College ROI Report
Updated 2024
Best-value Colleges in Arizona
Students and their families can find important information about the return on investment for a variety of schools in the Arizona College ROI rankings.
| Rank | School Name | 20 Year Net ROI | Total 4 Year Cost | Graduation Rate | Typical Years to Graduate | Average Loan Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank:1 | School Name: | 20 Year Net ROI:$733,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$229,000 | Graduation Rate:71% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$62,600 |
| Rank:2 | School Name: University of Arizona (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$537,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$123,000 | Graduation Rate:68% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$27,700 |
| Rank:3 | School Name:_50px.png) Arizona State University-Tempe (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$532,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$120,000 | Graduation Rate:67% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$32,000 |
| Rank:4 | School Name:Arizona State University-Tempe (Out-of-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$459,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$193,000 | Graduation Rate:67% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$32,000 |
| Rank:5 | School Name:University of Arizona (Out-of-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$438,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$222,000 | Graduation Rate:68% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$27,700 |
| Rank:6 | School Name:_50px.png) Northern Arizona University (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$359,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$115,000 | Graduation Rate:59% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$25,600 |
| Rank:7 | School Name:Northern Arizona University (Out-of-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$300,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$174,000 | Graduation Rate:59% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$25,600 |
| Rank:8 | School Name: Arizona Christian University (Private) | 20 Year Net ROI:$149,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$192,000 | Graduation Rate:45% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$31,000 |
| Rank:9 | School Name:Prescott College (Private) | 20 Year Net ROI:$7,600 | Total 4 Year Cost:$185,000 | Graduation Rate:55% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$29,400 |
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Students who want to join top-flight athletics programs or study in exciting technical fields will find high-value programs in Arizona that meet their needs. Of course, students also enjoy the rugged, desert beauty of the state that calls itself home to the Grand Canyon.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University often lands among the top schools for Arizona colleges when it comes to return on investment. Perhaps you wonder why alumni of Embry-Riddle earn such a high return on investment. High returns are largely because the school is regarded as one of the best for students who want to pursue careers in security and intelligence, space, engineering, aviation and applied sciences. Business leaders and government agencies love to hire alums of this prestigious university. Embry-Riddle is a private university and also has a campus in Daytona, Florida.
Students who want to study a diverse array of fields and catch the best in collegiate sports can also choose to attend University of Arizona, home of the Wildcats. Arizona’s first university (founded in 1885), U of A is also Arizona’s only member of the Association of American Universities, an organization of North America’s premier research institutions. The school is home to many notable alumni including Sesame Street creator Joan Ganz Cooney, singer Linda Ronstadt, film and television producer Jerry Bruckheimer, New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, author Barbara Kingsolver, actor Greg Kinnear and several NASA astronauts.
Arizona schools offer everything from rigorous academic programs to exciting sporting events to great extracurricular activities. If you’re considering studying in Arizona, take a look at Payscale’s College ROI Report to get essential information about how you can realize the greatest return for your investment in higher education.
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