Best colleges in Arizona, ranked by ROI

Name: Arizona colleges — cost, earnings and ROI rankings
Creator: Degree Dividend

By the Degree Dividend editorial data teamEvery figure verified against its federal source — methodologyData updated June 2026

We rank all 63 Arizona institutions we profile by payback years — total net cost divided by earnings above the $48,360 high-school baseline. The state's median net price is $17,439/yr (above the $16,902 national median), and its graduates earn a median $39,217 ten years out (below the $43,549 national median). Chamberlain University-Arizona leads, clearing its cost in 3.6 years. (Scorecard, 2026.)

$17,439

Median net price / yr

Scorecard, 2026

$39,217

Median earnings, 10 yrs

Scorecard, 2026

13.5 yrs

Median payback

Our math, 2026

Colleges ranked

degreedividend.com

Arizona colleges by payback (best first)

#	College	Net price/yr	Earnings 10y	Payback
1	Chamberlain University-Arizona	$40,096	$92,405	3.6 yrs
2	Arizona State University Campus Immersion	$14,967	$62,668	4.2 yrs
3	Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott	$40,287	$84,131	4.5 yrs
4	University of Arizona	$16,674	$59,979	5.7 yrs
5	Northern Arizona University	$14,158	$54,384	9.4 yrs
6	Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc	$30,451	$52,873	13.5 yrs
7	Chandler-Gilbert Community College	$12,726	$51,111	18.5 yrs
8	Ottawa University-Surprise	$33,393	$55,552	18.6 yrs
9	Refrigeration School Inc	$27,025	$52,953	23.5 yrs
10	University of Advancing Technology	$28,522	$50,719	24.2 yrs
11	Arizona Christian University	$32,839	$51,612	40.4 yrs
12	Scottsdale Community College	$13,336	$47,905	no payback
13	Paradise Valley Community College	$12,180	$47,196	no payback
14	GateWay Community College	$13,339	$46,147	no payback
15	Universal Technical Institute-Phoenix	$24,863	$48,341	no payback
16	GateWay Community College-Central City	$14,438	$46,147	no payback
17	Estrella Mountain Community College	$12,254	$44,356	no payback
18	Mesa Community College	$12,132	$44,034	no payback
19	Glendale Community College	$11,650	$43,108	no payback
20	Central Arizona College	$4,714	$40,513	no payback
21	Rio Salado College	$8,341	$41,015	no payback
22	Crestpoint University	$15,670	$42,269	no payback
23	Pima Community College	$3,405	$39,810	no payback
24	Tohono O'odham Community College	$4,233	$39,229	no payback
25	Phoenix College	$12,055	$40,870	no payback
26	Yavapai College	$8,683	$39,890	no payback
27	Prescott College	$22,583	$42,359	no payback
28	Grand Canyon University	$22,472	$42,186	no payback
29	Coconino Community College	$13,996	$40,420	no payback
30	South Mountain Community College	$12,780	$39,825	no payback
31	Cochise County Community College District	$7,929	$38,033	no payback
32	Community Christian College	$22,280	$39,217	no payback
33	Pima Medical Institute-Mesa	$21,461	$38,673	no payback
34	Eastern Arizona College	$9,197	$38,018	no payback
35	Bryan University	$20,834	$40,283	no payback
36	Arizona Western College	$8,983	$36,857	no payback
37	University of Phoenix-Arizona	$13,520	$37,752	no payback
38	Mohave Community College	$5,974	$35,522	no payback
39	Pima Medical Institute-East Valley	$22,453	$38,673	no payback
40	American InterContinental University System	$15,172	$36,144	no payback
41	Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences	$22,990	$37,429	no payback
42	Northland Pioneer College	$9,240	$34,199	no payback
43	Penrose Academy	$22,586	$35,839	no payback
44	Carrington College-Tucson	$33,983	$36,718	no payback
45	The University of Arizona Global Campus	$31,266	$35,404	no payback
46	Arizona College-Glendale	$27,919	$34,657	no payback
47	Dine College	$6,057	$29,188	no payback
48	Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe	$31,681	$34,657	no payback
49	Brookline College-Tempe	$22,297	$29,576	no payback
50	Arizona College of Nursing-Phoenix	$36,660	$34,657	no payback
51	Avalon Institute-Phoenix	$17,439	$30,803	no payback
52	Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson	$37,136	$34,657	no payback
53	Avalon Institute-Mesa	$18,972	$30,803	no payback
54	Carrington College-Mesa	$48,877	$36,718	no payback
55	Miller-Motte College-Arizona Automotive Institute	$21,459	$31,102	no payback
56	Brookline College-Phoenix	$30,072	$29,576	no payback
57	Brookline College-Tucson	$22,871	$29,576	no payback
58	UEI College-Phoenix	$32,854	$31,141	no payback
59	Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC	$13,257	$27,201	no payback
60	UEI College-Mesa	$35,391	$31,141	no payback
61	Empire Beauty School-Tucson	$17,013	$25,073	no payback
62	Southwest Institute of Healing Arts	$43,883	$29,544	no payback
63	Empire Beauty School-Avondale	$16,134	$23,589	no payback

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · ranking and payback are our math. Payback uses institution-wide earnings; a specific major can rank very differently.

Colleges in Arizona: frequently asked questions

Which college has the best ROI in Arizona?

Chamberlain University-Arizona. It charges $40,096/yr after aid and its graduates earn a median $92,405 ten years out, clearing the cost in about 3.6 years — the fastest payback of the 63 Arizona colleges we track.

How much does college cost in Arizona?

The median net price across Arizona colleges is $17,439/yr after grants and scholarships — above the $16,902 national median. That is the actual price the typical aided student pays, not the published sticker.

What do Arizona college graduates earn?

A median $39,217 ten years after entry (Scorecard), below the $43,549 national median. Earnings vary widely by school and major — see each college's profile for its own figure.

How many Arizona colleges pay for themselves?

11 of the 63 Arizona colleges we track clear their cost on institution-wide earnings above the high-school baseline. The rest need a high-ROI major to pay off — the school average alone does not.