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Colleges in and near Prescott

Prescott is home to three colleges, with 8,561 students on campus

Yavapai College (5,126 students on campus) and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott (3,269) are inside the city. About 8% of Prescott’s residents are enrolled in college, above Arizona (6%).

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-PrescottYavapai College

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Prescott. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
3
8,561 students on campus
Nearest college
1.7 mi
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
Residents in college
8%
Above AZ (6%)
Nearest community college
3.1 mi
Yavapai College · $2,948 tuition
Nearest public university
3.1 mi
Yavapai College · $2,948 in-state
Median household income
$71K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Prescott

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Two colleges within 3.1 milesEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott admits 77% of applicants. Together they have 8,395 students on campus.A community college 3.1 miles awayYavapai College in Prescott: tuition and fees $2,948 a year for Arizona residents.In-state price at Yavapai CollegeLiving in Arizona, Yavapai College charges $2,948 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $9,486. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 8% of residentsAbove Arizona (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Prescott

Two private colleges within 3.7 miles, and Yavapai College 3.1 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miYavapai CollegeEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University-PrescottPrescott CollegePrescott
University or collegeCommunity college
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-PrescottUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,269 on campus · In Prescott77%admitted$40knet price68%graduate$84kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.Yavapai CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,126 on campus · In Prescott$9knet price34%graduate$40kearningsTuition and fees: $2,948 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Prescott CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 166 on campus · In Prescott · mostly online95%admitted$23knet price56%graduate$42kearnings82% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Prescott’s median household income ($70,874) falls.

Yavapai CollegeIn Prescott · sticker $14,988 · tuition $2,948$10,588a year
Prescott CollegeIn Prescott · mostly online · sticker $48,532$16,537a year
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-PrescottIn Prescott · sticker $62,798$37,346a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Prescott: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-PrescottYavapai CollegePrescott College
Yavapai College34% graduate$40k earnings$9k typical debt
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott68% graduate$84k earnings*$24k typical debt
Prescott College56% graduate$42k earnings$16k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott (3).

Majors

What students study in Prescott

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Prescott’s 2 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Liberal arts 18%Engineering 15%Transportation 15%Health professions 11%Business 6%Social sciences 4%Everything else 32%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesYavapai College · 307 graduates a year
$46k4 yrs out
Air TransportationEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott · 169 graduates a year
$90k4 yrs out
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space EngineeringEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott · 147 graduates a year
$96k4 yrs out
International Relations and National Security StudiesEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott · 92 graduates a year
$76k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingYavapai College · 90 graduates a year
$84k4 yrs out
Mechanical EngineeringEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott · 54 graduates a year
$96k4 yrs out
Security Science and TechnologyEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott · 48 graduates a year
$99k4 yrs out
Computer EngineeringEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott · 32 graduates a year
$106k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating. Left out: Prescott College, where most students study only online.

Questions about college in Prescott

Is Prescott a college town?

No. About 8 of every 100 Prescott residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Arizona (6). The largest campus in the city, Yavapai College, has 5,126 students on campus.

What colleges are in Prescott?

Yavapai College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott and Prescott College are inside the city.

What is the closest community college to Prescott, and what does it cost?

Yavapai College in Prescott, 3.1 miles away. Tuition and fees are $2,948 a year for Arizona residents; the federal net price, $8,683, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Yavapai College cost if we live in Arizona?

Tuition and fees are $2,948 a year in-state and $9,486 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $7,882 (under $30,000 income) to $12,493 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Prescott. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →