2026 Best Value Sustainability Science Schools in Arizona
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in sustainability science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Sustainability Science Schools
For return on investment in sustainability science, no school beat Chandler Gilbert Community College this year. Chandler Gilbert Community College is a large public school located in the city of Chandler. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Sustainability Science graduates carry a median of $10,447 in student loans. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $46,943. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in sustainability science will find it at Mesa Community College, which ranked #2. Mesa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Mesa. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Typical student debt for sustainability science graduates is $13,750. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $54,730. That is a strong return on a $13,750 median debt.
Paradise Valley Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in sustainability science, landing the #3 spot this year. Paradise Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Phoenix. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Typical student debt for sustainability science graduates is $14,204. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $71,136. Set against $14,204 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northern Arizona University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in sustainability science, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,619, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,645 to complete the sustainability science program here. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $47,056. That is a strong return on a $21,645 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Arizona came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value sustainability science schools. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,573, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Sustainability Science graduates carry a median of $21,861 in student loans. Sustainability Science graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $50,834 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,861 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Sustainability Science](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/sustainability-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong sustainability science education at a price that pays off.
