined to Carnegie Classification. Arizona colleges, positioned by earnings vs net price COST CHALLENGE PREMIUM COMMUNITY BEST VALUE $30K $66K Median Earnings 10 Years After Enrollment ($) $3K $33K Avg Net Price ($) University of Phoenix-Arizona: $38K earn · $14K net · 20% grad University of Phoe… Grand Canyon University: $42K earn · $22K net · 43% grad Grand Canyon Unive… Arizona State University Campus Immersion: $63K earn · $15K net · 68% grad Arizona State Univ… University of Arizona: $60K earn · $17K net · 67% grad University of Ariz… Northern Arizona University: $54K earn · $14K net · 59% grad Northern Arizona U… The University of Arizona Global Campus: $35K earn · $31K net · 10% grad The University of … Mesa Community College: $44K earn · $12K net · 16% grad Pima Community College: $40K earn · $3K net · 25% grad Glendale Community College: $43K earn · $12K net · 15% grad Rio Salado College: $41K earn · $8K net · 6% grad Phoenix College: $41K earn · $12K net · 14% grad American InterContinental University System: $36K earn · $15K net · 13% grad Arizona Western College: $37K earn · $9K net · 22% grad Scottsdale Community College: $48K earn · $13K net · 17% grad Grad rate (4yr) ≥65% 45-64% <45%
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education

National context

How Arizona ranks among the states

Arizona's average 10-year earnings of $44,538 place it in the 64th percentile among all 56 states and territories tracked by the College Scorecard.

Arizona: average former-student earnings vs. every state

State-average 10-year median earnings, College Scorecard

$44,538 Top 36% higher than 64% of 56 states & territories

$24,000–$28,000: 3 states & territories (5%). Below this entry. $28,000–$32,000: 1 states & territories (2%). Below this entry. $32,000–$36,000: 3 states & territories (5%). Below this entry. $36,000–$40,000: 12 states & territories (21%). Below this entry. $40,000–$44,000: 14 states & territories (25%). Below this entry. $44,000–$48,000: 10 states & territories (18%). This entry sits in this band. $48,000–$52,000: 7 states & territories (13%). Above this entry. $52,000–$56,000: 3 states & territories (5%). Above this entry. $56,000–$60,000: 3 states & territories (5%). Above this entry. AZ $24,000 $60,000 every state, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $4K-wide band; taller bars hold more states & territories. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Arizona vs. every state, at a glance
EarningsAffordabilityOptionsAccess

Each axis is this state's percentile among all states & territories on that metric (Earnings/Affordability/Options/Access) -- not a composite grade, just four independent comparisons in one shape.

School type matters

How school type shapes earnings in Arizona

Average 10-year former-student earnings by institution type. Program mix, selectivity, student background, and local labor markets all contribute to the observed gaps, so read this beside each school's own figures.

Average former-student earnings by school type - Arizona

Mean of per-school 10-year median earnings, College Scorecard

avg earnings

What this shows Keeping schools within one state reduces some regional variation, but this descriptive comparison does not control for program mix, selection, or student background.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard As of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals
128
Total Schools
$11,116
Avg In-State Tuition (54 of 128)
87.1%
Avg Acceptance Rate (14 of 128)
$44,538
Avg Median Earnings (99 of 128)
44 Public 17 Private NP 67 For-Profit
Ownership Breakdown

What the IPEDS Data Shows for Colleges in Arizona

PlainCollege's Scorecard dataset contains 128 postsecondary institutions in Arizona. The ownership mix is 44 public institutions, 17 private nonprofits, and 67 private for-profit schools. Public institutions often report lower in-state tuition because state appropriations subsidize the published price, while private nonprofits may show higher sticker prices partly offset by institutional aid.

Cost and selectivity signals vary widely even within a single state. The average in-state tuition among the 54 of 128 Arizona institutions that report one is $11,116, and the average admission rate among the 14 that report one sits at 87.1%. Admission rates from IPEDS exclude open-enrollment institutions, which is why community colleges and many for-profits show as unreported rather than at 100 percent. Looking at the table, the acceptance-rate column is blank for schools that don’t screen applicants, a meaningful distinction when evaluating selectivity alongside earnings.

Institution-level earnings connect cost to one observed outcome. Among the 99 of 128 Arizona colleges that report 10-year median earnings, federally aided former students show a mean of $44,538, based on Treasury-derived records published through the Scorecard. Because earnings depend heavily on field of study, student background, and local labor markets, state-level averages should be read alongside each school’s program mix. The table sorts institutions with reported IPEDS enrollment so users can compare acceptance rates, enrollment scale, and median earnings side by side.

All Schools in Arizona

School Name City Type Enrollment Acceptance Rate 10yr Earnings
University of Phoenix-Arizona Phoenix For-Profit 85,991 - $37,752
Grand Canyon University Phoenix Private NP 73,371 78.9% $42,186
Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe Public 64,674 89.9% $62,668
Arizona State University Digital Immersion Scottsdale Public 53,782 66.7% $62,668
University of Arizona Tucson Public 42,537 86.1% $59,979
Northern Arizona University Flagstaff Public 22,903 89.6% $54,384
The University of Arizona Global Campus Chandler Public 20,152 - $35,404
Mesa Community College Mesa Public 14,460 - $44,034
Pima Community College Tucson Public 14,242 - $39,810
Glendale Community College Glendale Public 11,975 - $43,108
Rio Salado College Tempe Public 11,668 - $41,015
Phoenix College Phoenix Public 8,555 - $40,870
American InterContinental University System Chandler For-Profit 7,111 - $36,144
Arizona Western College Yuma Public 6,374 - $36,857
Sonoran Desert Institute Tempe For-Profit 5,435 - -
Scottsdale Community College Scottsdale Public 5,377 - $47,905
Paradise Valley Community College Phoenix Public 5,117 - $47,196
Chandler-Gilbert Community College Chandler Public 5,051 - $51,111
Central Arizona College Coolidge Public 4,912 - $40,513
GateWay Community College Phoenix Public 4,538 - $46,147
Estrella Mountain Community College Avondale Public 4,512 - $44,356
Yavapai College Prescott Public 3,988 - $39,890
South Mountain Community College Phoenix Public 3,645 - $39,825
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott Prescott Private NP 3,218 76.6% $84,131
Mohave Community College Kingman Public 3,216 - $35,522
Cochise County Community College District Sierra Vista Public 3,096 - $38,033
Eastern Arizona College Thatcher Public 2,643 - $38,018
Pima Medical Institute-Tucson Tucson For-Profit 2,567 - $38,673
Bryan University Tempe For-Profit 2,506 - $40,283
Coconino Community College Flagstaff Public 2,426 - $40,420
Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc Avondale For-Profit 1,957 - $52,873
Aspen University Phoenix For-Profit 1,466 - -
Dine College Tsaile Public 1,375 - $29,188
Refrigeration School Inc Phoenix For-Profit 1,346 - $52,953
UEI College-Phoenix Phoenix For-Profit 1,234 - $31,141
Arizona College of Nursing-Phoenix Phoenix For-Profit 1,229 100.0% $34,657
Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe Tempe For-Profit 1,202 100.0% $34,657
Arizona Christian University Glendale Private NP 1,165 70.6% $51,612
Carrington College-Phoenix North Phoenix For-Profit 1,080 - $36,718
Northland Pioneer College Holbrook Public 1,010 - $34,199
Tohono O'odham Community College Sells Public 998 - $39,229
University of Advancing Technology Tempe For-Profit 855 98.1% $50,719
Ottawa University-Surprise Surprise Private NP 836 78.1% $55,552
Pima Medical Institute-Phoenix Phoenix For-Profit 780 - -
Brookline College-Phoenix Phoenix For-Profit 712 - $29,576
Pima Medical Institute-Mesa Mesa For-Profit 705 - $38,673
Chamberlain University-Arizona Phoenix For-Profit 693 90.9% $92,405
Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences Tempe For-Profit 692 - $37,429
Miller-Motte College-Arizona Automotive Institute Glendale For-Profit 689 - $31,102
UEI College-Mesa Mesa For-Profit 657 - $31,141
GateWay Community College-Central City Phoenix Public 595 - $46,147
Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC Chandler For-Profit 570 - $27,201
Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson Tucson For-Profit 562 100.0% $34,657
Southwest Institute of Healing Arts Tempe For-Profit 534 - $29,544
Carrington College-Mesa Mesa For-Profit 528 - $36,718
Universal Technical Institute-Phoenix Avondale For-Profit 527 - $48,341
Carrington College-Tucson Tucson For-Profit 517 - $36,718
Community Christian College Quartzsite Private NP 424 - $39,217
Penrose Academy Scottsdale For-Profit 403 - $35,839
Arizona College-Glendale Glendale For-Profit 403 - $34,657
Crestpoint University Phoenix For-Profit 385 - $42,269
East Valley Institute of Technology Mesa Public 377 - $35,086
Pima Medical Institute-East Valley Mesa For-Profit 306 - $38,673
Avalon Institute-Mesa Mesa For-Profit 298 - $30,803
Brookline College-Tempe Tempe For-Profit 282 - $29,576
Western Maricopa Education Center Glendale Public 245 - -
Aveda Institute-Tucson Tucson For-Profit 240 - -
Empire Beauty School-Avondale Avondale For-Profit 236 - $23,589
Prescott College Prescott Private NP 219 94.5% $42,359
Avalon Institute-Phoenix Phoenix For-Profit 219 - $30,803
Brookline College-Tucson Tucson For-Profit 218 - $29,576
Aveda Institute-Phoenix Tempe For-Profit 218 - -
Empire Beauty School-Tucson Tucson For-Profit 203 - $25,073
HDS Truck Driving Institute Tucson For-Profit 200 - $40,059
Pathways College Tempe Private NP 196 - -
Sessions College Tempe For-Profit 188 - -
Aveda Institute Tucson-Avondale Avondale For-Profit 158 - -
Arizona School of Integrative Studies Mesa For-Profit 155 - -
Arizona Culinary Institute Scottsdale For-Profit 149 - $41,651
Tucson College of Beauty Tucson For-Profit 144 - $27,314
Arizona College-Mesa Mesa For-Profit 140 - $34,657
Paul Mitchell the School-Phoenix Phoenix For-Profit 137 - $29,340
Justice University Chandler Private NP 116 - -
Turning Point Beauty College Chandler For-Profit 106 - $17,556
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Phoenix Phoenix For-Profit 105 - $42,759
Empire Beauty School-Chandler Chandler For-Profit 104 - $23,921
Xtylo Beauty And Barber College Tolleson For-Profit 78 - -
Charles of Italy Beauty College Lake Havasu City For-Profit 76 - $26,269
Commercial Divers International Goodyear For-Profit 71 - -
Kino College Tucson For-Profit 64 - -
Xtylo Beauty and Barber College Phoenix For-Profit 57 - -
Pure Aesthetics Natural Skincare School Tucson For-Profit 53 - -
International Barber College Chandler For-Profit 45 - -
International Baptist College and Seminary Chandler Private NP 43 - $39,556
Indian Bible College Flagstaff Private NP 25 - -
Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery Phoenix For-Profit 21 - $35,209
Allen School-Phoenix Phoenix For-Profit 8 - $34,186
DeVry University-Arizona Phoenix For-Profit 6 - $45,987
The School of Architecture Scottsdale Private NP - - -
Phoenix Seminary Scottsdale Private NP - - -
Sonoran University of Health Sciences Tempe Private NP - - -
Midwestern University-Glendale Glendale Private NP - - -
Arizona School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Tucson For-Profit - - -
Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine & Acupuncture Phoenix For-Profit - - -
Glitz School of Cosmetology-Casa Grande Campus Casa Grande For-Profit - - -
San Joaquin Valley College-Phoenix Phoenix For-Profit - - $38,317
Arizona State University-West Valley Glendale Public - - $62,668
Arizona State University-Polytechnic Mesa Public - - $62,668
Arizona State University-Downtown Phoenix Phoenix Public - - $62,668
Arizona State University - Tucson Tucson Public - - $62,668
Arizona State University - The Gila Valley Thatcher Public - - $62,668
Arizona State University - Yuma Yuma Public - - $62,668
Arizona State University - Pinal Coolidge Public - - $62,668
Arizona State University - Cochise Sierra Vista Public - - $62,668
Arizona State University - Yavapai Prescott Valley Public - - $62,668
Arizona State University - Pima Tucson Public - - $62,668
Arizona State University - Northeastern Arizona Show Low Public - - $62,668
Arizona State University - Mesa City Center Mesa Public - - $62,668
Alliant International University - Phoenix Phoenix For-Profit - - $66,666
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science - Arizona Scottsdale Private NP - - $79,652
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science - Arizona Phoenix Private NP - - $79,652
Avila University - Arizona Goodyear Private NP - - $52,773
Jersey College - Tucson Tucson For-Profit - - $66,087
Jersey College - Mesa Mesa For-Profit - - $66,087
Pure Aesthetics Natural Skincare School - Arizona Holistic Institute Tucson For-Profit - - -
Western Maricopa Education Center - Southwest Campus Buckeye Public - - -
Western Maricopa Education Center - Northeast Campus Phoenix Public - - -
Western Maricopa Education Center - Northwest Campus Surprise Public - - -

Featured Colleges in Arizona

Quick picks from this state – compare two schools side by side

University of Phoenix-Arizona
Phoenix, AZ
85,991 students
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, AZ
73,371 students
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
Tempe, AZ
64,674 students
Arizona State University Digital Immersion
Scottsdale, AZ
53,782 students
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ
42,537 students
Compare University of Phoenix-Arizona vs Grand Canyon University →

Explore more Arizona data

Highest-earning colleges → Best value colleges → ROI calculator → Compare states →

Guides & Resources

Is College Worth It?

A data-driven answer using earnings and cost data.

How to Compare Colleges

A framework for picking schools with data, not rankings alone.

Financial Aid & Net Price

How net price differs from sticker price and financial aid.

Understanding College Earnings Data

How Scorecard earnings figures are measured and their limits.

About This Data

According to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, PlainCollege's current snapshots were retrieved in March–July 2026. This state's institution-level figures come from the July retrieval, including IPEDS-derived characteristics. Earnings represent median income 10 years after enrollment for federally aided former students who were working and not enrolled in the measurement year, using U.S. Treasury-derived records published through the Scorecard.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

What this means for Arizona applicants

  • Arizona has 128 colleges in PlainCollege's Scorecard dataset, spanning community colleges, public flagships, and private institutions.
  • Average reported admission rate across Arizona colleges is 87.1% - individual schools vary widely, check each profile for its own rate.
  • State-level averages pool every reporting institution together; run a specific school's numbers before assuming the state figure applies to it.Use the ROI calculator

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or educational advice. State-level averages pool every reporting institution and do not predict any individual school's outcome.

Every figure on PlainCollege is rendered directly from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard data, no number is typed in by an editor. State-level rollups are computed directly from College Scorecard and IPEDS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Review the public data changelog. Data current as of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals.