Address: 1200 E. University Blvd., 85721 Tucson, Arizona, United States
Astronomy and Planetary Sciences, Optics, Hydrology and Water Resources
Created by an act of the Arizona territorial legislature in 1885, the University of Arizona was the first university in the territory, and its first classes met in 1891. It is a public land-grant research university in Tucson, Arizona, and it counts law and medicine among its professional programmes alongside a broad range of undergraduate and graduate degrees.
In fall 2025 the university enrolled 54,384 students. Its annual research activity exceeds one billion dollars, and research expenditures reached $1.012 billion in fiscal year 2024. Times Higher Education lists subject areas that include the physical sciences, engineering, life sciences with agriculture and forestry and veterinary science, business, law, social sciences, medicine and the arts and humanities, so the teaching base is wide rather than limited to the sciences.
Space and astronomy research give the campus much of its public profile. Steward Observatory and nearby observatories make the university a centre of astronomical research, and University of Arizona scientists have worked on NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission, which launched on 8 September 2016 and delivered a sample from the asteroid Bennu to Earth on 24 September 2023.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Astroscience, Data Analytics, Engineering, Life Sciences, Optics, Software Engineering
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master, MBA
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Land-grant university. Leader in astronomy and space sciences (e.g., Steward Observatory, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, OSIRIS-REx mission). Strong programs in optics and hydrology. Member of AAU.
Research:
A major research university with strengths in astronomy and astrophysics, optics and photonics, earth sciences (hydrology), and biomedical sciences. High research activity.
Famous Alumnis:
Kourtney Kardashian, Geraldo Rivera, Barry Goldwater, Brian Schmidt, Linda Ronstadt
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
10000
Current students***:
49000
Foreign students***:
10%
Cumulative former students***:
300000
Pros
World-renowned programs in astronomy and optics, strong research in earth and space sciences, located in a unique desert environment.
Cons
Tucson is a smaller city with a hot climate, state funding can be variable, some programs less prominent.
Best For
Students interested in astronomy, planetary science, optics, hydrology, or other STEM fields, often valuing unique research opportunities in a desert Southwest setting.
University of Hawaii at Manoa, a public university in Honolulu, shares astronomy and oceanography strengths.
University of California, Santa Cruz is public, sits in Santa Cruz and covers astronomy and astrophysics, marine biology and computer science and engineering.
At University of Colorado Boulder, a public university, aerospace engineering joins earth and environmental sciences and physics.
University of Rochester in Rochester, New York, is private and known for optics, music and medicine.
University of New Mexico is a public university in Albuquerque with health sciences, engineering and Latin American studies.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena (Germany) is a public university in Jena with optics and photonics, physics and materials science.
Rijksuniversiteit Groningen is public, located in Groningen, the Netherlands, and strong in astrophysics, nanoscience and chemical engineering.
In the United Kingdom, University of Leicester offers space science, archaeology and genetics as a public university in Leicester.
Australian National University, public and in Canberra, Australia, covers science, Asia and Pacific studies and law and policy.
Universität Bern in Switzerland is public, based in Bern, with space research, climate science and biomedical science.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
When was the University of Arizona established?
It was created by the territorial legislature in 1885 and began classes in 1891. It was the first university in Arizona.
How many students does the university have?
In fall 2025 it enrolled 54,384 students.
Why is it known for astronomy?
Steward Observatory and nearby observatories make the university a centre of astronomical research.
What is its link to OSIRIS-REx?
University of Arizona scientists have worked on NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission, which launched on 8 September 2016 and returned a sample from the asteroid Bennu on 24 September 2023.
How much research does it carry out?
The university reports more than one billion dollars in annual research activity, and research expenditures were $1.012 billion in fiscal year 2024.
Is it a public university?
Yes, it is a public land-grant research university in Tucson.
Where are costs and admission details published?
The official site, arizona.edu, lists admission requirements, tuition and aid for the colleges and programmes.
Astrophysics, Biomedical Sensors, Environmental Engineering, Optics, Space
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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