Best Colleges in Arizona by Salary Potential
A bachelor’s degree is a great investment. Before you enroll, find out which Arizona universities are the best four-year colleges by earning potential.
| Rank | School Name | School Type | Early Career Pay | Mid-Career Pay | % High Meaning | % STEM Degrees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank:1 | School Name: - Prescott, AZ_50px.png) Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | School Type:Private School | Early Career Pay:$83,400 | Mid-Career Pay:$146,800 | % High Meaning:59% | % STEM Degrees:37% |
| Rank:2 | School Name: University of Arizona | School Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State School | Early Career Pay:$68,300 | Mid-Career Pay:$119,300 | % High Meaning:51% | % STEM Degrees:24% |
| Rank:3 | School Name:_50px.png) Arizona State University Campus Immersion | School Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State School | Early Career Pay:$66,800 | Mid-Career Pay:$118,000 | % High Meaning:52% | % STEM Degrees:27% |
| Rank:4 | School Name:_50px.png) Northern Arizona University | School Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State School | Early Career Pay:$61,300 | Mid-Career Pay:$106,700 | % High Meaning:56% | % STEM Degrees:13% |
| Rank:5 | School Name: Arizona Christian University | School Type:Private School, Religious | Early Career Pay:$54,800 | Mid-Career Pay:$87,500 | % High Meaning:64% | % STEM Degrees:9% |
| Rank:6 | School Name:Ottawa University-Phoenix | School Type:Private School, Religious | Early Career Pay:$51,700 | Mid-Career Pay:$82,700 | % High Meaning:61% | % STEM Degrees:20% |
| Rank:7 | School Name:Prescott College | School Type:Private School | Early Career Pay:$52,500 | Mid-Career Pay:$71,800 | % High Meaning:81% | % STEM Degrees:0% |
The southwestern state of Arizona is the sixth largest state in the U.S. and shares a 389-mile border with Mexico. The southern part of the state is known for its desert climate, while the lesser-known northern part features forests of pine, Douglas fir and spruce trees. It’s also home to Grand Canyon National Park, and about one-quarter of the state is made up of Indian reservations that serve as the home of 27 federally recognized Native American tribes. There are several colleges and universities in Arizona included in Payscale’s College Salary Report, and some of the most famous colleges in Arizona are the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and Grand Canyon University. Graduates from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, located in Prescott, earn among the highest early career salaries. Embry-Riddle almost exclusively grants degrees that prepare students to work in the high-paying aeronautics industry, so it makes sense that they have high median salaries overall.