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 ROI Rankings by State
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%).