Best College ROI in Az 2026
23 colleges in Az analyzed for return on investment. DeVry University-Arizona leads with a ROI Score of 95/100 (STRONG BUY).
Az has 23 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 4 public institutions and 19 private ones. Across the 23 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $30K and earn $72K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
87% of Az colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at DeVry University-Arizona (median $95K on Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications). The lowest median debt comes from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott at $22K.
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Az
DeVry University-Arizona
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Az's ROI rankings on its Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications program. Graduates earn a median $95K in their first year against $26K in median debt.
University of Arizona
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Computer Science. Five-year median earnings: $147K.
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Computer Science. Graduation rate 9900%, debt $22K.
Top 20 Colleges by ROI in Az
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DeVry University-Arizona(private) | Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | $26K | $95K | A (95) |
| 2 | University of Arizona(public) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 3 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion(public) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 4 | University of Advancing Technology(private) | Computer Programming | $26K | $95K | A (94) |
| 5 | American InterContinental University System(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $27K | $95K | A (93) |
| 6 | Grand Canyon University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $27K | $95K | A (93) |
| 7 | University of Phoenix-Arizona(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $28K | $95K | A (93) |
| 8 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott(private) | Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical Engineering | $22K | $92K | A (85) |
| 9 | Northern Arizona University(public) | Mechanical Engineering | $23K | $92K | A (85) |
| 10 | Dine College(public) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $24K | $65K | B (79) |
| 11 | Ottawa University-Surprise(private) | Human Resources Management and Services | $24K | $65K | B (79) |
| 12 | Arizona Christian University(private) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $28K | $65K | B (77) |
| 13 | National Paralegal College(private) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $31K | $65K | B (76) |
| 14 | Bryan University(private) | Health and Medical Administrative Services | $37K | $62K | B (75) |
| 15 | Prescott College(private) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $33K | $65K | B (75) |
| 16 | Pima Medical Institute-Tucson(private) | Health and Medical Administrative Services | $41K | $62K | B (74) |
| 17 | Brookline College-Phoenix(private) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $41K | $65K | B (73) |
| 18 | Chamberlain University-Arizona(private) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $42K | $62K | B (73) |
| 19 | Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe(private) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $50K | $62K | B (70) |
| 20 | Brookline College-Tempe(private) | Criminal Justice and Corrections | $23K | $50K | B (66) |
College debt and earnings data for Az is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
DeVry University-Arizona has the best ROI in Az with a score of 95/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications, with $95K in first-year median earnings against $26K in median debt.
Across 23 Az colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $30K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $72K.
DeVry University-Arizona graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Az has 23 colleges in our database (4 public, 19 private). Of the 23 with reportable ROI, 87% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).