U of A keeps tuition flat for in-state students for 3rd year in row

The University of Arizona announced it will keep tuition and fees for in-state undergraduate students flat for the third year in a row to prioritize affordability. 

In-state undergraduate students will continue to pay $12,168 in tuition and $1,738 in mandatory fees in the 2026-27 academic year.

Out-of-state undergraduate students will pay $42,600 in tuition, an increase of $1,270 or 3% from the 2025-26 academic year, but the same $1,738 in mandatory fees.

“We built the budget to accommodate flat resident undergraduate tuition, eliminate the deficit, and provide raises for faculty and staff,” UA Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President John Arnold told the Arizona Daily Star on Tuesday. “It was a collaborative effort led by the president, with college and unit leaders, and grounded in our land-grant mission and strategic imperatives. Even with inflationary pressures, we prioritized investments that most directly support students, academic quality, and the long-term financial health of the university.”

UA has frozen its tuition and fees for in-state undergraduates despite working to eliminate the final $65 million deficit from fall 2023, providing raises to faculty and staff this fall, and raising the university’s minimum wage from $15 to $16.50.

“Keeping undergraduate tuition and fees frozen for in-state students for a third year straight supports access to a world-class education, in line with the vision of Delivering on Our Promise,” UA President Suresh Garimella said in a news release Tuesday. “Success for every student — our North Star — includes affordability, and it is central to our land-grant mission and our commitment to uplifting people and communities throughout Arizona.”

It has also done so while apparently bucking a national trend: In-state tuition costs are increasing by an average of 2.9% for the 2025-26 academic year at public four-year universities, the College Board reports.

UA Provost Patricia Prelock said affordability expands in-state access to exceptional academics, unique research and internship opportunities, and student resources and programs.

“Our faculty and staff are committed to helping every U of A student thrive and graduate with the readiness to begin their career and contribute meaningfully to our state’s future,” Prelock said in the news release. 

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UA graduate students will see a 2% increase in tuition in academic year 2026-27, with in-state students charged $15,500 and out-of-state students $35,800.

Mandatory fees include the student engagement fee, which includes fees for athletics, health and recreation, IT/library and other student services; and the Arizona Financial Aid Trust fee, which provides state-based financial aid to underrepresented students or those with financial need.

UA housing expenses for undergraduate, graduates and honors students will increase by 1.5% to 4.3%.

Undergraduate students in Arizona Online — UA’s online university — will see a 3% increase per credit and graduate students will see 2% increase. Tuition will hold steady, however, for undergraduate and graduates in UA Global Campus.

Other professional program fees at the UA — including juris doctor, doctor of judicial science and master of law, among others — will see a 5% increase.

Faculty leaders praised the steady tuition rate for Arizona students.

“Our charge as a public land grant university is to educate the students of Arizona for ‘as close to free as possible,’” said Chair of the Faculty Leila Hudson.

The UA is the state’s only land-grant university and has served in that role since opening its doors to students in 1891. Under federal laws passed in 1862 and 1890, Congress donated public land to each state to establish land-grant institutions to impart technical knowledge and expertise to communities.

“Holding in-state tuition rates stable is a part of that mission,” Hudson continued. “I think our administration understands that the efficiencies put in place in addressing the financial mismanagement crisis” of the previous UA administration “and the current federal assaults on higher education must not come at the expense of Arizona students and their families,” she said.

She was referring to a $177 million budget deficit revealed in 2023 by then-UA President Robert Robbins and eliminated as of July 1 this year, and to federal funding cuts under the current Trump administration.