Arizona doesn't get a lot of attention for its colleges, but there are 9 towns in the state with at least one four-year school -- and some of them make great places to spend four years.
We wanted to know which ones are the best college towns. You know the type of place: plenty of students, plenty to do, affordable rent, and safe enough to walk around at night.
So we used Saturday Night Science to rank all 9 of them on the colleges themselves, the town around them, and things to do. Tucson came out on top.
The 9 Best College Towns In Arizona For 2026
Want the bigger picture? See where Arizona's towns land among the best college towns in America.
For more reading, check out:
| Colleges | University of Arizona, Pima Medical Institute-Tucson, Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 45,666 (8 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 547,073 |
| Median rent | $1,145 |
| Graduation rate | 70% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $35,678 |
Tucson is home to University of Arizona, Pima Medical Institute-Tucson, Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson. There are 8 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,145 a month, and the average cost to attend is $35,678 a year. It ranks 9th for crime among the 9 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Arizona State University Campus Immersion, Bryan University, Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 69,237 (37 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 188,065 |
| Median rent | $1,743 |
| Graduation rate | 54% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $31,948 |
Tempe is home to Arizona State University Campus Immersion, Bryan University, Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe. There are 37 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,743 a month, and the average cost to attend is $31,948 a year. It ranks 8th for crime among the 9 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Justice University, International Baptist College and Seminary |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 159 (0 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 280,136 |
| Median rent | $1,902 |
| Graduation rate | 69% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $29,112 |
Chandler is home to Justice University, International Baptist College and Seminary. There are 0 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,902 a month, and the average cost to attend is $29,112 a year. It ranks 3rd for crime among the 9 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Grand Canyon University, Arizona College of Nursing-Phoenix, Brookline College-Phoenix |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 76,011 (5 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 1,642,323 |
| Median rent | $1,582 |
| Graduation rate | 51% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $40,131 |
Phoenix is home to Grand Canyon University, Arizona College of Nursing-Phoenix, Brookline College-Phoenix. There are 5 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,582 a month, and the average cost to attend is $40,131 a year. It ranks 6th for crime among the 9 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Northern Arizona University, Indian Bible College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 22,928 (30 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 76,445 |
| Median rent | $1,645 |
| Graduation rate | 71% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $23,808 |
Flagstaff is home to Northern Arizona University, Indian Bible College. There are 30 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,645 a month, and the average cost to attend is $23,808 a year. It ranks 5th for crime among the 9 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Yavapai College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott, Prescott College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 7,425 (16 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 47,400 |
| Median rent | $1,395 |
| Graduation rate | 54% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $42,106 |
Prescott is home to Yavapai College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott, Prescott College. There are 16 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,395 a month, and the average cost to attend is $42,106 a year. It ranks 2nd for crime among the 9 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Arizona Christian University, Midwestern University-Glendale |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,165 (0 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 252,833 |
| Median rent | $1,528 |
| Graduation rate | 47% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $54,792 |
Glendale is home to Arizona Christian University, Midwestern University-Glendale. There are 0 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,528 a month, and the average cost to attend is $54,792 a year. It ranks 7th for crime among the 9 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | The School of Architecture, Phoenix Seminary |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 0 (0 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 243,821 |
| Median rent | $2,013 |
| Graduation rate | 60% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $38,718 |
Scottsdale is home to The School of Architecture, Phoenix Seminary. There are 0 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $2,013 a month, and the average cost to attend is $38,718 a year. It ranks 4th for crime among the 9 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Ottawa University-Surprise |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 836 (1 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 154,948 |
| Median rent | $2,033 |
| Graduation rate | 60% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $52,170 |
Surprise is home to Ottawa University-Surprise. There are 1 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $2,033 a month, and the average cost to attend is $52,170 a year. It ranks 1st for crime among the 9 towns we ranked.
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the best college towns in Arizona
First, we decided that every town on the list had to have at least one four-year college -- a school that grants bachelor's degrees -- and at least 5,000 residents. There are 9 towns in Arizona that fit the bill.
Then we ranked every town on these categories:
- The town: unemployment rate, median rent, and crime per capita
- The colleges: graduation rate, the average cost to attend, and student body diversity
- Things to do: bars, museums and libraries per capita, and population density
- Students: undergrads as a share of the population
- Size: population, since bigger towns have more going on
We ranked each town on every measure, averaged those ranks into a score for each category, and then averaged the categories. The town with the best overall score is the best college town in Arizona.
Our data comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (enrollment, graduation rates, cost, and diversity), the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the FBI's 2024 crime report. We left out colleges that are online-only or mostly online, since their students don't actually live in town. A handful of towns don't report crime to the FBI, so we gave them the average.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best college towns in Arizona.
Summary
There You Have It -- The Best College Towns In Arizona
If you're looking for the best college towns in Arizona, Tucson is where to start.
The best college towns in Arizona are Tucson, Tempe, Chandler, Phoenix, Flagstaff, Prescott, Glendale, Scottsdale, and Surprise.
For more college towns, check out the best college towns in America.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college town in Arizona for 2026?
Tucson is the best college town in Arizona for 2026, followed by Tempe and Chandler.
How did you rank the best college towns in Arizona?
We looked at every town in Arizona with at least 5,000 residents and a four-year college, then ranked them on city characteristics, college characteristics, things to do, the share of residents who are students, and size. The town with the best average rank is number one.
What is the worst college town in Arizona?
Surprise ranks last of the 9 college towns we ranked in Arizona for 2026.
Best College Towns In Arizona For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | Undergrads | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tucson, AZ | 547,073 | 45,666 | $1,145 |
| 2 | Tempe, AZ | 188,065 | 69,237 | $1,743 |
| 3 | Chandler, AZ | 280,136 | 159 | $1,902 |
| 4 | Phoenix, AZ | 1,642,323 | 76,011 | $1,582 |
| 5 | Flagstaff, AZ | 76,445 | 22,928 | $1,645 |
| 6 | Prescott, AZ | 47,400 | 7,425 | $1,395 |
| 7 | Glendale, AZ | 252,833 | 1,165 | $1,528 |
| 8 | Scottsdale, AZ | 243,821 | 0 | $2,013 |
| 9 | Surprise, AZ | 154,948 | 836 | $2,033 |
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