ROI Major

Finance and Financial Management Services at University of Arizona (The)

AZ · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 52.08

Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Finance and Financial Management Services degree from University of Arizona (The) earn a median salary of $96,042 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in AZ, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $90,180. The degree typically pays for itself in 4.1 years.

Quick Insights

Solid Investment

How this degree looks at a glance

A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.

Salary Ranges

Starting Range

$70,428

Typical Career

$96,042

Top Performers

$129,361

Estimated break-even: 4.1 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$640

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $8,004. Most students can comfortably afford about a $640 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 2.5x more than the average US high school graduate and 1.2x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Arizona buys what costs $1.07 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance.

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 15.6%
Educational Services 15.5%
Health Care & Social Assistance 15.4%

Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.

5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent

$90,180

Nominal: $96,042 in Arizona (COL 106.5% of national avg) · 6.1% lower purchasing power

10-Year Earnings Curve

Break-Even Timeline

How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).

4.1 years to break even
Graduation 15 years

Total Investment

$155,168

4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost

HS Graduate Baseline

$38,792/yr

BLS 2023 median, HS diploma

View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
Timeframe 25th Pct. Median (50th) 75th Pct.
1 Year After Graduation $48,272 $64,035 $79,816
5 Years After Graduation $70,428 $96,042 $129,361
10 Years After Graduation $94,546 $138,811 $206,475

Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).

How We Calculate Purchasing Power

The median salary of $96,042 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in AZ, which has a cost-of-living index of 106.5% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $96,042 × (1.0 ÷ 1.0650) = $90,180 National Average equivalent.

COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →

Career Verdict

Graduates in Finance and Financial Management Services from the University of Arizona experience a significant earnings trajectory. One year after graduation, median earnings are reported at $64,035, which increases to $96,042 after five years and reaches $138,811 after ten years. When adjusted for purchasing power, the five-year salary aligns closely with the national equivalent at approximately $90,180.28, indicating that while the cost of living in Arizona is slightly higher (COL index: 1.065), graduates still maintain competitive earnings relative to national standards.

The top industries for graduates include Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (15.6%), Educational Services (15.5%), and Health Care & Social Assistance (15.4%), suggesting diverse career opportunities. The estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 4.1 years, indicating a favorable return on investment for those pursuing this degree. Overall, the financial outlook for graduates appears promising, with strong earning potential and a variety of career paths available.

AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.

Compare with Another School

See how the Finance and Financial Management Services degree at University of Arizona (The) stacks up against another institution side-by-side.

Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.

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