University Of Arizona

The University of Arizona's published cost of attendance is $29,423, but need-based aid meaningfully reduces what most families pay. Low-income families see a net price of approximately $13,353, while middle-income families pay around $16,051, and higher-income families pay approximately $22,307.

Azimuth ranks University of Arizona #447 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.

The gap between sticker price and net price is real — understanding [how net price differs from published cost](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) is an important first step for families evaluating affordability. The University of Arizona participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and families apply using the FAFSA.

Need-based aid covers a meaningful share of cost for qualifying students, and the income-band spread above reflects how aid packaging shifts the actual price across different household situations. Families in the lower-income bands typically see the largest gap between sticker and net price, while higher-income families pay closer to the published cost of attendance.

Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,620, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $30,126; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $67,420, median federal debt of $19,620 projects to a monthly payment of about $222 under standard ten-year repayment.

For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of University of Arizona earn median 4-year earnings of $67,420, placing University of Arizona in the 71.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,118 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 79.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks University of Arizona #431 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Program outcomes vary by major.

Psychology, General reports 456 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $52,038, ranked #120 nationally in its major. Communication and Media Studies reports 259 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $72,758, ranked #19 nationally in its major.

Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences reports 256 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $56,045, ranked #22 nationally in its major. Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General reports 251 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $53,471, ranked #9 nationally in its major.

University of Arizona's program mix is anchored in Business, which accounts for 16% of degree output, followed by Engineering at 6% and Social Sciences at 6%. That business-heavy signature shapes the institution's earnings profile: applied fields like banking, accounting, and marketing drive much of the strongest financial performance, while large social-science and biology cohorts anchor the university's breadth.

Across 102 programs serving roughly 7,997 students annually, 71 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold — a broad portfolio consistent with a large public research university. The strongest national ranks cluster in quantitative and applied-business fields.

Azimuth ranks Computer Science #74 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with 212 graduates earning $117,451. Azimuth ranks Finance #32 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $100,938, and Azimuth ranks Nursing #115 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $88,892.

Computer Science combines the largest cohort — 456 graduates — with median earnings of $52,038, making it the program that contributes the most aggregate economic value across the institution. Communication and Media Studies (259 graduates, $72,758) and Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences (256 graduates, $56,045) round out the largest programs by enrollment, as described in [how Azimuth evaluates programs](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).

Several of University of Arizona's high-earning programs — particularly Digital Marketing and Business Administration — feed directly into high-mobility career pathways where graduates enter the national labor market upon completion. The [supply-demand map for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these fields align with national wage trends and employer demand.