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Leading the list is Midwestern University Glendale, our #1 graduate school in Arizona. Located in Glendale, AZ, Midwestern University Glendale is a private not-for-profit institution. Median early-career earnings reach $98,281.
by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Arizona, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. This list ranks **16** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual evaluated 16 graduate schools on more than 20 objective measures such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
The top-ranked graduate schools span the following early-career salary range:
Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
Leading the list is Midwestern University Glendale, our #1 graduate school in Arizona. Located in Glendale, AZ, Midwestern University Glendale is a private not-for-profit institution. Median early-career earnings reach $98,281.
A rank of #2 makes Arizona State University one of the top graduate schools in Arizona. Set in Tempe, AZ, Arizona State University is a public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,876 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $21,842.
You'll be in good company at University Of Arizona, which ranked #3 this year. Set in Tucson, AZ, University Of Arizona is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. In-state tuition and fees average $13,573, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,834 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,861 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #4 makes Northern Arizona University one of the top graduate schools in Arizona. Set in Flagstaff, AZ, Northern Arizona University is a public institution. Northern Arizona University posts a six-year graduation rate of 61%. Students from in state pay about $12,619 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $47,056. Typical student debt is $21,645.
Out of the 16 graduate schools in Arizona in this year's ranking, Arizona State University Skysong landed the #5 spot. This public school is set in Scottsdale, AZ. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,627, with out-of-state students paying around $13,925. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,394 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $22,870 in student loans.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott landed the #6 spot in Arizona this year. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott is a private not-for-profit school based in Prescott, AZ. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott graduates 68% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $43,974. Early-career graduates earn a median of $66,620. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott students take on a median of $24,288 in debt.
Grand Canyon University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Phoenix, AZ, Grand Canyon University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 44% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $18,508. Early-career graduates earn a median of $56,285. Graduates carry a median of $30,027 in student loans.
Prescott College came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Located in Prescott, AZ, Prescott College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 56% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,490. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,966 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $27,230 in student loans.
University Of Phoenix Arizona placed #9 among the best graduate schools in Arizona. Set in Phoenix, AZ, University Of Phoenix Arizona is a private for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 16%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,552. Early-career graduates earn a median of $60,453. Students borrow a median of $35,323 to complete a degree here.
Ottawa University Surprise ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Surprise, AZ, Ottawa University Surprise is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 18%. Students from in state pay about $35,880 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $47,453. Typical student debt is $29,983.
University Of Advancing Technology placed #11 among the best graduate schools in Arizona. Set in Tempe, AZ, University Of Advancing Technology is a private for-profit institution. About 27% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $18,800. University Of Advancing Technology graduates report median early-career earnings of $40,489. Typical student debt is $29,802.
Ashford University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Located in Chandler, AZ, Ashford University is a public institution. Ashford University graduates 10% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,960. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,441 early in their careers. The median student debt is $39,515.
American Intercontinental University Online did well this year, earning the #13 position. American Intercontinental University Online is a private for-profit school based in Chandler, AZ. Roughly 6% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,397. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,008. The median student debt is $39,107.
Pima Medical Institute Tucson came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Set in Tucson, AZ, Pima Medical Institute Tucson is a private for-profit institution. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $46,521. Typical student debt is $21,054.
Aspen University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Phoenix, AZ, Aspen University is a private for-profit institution. Aspen University posts a six-year graduation rate of 27%. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,870. Aspen University graduates report median early-career earnings of $69,902. The median student debt is $36,946.
Brookline College Phoenix came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Based in Phoenix, AZ, Brookline College Phoenix is a private for-profit institution. About 38% of students finish within six years. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $39,601. Graduates carry a median of $20,921 in student loans.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.