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University of Arizona
Admission at University of Arizona is close to open (86.1%), which shifts the homework to outcomes: check the $59,979 median earnings below before the application.
Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →
University of Arizona sits in Tucson proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. It carries a land-grant charter — the 1862 mandate that ties it to agricultural and practical education.
Its highest-earning path is Mining and Mineral Engineering, where graduates median $120,031 four years out. 25.7% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. Most of its 42,537 undergraduates commute — campus empties by evening — yet 82.8% of first-years return, which says something about what daytime here is worth.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1160 and 1420 — above the AZ middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on University of Arizona's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, University of Arizona received 56,466 applications and admitted 48,369 (85.7%), with 9,158 enrolling.
You can apply to University of Arizona without scores. Among admitted students who did submit, the middle half landed between 1160 and 1420; applicants below that range often simply apply without them.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 580 | 640 | 700 |
| SAT Math | 580 | 640 | 720 |
| ACT Composite | 21 | 26 | 30 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How University of Arizona compares
| University of Arizona | Arizona median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 86.1% | 89.6% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $13,926 | $15,667 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $59,979 | $42,359 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors University of Arizona: $59,979 median at year ten, versus $42,359 across Arizona institutions.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $13,926 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $42,278. For non-residents, University of Arizona's $42,278 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
University of Arizona is a big school: 42,537 undergraduates at last count.
67.5% graduate within six years. Roughly 32% don't — ask a University of Arizona tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at University of Arizona
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Mining and Mineral Engineering | $120,031 |
| Computer Science | $117,451 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $105,839 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $104,513 |
| Chemical Engineering | $101,815 |
| Engineering-Related Fields | $101,557 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $100,938 |
| Systems Engineering | $100,468 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $99,722 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $95,625 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $93,729 |
| Civil Engineering | $91,602 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $90,384 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $90,045 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $88,892 |
| Physics | $88,207 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $86,529 |
| Marketing | $84,111 |
| Economics | $83,267 |
| Biological/Biosystems Engineering | $80,732 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $77,987 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $77,951 |
| City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning | $76,360 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $76,013 |
| Architecture | $74,972 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $72,758 |
| Public Health | $66,937 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $66,862 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $66,833 |
| Chemistry | $66,532 |
| Mathematics | $66,381 |
| Public Administration | $64,953 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $63,387 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | $61,892 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $61,534 |
| Nutrition Sciences | $59,079 |
| Biology, General | $58,119 |
| Science Technologies/Technicians, Other | $58,075 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $57,458 |
| Political Science and Government | $56,585 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $56,045 |
| Philosophy | $55,804 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $55,784 |
| Journalism | $55,676 |
| Sociology | $55,300 |
| Architecture and Related Services, Other | $55,226 |
| Legal Professions and Studies, Other | $53,868 |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General | $53,471 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $52,805 |
| Homeland Security | $52,677 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $52,571 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $52,243 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $52,173 |
| Psychology, General | $52,038 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $51,871 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $51,857 |
| History | $51,737 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $51,285 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $50,784 |
| International/Globalization Studies | $48,645 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $48,487 |
| Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | $48,168 |
| Area Studies | $48,162 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $46,313 |
| Animal Sciences | $45,548 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $44,471 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $44,260 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $44,145 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $44,058 |
| Anthropology | $43,885 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $43,314 |
| Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs | $41,591 |
| Music | $40,922 |
| Dance | $34,010 |
Median earnings for these 74 University of Arizona programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $59,979 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 50 additional University of Arizona programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for University of Arizona?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1160–1420 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 86.1% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is University of Arizona's acceptance rate?
85.7% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 48,369 admitted from 56,466 applicants.
How much does University of Arizona cost?
In-state tuition is $13,926; out-of-state students pay $42,278. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do University of Arizona graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $59,979 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Arizona
- Arizona State University Campus Immersion — 89.9% admitted
- Northern Arizona University — 89.6% admitted
- Prescott College — 94.5% admitted
- University of Advancing Technology — 98.1% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.