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University of Arizona

Latin: Universitatis Arizonensis
Motto	Sursum (Latin)
Motto in English	"Upwards" "Bear Down, Arizona" (second motto)
Type	Public land-grant research university
Established	March 12, 1885; 140 years ago (March 12, 1885)
Parent institution	Arizona Board of Regents
Accreditation	WASC
Academic affiliations	AAU CONAHEC ORAU URA Space-grant
Endowment	$1.29 billion (2023)
President	Robert C. Robbins
Academic staff	3,385 (Fall 2023)
Students	53,187 (Fall 2023)
Undergraduates	42,075 (Fall 2023)
Postgraduates	11,112 (Fall 2023)
Location	Tucson , Arizona , United States 32°13′55″N 110°57′10″W / 32.2319°N 110.9527°W / 32.2319; -110.9527
Campus	Large city, 392 acres (1.59 km²)
Other campuses	Chandler Douglas Gilbert Oro Valley Phoenix Nogales Rio Rico Sierra Vista
Newspaper	The Daily Wildcat
Colors	Cardinal and Navy Blue
Nickname	Wildcats
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I FBS – Pac-12 MPSF
Mascots	Wilbur and Wilma T. Wildcat

The University of Arizona (also known as Arizona, U of A, UArizona, or UA) is a large public university in Tucson, Arizona. It was started in 1885 and was the first university in the Arizona Territory. The University of Arizona is one of three universities managed by the Arizona Board of Regents. In Fall 2023, about 53,187 students were studying there.

The university is known for its high level of research. It is also a member of the Association of American Universities, a group of leading research universities. The University of Arizona has strong connections with two medical centers in Tucson and Phoenix.

The sports teams are called the Arizona Wildcats (or "Cats"). They are part of the Pac-12 Conference in the NCAA. UA athletes have won many national championships in sports like men's basketball, baseball, and softball.

University History

Old Main in 1889, one of the first buildings.

The idea for a university in Arizona grew after a law called the Morrill Land-Grant Act of 1862. This law gave land to states to build colleges. In 1885, the Arizona Territory government approved the University of Arizona. They chose Tucson as the city for the new university.

At first, no one wanted to give land for the university. But then, two gamblers and a saloon keeper donated 40 acres of land. Construction of Old Main, the first building, started in 1887. Classes began in 1891 with 32 students. Old Main is still used today.

Recent Times

In 2020, the university had to make some temporary changes because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This included some pay cuts and furloughs for employees.

The university also faced some financial challenges in 2023. They are working to fix these issues and improve their financial situation.

Learning and Degrees

The University of Arizona offers many types of degrees. These include bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. Grades are given on a 4-point scale, where an "A" is 4 points and an "E" is zero.

University Rankings

U.S. university rankings

ARWU World	151–200
THES World	155
USNWR National University	115 (tie)
Washington Monthly National University	96
Forbes	114

National Program Rankings (as of 2020)
Program	Ranking
Audiology	10
Biological Sciences	46
Business	46
Chemistry	41
Clinical Psychology	33
Computer Science	43
Earth Sciences	8
Economics	42
Education	73
Engineering	63
English	77
Fine Arts	32
History	63
Law	47
Library & Information Studies	22
Mathematics	47
Medicine: Primary Care	63
Medicine: Research	62
Nursing: Master's	45
Physics	37
Political Science	51
Psychology	45
Public Affairs	34
Public Health	32
Rehabilitation Counseling	4
Sociology	24
Speech-Language Pathology	6

In 2023, the Center for World University Rankings placed the University of Arizona at No. 95 in the world. It was ranked 48th in the U.S. U.S. News & World Report ranked it No. 58 among U.S. public universities.

Global Program Rankings (as of 2021)
Program	Ranking
Agricultural Sciences	188
Arts & Humanities	42
Biology & Biochemistry	237
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology	86
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems	145
Cell Biology	240
Chemistry	579
Clinical Medicine	147
Computer Science	211
Economics & Business	105
Electrical & Electronic Engineering	286
Endocrinology & Metabolism	184
Engineering	240
Environment/Ecology	42
Geosciences	26
Immunology	219
Materials Science	458
Microbiology	116
Molecular Biology & Genetics	219
Neuroscience & Behavior	231
Oncology	175
Optics	109
Pharmacology & Toxicology	218
Physics	185
Plant & Animal Science	53
Psychiatry/Psychology	115
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health	111
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging	199
Social Sciences & Public Health	123
Space Science	10
Surgery	103

In 2017, the Center for World University Rankings ranked Arizona No. 52 in the world. The 2018 Times Higher Education World University Rankings placed it 161st globally.

Tuition Costs

For full-time undergraduate students, tuition for both fall and spring semesters is $12,700 for Arizona residents. For students from other states, it is $37,200. The cost of tuition has been increasing over time.

Students in a bachelor's degree program can join the Guaranteed Tuition Program. This means their tuition will not increase for eight semesters (four years).

Admissions Process

*First-Year Undergraduate Fall Admissions Statistics*
	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015	2014	2013
Applicants	56,466	52,103	48,202	43,540	40,854	39,941	36,166	35,236	32,723	26,481	26,329
Admits	48,369	45,195	41,996	37,064	34,557	33,714	28,433	26,961	24,417	20,546	20,251
% Admitted	85.7	86.7	85.4	85.1	84.6	84.4	78.6	76.5	74.6	77.5	76.9
Enrolled	9,207	9,221	8,622	7,449	7,740	7,795	7,360	7,753	7,466	7,466	6,881
Avg GPA	3.58	3.66	3.61				3.43	3.48	3.38	3.37	3.40
Average SAT*	1265	1265	1275				1015–1250	1010–1230	1010–1230	1000–1230	990–1220
* SAT out of 1600

The University of Arizona is considered a "selective" university. This means they accept many students, but they also look for strong applicants.

Students come from all over the U.S. About 69% are from Arizona. Around 11% are from California, and 8% are international students.

Honors College Programs

The W.A. Franke Honors College at the University of Arizona offers a special program for over 4,500 students. It creates a smaller, close-knit community within the large university. This college was renamed after a generous $25 million gift from William A. "Bill" Franke.

University Research

Arizona is known for its "Very high research activity." The university aims to spend $1 billion on research each year. In 2023, they reached $954 million. This places them among the top 4% of public universities in the nation.

Arizona gets more funding from NASA than almost any other public university. For example, the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory (LPL) received over $325 million to lead NASA's mission to Mars in 2007–08. They also got $800 million for the OSIRIS-REx mission, which was the first U.S. mission to collect a sample from an asteroid.

The LPL also played a big part in the Cassini spacecraft's journey around Saturn. They designed and ran the imaging on the probe. The UA also operates the HiRISE camera, which is on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. In 2011, a UA alumnus used this camera to find proof of liquid water on Mars. NASA confirmed this in 2015.

UA students have won many important scholarships, like the Truman, Rhodes, Goldwater, and Fulbright Scholars.

UA is part of the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy. This group does astronomy research and runs observatories. One notable observatory is Kitt Peak National Observatory near Tucson.

The National Science Foundation gave the university $50 million in 2008 for the iPlant Collaborative. This project helps scientists share and manage data using cloud computing. It was renamed "CyVerse" in 2015.

In 2011, the university took full ownership of the Biosphere 2 research facility in Oracle, Arizona. This facility is used for scientific research.

University Publications

Since 1945, the university has published Arizona Quarterly. This is an academic journal about literature.

Global Teaching and Research

The University of Arizona works with other universities around the world. In 2017, they renewed their partnership with Universidad de Sonora. This partnership focuses on geology and physics.

Arizona has been involved in physics research with CERN since 1987. They officially joined the CERN-LHC ATLAS Collaboration in 1994. The university also has programs to attract scholars from other countries, especially China.

University Libraries

Entrance to the U of A main library.

The University of Arizona's library system is one of the best in North America. In 2015–2016, it was ranked 37th among university research libraries.

As of 2012, the UA library system has over six million print books. It also has 1.1 million e-books and 74,000 online journals. The Main Library, opened in 1976, is the main center for the library system.

In 2002, the Integrated Learning Center (ILC) was built. It is a large computer facility for students. It has classrooms, auditoriums, and a big computer lab with 3D printing.

The Arizona Health Sciences Library is located on the Health Sciences Center. It serves students and professionals in medicine, nursing, and pharmacy.

The Special Collections library holds rare books and historical materials. These collections focus on literature, Arizona history, and the US-Mexican border region.

Campus Life

Student Union, Old Main, and Forbes building.

Alumni Plaza.

UA McClelland Hall, Eller College of Management.

The main campus has 179 buildings on 380 acres in central Tucson. Many early buildings were designed by Roy Place. He used red brick, which became a common feature for almost all UA buildings.

The campus is divided into different areas. Science and math buildings are mostly in the southwest. Sports facilities are in the southeast. Arts and humanities buildings are in the northwest.

University of Arizona Mall.

The Mall is a large grassy area that stretches across the campus. It is a popular spot for students to relax and gather.

The Stevie Eller Dance Theater opened in 2003. It is a special place for the university's dance program, which is one of the best in the U.S.

The university uses solar panels on its buildings to create clean energy. In 2015, the ENR2 building opened. It is one of the "greenest" buildings on campus. It looks like a slot canyon in the desert.

The Student Union Memorial Center

Student Union Memorial Center.

The salvaged USS Arizona Bell inside the Student Union.

The Student Union Memorial Center was rebuilt between 2000 and 2003. It was designed to look like the USS Arizona (BB-39) battleship.

A bell from the USS Arizona is kept in the clock tower of the Student Union. This bell was saved after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. The bell used to be rung to honor people at the university and after football wins. However, since December 2020, it is no longer rung to help preserve this historic item.

The Arboretum at The University of Arizona

Much of the main campus is a designated arboretum. This means it's like a living museum of trees and plants. You can find plants from all over the world labeled along a walking path. The Krutch Cactus Garden has the tallest Boojum tree in Arizona.

The campus also has hundreds of olive trees, many of which are over a hundred years old.

University Organization

Wildcat Family Statue.

The University of Arizona is managed by the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR). This group has 12 members. They set the rules and oversee the three main universities in Arizona.

Robert C. Robbins is the 22nd president of the University of Arizona. He started his role in June 2017. Before this, he was the president of the Texas Medical Center. He replaced Ann Weaver Hart, who was the first female president of the university.

Wildcat Athletics

Sports are a big part of campus life at the University of Arizona. The athletic teams are called the Wildcats. This name came from a 1914 football game where the team showed great fighting spirit. The University of Arizona competes in the NCAA's Division I-A in the Pac-12 Conference.

Sports Teams

Men's Basketball

The men's basketball team has been very successful since 1983. They have reached the NCAA Tournament 25 years in a row. This is one of the longest streaks in NCAA history. The Wildcats have made it to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament four times.

In 1997, Arizona won the NCAA National Championship. They beat the defending champions, the University of Kentucky. This was Arizona's first national championship win. The 1997 team was the first to beat three number-one seeds on their way to a national title.

The Wildcats play their home games at the McKale Center. Many former Wildcats have gone on to play in the NBA. These include Steve Kerr, Richard Jefferson, and Deandre Ayton.

Football

Arizona Stadium can hold 55,675 fans.

The football team started in 1899. They were first called "Varsity" but became the "Wildcats" in 1914.

The team was very strong in the 1990s. In 1993, they won 10 games and beat the University of Miami in the Fiesta Bowl. In 1998, they had a school record of 12 wins and 1 loss. They won the Holiday Bowl against the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Jedd Fisch was chosen as the Wildcats' new head football coach in December 2020.

Baseball

The baseball team started in 1904. They have won four national championship titles. These wins were in 1976, 1980, 1986, and 2012. Arizona baseball teams have played in the College World Series 18 times. Home games are played at Hi Corbett Field.

Arizona players celebrating their fourth College World Series title in 2012.

Chip Hale was named the new head coach in July 2021. He played for the Wildcats and was on the 1986 championship team. Many former Arizona baseball players have played in Major League Baseball.

Soccer

The University of Arizona women's soccer team had a strong season in 2017. They finished with 11 wins, 5 losses, and 4 ties. They also had their most Pac-12 wins ever.

The team's seniors were the first group in program history to make three NCAA Tournament appearances.

Softball

The Arizona softball team is one of the best in the country. They have won eight NCAA Women's College World Series titles. These wins were in 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2006, and 2007.

The team has appeared in the NCAA National Championship many times. Coach Mike Candrea and former pitcher Jennie Finch led the 2004 U.S. Olympic softball team to a gold medal. The Wildcat softball team plays at Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium.

Golf

The university's golf teams have also been very successful. The men's team won a national championship in 1992. The women's team won national championships in 1996, 2000, and 2018. Famous professional golfers like Annika Sörenstam and Lorena Ochoa played for the women's team.

Other Sports

Many other Wildcats have also found success. The men's cross country team has won two individual national titles. The women's cross country team has also won two individual national titles. The men's and women's swimming and diving teams won NCAA Championships in 2007–2008.

Sports Rivalries

The University of Arizona has a strong sports rivalry with Arizona State University in Tempe. Their football game is called "The Duel in the Desert." The winner gets the Territorial Cup. Arizona also has rivalries with other Pac-12 teams, especially University of California, Los Angeles.

Mascots

Wilma and Wilbur Wildcat at a university event.

The university's mascots are two anthropomorphized wildcats named Wilbur and Wilma. Their identities are kept secret. In 1986, Wilbur married Wilma. They appear at most Wildcat sporting events with the cheerleading squad.

Fight Song

The university's fight song is "Bear Down, Arizona!" It was written in 1952 by Jack K. Lee. He was inspired by the words "BEAR DOWN" on the university gymnasium.

ZonaZoo Student Section

ZonaZoo is the official student section for University of Arizona Athletics. It started in 2003. In 2014, ESPN called ZonaZoo the top student cheering section in the PAC 12 conference. It has also won the Best Student Section of the Year award.

Student Life

Undergraduate demographics as of Fall 2020
Race and ethnicity	Total
White	49%	49
Hispanic	29%	29
Other	7%	7
Asian	5%	5
Foreign national	5%	5
Black	4%	4
Native American	1%	1
Economic diversity
Low-income	24%	24
Affluent	76%	76

Fraternities and Sororities

The University of Arizona has 51 recognized fraternity and sorority groups. In 2018, more than 16% of students were part of these Greek life programs.

Marching Band

The University of Arizona marching band is called The Pride of Arizona. They played at the halftime show of the first Super Bowl. In 2014, their Daft Punk show was chosen as one of the top ten in the nation.