Architecture at University of Arizona

The tiny sample size here—fewer than 30 graduates—makes these numbers more of a sketch than a portrait, but what emerges is concerning: University of Arizona architecture graduates earn substantially less than the national median ($25,676 versus $29,900 one year out), landing this program in just the 5th percentile nationally. That first-year salary barely covers the $26,500 in median debt, creating an uncomfortable financial squeeze right when graduates need breathing room most.

The dramatic earnings jump to $53,644 by year four offers genuine relief and suggests the degree does build valuable skills over time. However, that strong four-year outcome doesn't erase the challenge of those lean early years. Architecture is notoriously demanding with long hours and entry-level wages that don't reflect the profession's educational requirements, and this program appears to follow that pattern more severely than most. The 60th percentile ranking within Arizona is misleading—it's literally the only architecture bachelor's program in the state reporting data.

With such limited graduate numbers, a single cohort's experience could skew wildly from the next year's results. If your child is committed to architecture specifically and prefers staying in Arizona, this represents the in-state option, but the weak initial earnings compared to peer programs nationwide should prompt serious conversations about financial runway and whether prestige matters in their target job market.