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View of Tucson from Sentinel Peak 2Photo: John Diebolt · Public domain
Colleges in and near Tucson

Tucson is home to six colleges, with about 55,000 students on campus

The University of Arizona (42,066 students on campus) and Pima Community College (10,836) are inside the city. About 11% of Tucson’s residents are enrolled in college, above Arizona (6%).

Pima Community CollegeUniversity of Arizona

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 Tucson. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
6
54,966 students on campus
Nearest college
4.5 mi
Brookline College-Tucson
Residents in college
11%
Above AZ (6%)
Nearest community college
4.9 mi
Pima · $2,442 tuition
Nearest public university
7.2 mi
University of Arizona · $13,926 in-state
Median household income
$57K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Tucson

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

Two colleges within 7.2 milesUniversity of Arizona admits 86% of applicants. Together they have 52,902 students on campus.A community college 4.9 miles awayPima Community College in Tucson: tuition and fees $2,442 a year for Arizona residents.In-state price at University of ArizonaLiving in Arizona, the University of Arizona charges $13,926 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $42,278. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 11% of residentsAbove Arizona (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Tucson

Four private colleges within 8.2 miles, one public college within 7.2 miles, and Pima Community College 4.9 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of ArizonaPimaPima Medical Institute-TucsonTucson
University or collegeCommunity college
Brookline College-TucsonUniversity or college · For-profit · 211 on campus · In Tucson$23knet price48%graduate$30kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.Arizona College of Nursing-TucsonUniversity or college · For-profit · 566 on campus · In Tucson100%admitted$37knet price$35kearningsEarnings are reported for all 20 campuses that file with it.Pima Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 10,836 on campus · In Tucson$3knet price28%graduate$40kearningsTuition and fees: $2,442 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Pima Medical Institute-TucsonUniversity or college · For-profit · 850 on campus · In Tucson · mostly online72%graduate$39kearnings69% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Earnings are reported for all 13 campuses that file with it.University of ArizonaUniversity or college · Public · 42,066 on campus · In Tucson86%admitted$17knet price68%graduate$60kearningsCarrington College-TucsonUniversity or college · For-profit · 437 on campus · In Tucson$34knet price66%graduate$37kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.

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 Tucson’s median household income ($57,073) falls.

Pima Community CollegeIn Tucson · sticker $9,851 · tuition $2,442$4,552a year
University of ArizonaIn Tucson · sticker $29,423$16,051a year
Brookline College-TucsonIn Tucson · sticker $28,723$24,467a year
Carrington College-TucsonIn Tucson · sticker $38,722$34,531a year
Arizona College of Nursing-TucsonIn Tucson · sticker $41,932$36,842a 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 Tucson: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Brookline College-TucsonPimaPima Medical Institute-TucsonUniversity of ArizonaCarrington College-Tucson
University of Arizona68% graduate$60k earnings$20k typical debt
Pima Community College28% graduate$40k earnings$7k typical debt
Pima Medical Institute-Tucson72% graduate$39k earnings*$10k typical debt
Carrington College-Tucson66% graduate$37k earnings*$10k typical debt
Brookline College-Tucson48% graduate$30k earnings*$10k 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: Brookline College-Tucson (4); Pima Medical Institute-Tucson (13); Carrington College-Tucson (5).

Majors

What students study in Tucson

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Tucson’s 5 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 13%Health professions 12%Liberal arts 10%Biology 7%Psychology 6%Engineering 5%Everything else 46%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesPima Community College · 777 graduates a year
$47k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralUniversity of Arizona · 488 graduates a year
$52k4 yrs out
Physiology, Pathology and Related SciencesUniversity of Arizona · 274 graduates a year
$56k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingUniversity of Arizona · 272 graduates a year
$89k4 yrs out
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, GeneralUniversity of Arizona · 260 graduates a year
$53k4 yrs out
Communication and Media StudiesUniversity of Arizona · 252 graduates a year
$73k4 yrs out
Human Resources Management and ServicesUniversity of Arizona · 250 graduates a year
$76k4 yrs out
Computer ScienceUniversity of Arizona · 223 graduates a year
$117k4 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: Pima Medical Institute-Tucson, where most students study only online.

Questions about college in Tucson

Is Tucson a college town?

No. About 11 of every 100 Tucson residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Arizona (6). The largest campus in the city, the University of Arizona, has 42,066 students on campus.

What colleges are in Tucson?

The University of Arizona, Pima Community College, Pima Medical Institute-Tucson, Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson and 2 more are inside the city.

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

Pima Community College in Tucson, 4.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $2,442 a year for Arizona residents; the federal net price, $3,405, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does the University of Arizona cost if we live in Arizona?

Tuition and fees are $13,926 a year in-state and $42,278 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $13,353 (under $30,000 income) to $22,307 (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 Tucson. 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 →