#313 in the world · QS 2027

The University of Arizona

Arizona's land-grant flagship in Tucson, a public research giant best known for space science and planetary exploration.

Tucson, Arizona, United States Public land-grant research university Founded 1885 Official website

See my chances at U of A Admissions office

Photo: Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0

Acceptance rate: 84%; First-year class entering fall 2025 (CDS 2025-26); deadlines for fall 2027
Students: 54,384; 43,294 undergraduates
International: 4%; of students
Student–faculty: 19:1; ratio
Tuition: $46,068; 2026-27

About U of A

The University of Arizona was founded in 1885 by the Arizona Territorial Legislature as the territory's first university, and it remains the state's land-grant institution. Its main campus sits in central Tucson, and in fall 2025 it enrolled 54,384 students, 43,294 of them undergraduates. It is one of only eight U.S. universities that are at once an R1 research university, a member of the Association of American Universities and a Hispanic-Serving Institution.

Arizona's clearest strength is space and planetary science. Its Lunar and Planetary Laboratory led NASA's Phoenix Mars mission, the first space mission run entirely by a university, and the university reports more than $1 billion in research expenditures in FY2024. U.S. News places it No. 3 in the world for space science, and its Wyant College of Optical Sciences, Eller College of Management (whose MIS program is No. 2 in the country) and hydrology and water-resources programs are also nationally known.

Undergraduates enrol in one of more than a dozen colleges, from the College of Science and College of Engineering to Fine Arts, Nursing and Public Health, and ambitious students can join the W.A. Franke Honors College through the same application. Admission is broad (about 84% of first-year applicants were admitted in 2025), so Arizona suits self-starters who want big-school resources, a Big 12 sports culture and research access in a desert city.

Sursum

“Upwards” — university motto

Why students choose U of A

Space science is a genuine specialty: U.S. News ranks Arizona No. 3 in the world and No. 1 among U.S. public universities in the subject.

One Common App with an optional 500-word essay covers both general admission and the W.A. Franke Honors College, which adds small classes and research opportunities.

Eller College of Management's Management Information Systems program is ranked No. 2 nationally by U.S. News, behind only Carnegie Mellon.

Applying by the November 1 Early Action deadline brings priority consideration for admission, merit tuition awards and honors, with decisions from January 15.

Admissions

First-year class entering fall 2025 (CDS 2025-26); deadlines for fall 2027

47,080 admitted from 56,376 applicants

SAT 1090–1320

1000120014001600

Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.

ACT 20–28

2024283236

Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.

Admission is broad but not automatic: every application gets a comprehensive review by up to two readers, and some applicants are admitted to The A Center for undeclared students rather than to their first-choice major. 7,492 first-year students enrolled in fall 2025.

Testing Test-optional: SAT and ACT scores are not required for general admission; if submitted, official scores may be used for course placement or to meet core competency requirements.

Grades Average high school GPA of enrolled first-years was 3.43 (fall 2025, 98% reporting); 33% ranked in the top tenth of their class (among the 37% whose school reported rank). Only 12% submitted SAT and 23% ACT scores.

Typical entry requirements

U.S. high school	Completion of the university's core competency requirements (high school coursework in English, math, lab science, social science, second language and fine arts); grade point average in required core coursework is reviewed
English language	IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 79 Minimums for undergraduate admission: TOEFL iBT 79 (tests before January 2026) or 4 on the new TOEFL scale, IELTS Academic 6.5, Duolingo 110, PTE Academic 60, SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 580 or ACT English 21. Scores must be within 2 years. Coursework-based waivers exist, e.g. 3 years at an English-medium high school with a C in English.

Deadlines

Early Action Non-binding Next deadline · In 26 days

November 1, 2026

Priority consideration for admission, merit aid and W.A. Franke Honors College. Decisions released from January 15, 2027.
Regular Decision Non-binding

After November 1, 2026 (no fixed deadline)

Applications received after November 1 are considered on a space-available basis; decisions released in batches in spring 2027 after Early Action.

Fall 2027 main-campus applications opened August 1, 2026. Admitted students are encouraged to pay the enrollment fee by May 1, 2027.

How to apply

Apply via the Common App (about an hour to complete); self-report high school courses and grades, with final transcripts required only after you enroll. The 500-word essay is optional but strongly encouraged; Franke Honors applicants add an honors prompt and may submit extra materials. Test scores are optional.

What admissions looks for

Academic record first: the Common Data Set rates rigor of secondary school record and GPA as very important, with admissions reviewing class rank, strength and performance in curriculum and GPA in required core coursework.
Extracurricular activities, talents and personal characteristics are rated important; the office looks for leadership, service, work experience and the ability to benefit from and contribute to a challenging learning environment.
Level of applicant's interest is rated important, and the optional essay asks why Arizona fits your academic goals.
Test scores, essays, volunteer and work experience are considered; recommendations and interviews are not considered.

Tips for applying to U of A

1 Submit by November 1: it is the only way to be reviewed in the Early Action round and to get priority for merit tuition awards and honors.
2 Write the optional 500-word essay; the prompt asks why Arizona is right for you and how your intended major fits your goals, and it is where 'level of interest' shows.
3 If you want honors, tick the Franke Honors College box on the application and answer the honors prompt; you can add a portfolio, research project or recommendation.
4 Only send SAT or ACT scores if they help: just 12% of fall 2025 enrollees submitted SAT scores and 23% ACT scores, and scores are also used for placement.
5 International applicants are automatically considered for the Global Wildcat Scholarship, which more than 82% of new international undergraduates received in fall 2024.

What are your chances?

Costs & financial aid

2026-27 · figures in USD

Arizona residents, average tuition and fees (actual cost varies by major and college fees) Tuition $13,900

+ on-campus housing and food (coa estimate) $17,770 ≈ $31,670 per year

International students, estimated tuition and fees (plus $2,765 required health insurance); domestic non-residents average $44,400 Tuition $46,068

+ on-campus housing and food (coa estimate) $17,770 ≈ $63,838 per year

Tuition On-campus housing and food (COA estimate)

Official cost of attendance $37,270

Financial aid

Arizona meets part of demonstrated need: in 2025-26 full-time undergraduates with need had on average 62.7% of it met, with an average package of $18,363. Admitted domestic first-years are considered for merit tuition awards (Early Action applicants get priority), and admitted students use Scholarship Universe to find further scholarships. International students are considered for the Global Wildcat Scholarship.

$37,270 (Arizona resident); $67,770 (domestic non-resident); about $67,083 (international, incl. health insurance)
Estimated cost of attendance, on campus, 2026-27: 62.7%
Average need met, full-time undergraduates with need (2025-26): $18,400
Average first-year financial aid package (2025-26): More than 82%
New international undergraduates receiving a Global Wildcat Scholarship (fall 2024)

Academics

Academic calendar: Semesters

Planetary science and astronomy

Home of the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, which led NASA's Phoenix Mars mission; U.S. News ranks Arizona No. 3 in the world for space science.

Management Information Systems (Eller College of Management)

No. 2 in the U.S. News 2027 Best Colleges MIS ranking and No. 1 among public universities.

Optical Sciences and Engineering

Taught in the Wyant College of Optical Sciences, a dedicated optics and photonics college working on imaging, astronomy and communications.

Hydrology and water resources

U.S. News ranks Arizona No. 3 in the U.S. for water resources in its 2026-2027 global subject rankings.

Data Science and Applied Computing (College of Information Science)

A dedicated information science college with programs in data science and applied computing.

Research

The university reports more than $1 billion in research expenditures in FY2024.
The Lunar and Planetary Laboratory led the 2007-08 Phoenix Mars mission, the first space mission completely controlled by a university.
Arizona owns and runs Biosphere 2, the enclosed Earth-systems research facility in Oracle, Arizona, which it took over in 2011.

Schools & faculties

College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences
College of Architecture, Planning & Landscape Architecture
College of Education
College of Engineering
College of Fine Arts
College of Humanities
College of Information Science
College of Nursing
College of Science
College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
Eller College of Management
Wyant College of Optical Sciences

Graduation rate

71%

First-year students who return

83%

College Scorecard reports median earnings of $59,979 ten years after entry for students who received federal aid. The university reports that 78% of 2025 graduates were employed, continuing their education or in service.

Student life

Arizona is a big, spirited campus: first-year students on the main campus are expected to live in university housing, and the university says students who live on campus in their first year earn higher GPAs and graduate in four years at higher rates. School spirit centres on the Wildcats, who compete in the Big 12, with Wilbur and Wilma as mascots and "Bear Down" as the rallying cry. The historic core of red-brick buildings grew up around Old Main, and the Sonoran Desert and mountains around Tucson are part of everyday life.

"Bear Down, Arizona!" began as a fight song in 1952 and is now described as the official motto of Arizona athletics.
The Arizona Wildcats compete in the Big 12 Conference.
The W.A. Franke Honors College gives a smaller-college community inside a large research university.
Old Main, the first building on campus, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Housing. Living on campus is expected for first-year main-campus students, and many stay for a year or more.

Location

Tucson is a metro area of about a million people in the Sonoran Desert of southern Arizona. The main campus sits about a mile northeast of downtown, with red-brick buildings, palms and saguaros. Winters are mild and sunny, summers are very hot, and hiking in the surrounding mountain ranges is close at hand.

Nearest airport: Tucson International Airport (TUS)

Notable alumni

BS
Brian Schmidt

Nobel Prize in Physics laureate for discovering the accelerating expansion of the universe
SG
Savannah Guthrie

Journalist and co-anchor of NBC's Today
SK
Steve Kerr

NBA champion player and head coach of the Golden State Warriors
KW
Kristen Wiig

Actress and comedian (Saturday Night Live, Bridesmaids)
GS
Garry Shandling

Comedian and actor (The Larry Sanders Show)
LM
Linda McCartney

Photographer and musician
MK
Morris K. Udall

Long-serving U.S. Representative from Arizona
RG
Rob Gronkowski

Four-time first-team All-Pro NFL tight end

Frequently asked questions

What is the University of Arizona acceptance rate?

For fall 2025, Arizona admitted 47,080 of 56,376 first-year applicants, about 83.5%, according to its Common Data Set.

Does the University of Arizona require the SAT or ACT?

No. Arizona is test-optional; submitted scores can be used for placement or core competency requirements. For fall 2025 enrollees who submitted, the middle 50% ranges were 1090-1320 on the SAT and 20-28 on the ACT.

When is the University of Arizona application deadline for fall 2027?

Apply by November 1, 2026 for Early Action, with decisions from January 15, 2027. Later applications move to Regular Decision and are considered on a space-available basis.

How much does the University of Arizona cost?

The 2026-27 estimated cost of attendance on campus is $37,270 for Arizona residents and $67,770 for domestic non-residents. International students should budget about $67,083, including tuition and fees of about $46,068 and required health insurance.

Is the essay required for the University of Arizona?

The 500-word essay is optional but strongly encouraged, and it is required if you want to be considered for the W.A. Franke Honors College, along with an honors-specific response.

Sources & methodology

Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.