As announced last fall and approved by the Arizona Board of Regents this week, the University of Arizona is keeping its tuition and fees flat for in-state undergraduate students 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.
“As you heard me say before, student success is our north star, and a big part of that is access and affordability,” said UA President Suresh Garimella at Thursday’s ABOR meeting. “So, for the third consecutive year, I’m proud that we’re able to hold our in-state tuition flat and the mandatory fees have not changed as well. This is a deliberate decision, not an easy one for us, while we still provide a world-class education to Arizona students.”
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UA is adding one new program fee for graduate students in the College of Public Health for the master of Science in Midwifery program. It includes program fees of $4,000 per year for the new two-year professional graduate degree program, which will launch in fall 2026.
“This $2,000 per semester fee supports clinical placements and simulation-based learning experiences, which are essential to preparing students for practice and required for accreditation,” said Garimella.
The Regents approved UA’s tuition and program fee plan on Thursday.
The University of Arizona is keeping its tuition and fees flat for in-state undergraduate students for the third year in a row to prioritize affordability.
Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University both received approval for proposals that include program fee increases as well as new program fees.
ASU’s 2026-27 plan includes 25 new graduate program fees spanning nine colleges, including the new doctor of medicine fee for the John Shufeldt School of Medicine and Medical Engineering; fee increases for two graduate programs in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; and an increase in one new undergraduate and graduate miscellaneous fees.
NAU is adding a new undergraduate program fee for the College of Nursing; increasing the Student Health and Learning Center mandatory fee for undergraduates and graduates; charging a new undergraduate/graduate Campus Investment mandatory fee; and increasing three undergraduate college fees.
Student Regent Jadyn Fisher, who abstained from voting to approve the tuition and fee plans for all three universities, said the “overwhelming message” she hears from all students is that college is already costly and that she cannot vote to approve any increases. However, she said she appreciates the commitment all three universities have to keeping college as affordable as they can.
Regent Larry Edward Penley said in the past decades, the state government substantially supported the three public universities, but it no longer does.
“So, we find ourselves in the unfortunate and difficult position of having to raise fees, while keeping tuition basically the same (with) very little changes over the last few years in overall tuition,” Penley said.
Regent Lee Stein said the three universities have made remarkable efforts to ensure higher education is accessible and affordable, considering the difficult circumstances.
Reporter Prerana Sannappanavar covers higher education for the Arizona Daily Star and Tucson.com. Contact her at psannappa1@tucson.com or DM her on Twitter.
Prerana Sannappanavar
Higher Education Reporter
