Best Computer Programmer programs in Arizona, ranked by enrollment
Create, modify, and test the code and scripts that allow computer applications to run. Work from specifications drawn up by software and web developers or other individuals.
29 schools in Arizona run programs that feed this job, graduating 4,267 people a year. The job pays a median of $88,990 in Arizona across about 1,560 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in Arizona that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
11 programs in Arizona that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in Arizona (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Arizona page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 11.0701In Arizona → | 2,943 | 69.0% | 21 | $70,374 | $23,250 |
| 2 | CIP 52.1201In Arizona → | 652 | 15.3% | 4 | $59,352 | $24,618 |
| 3 | CIP 11.0902In Arizona → | 246 | 5.8% | 5 | $43,901 | $22,822 |
| 4 | Computer Programming/Programmer, Generalmain feeder CIP 11.0201In Arizona → | 213 | 5.0% | 7 | $46,719 | $20,729 |
| 5 | CIP 30.7101In Arizona → | 63 | 1.5% | 2 | — | — |
| 6 | Computer Programming, Specific Applicationsmain feeder CIP 11.0202In Arizona → | 61 | 1.4% | 7 | $46,719 | $20,729 |
| 7 | Computer Game Programmingmain feeder CIP 11.0204In Arizona → | 43 | 1.0% | 2 | $46,719 | $20,729 |
| 8 | CIP 11.0804In Arizona → | 19 | 0.4% | 3 | $33,504 | $27,000 |
| 9 | CIP 15.1204In Arizona → | 14 | 0.3% | 2 | $48,829 | $21,696 |
| 10 | CIP 11.0803In Arizona → | 11 | 0.3% | 3 | $33,504 | $27,000 |
| 11 | CIP 11.0203In Arizona → | 2 | 0.0% | 1 | $46,719 | $20,729 |
Top 25 schools in Arizona
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 5 of the 29 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ Public · 2 feeder programs | 1,708 | Computer Science | $80,686 | 68% | — | 90% |
| 2 | University of Phoenix - Arizona Phoenix, AZ Private for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 599 | Management Information Systems, General | — | 21% | $15,478 | — |
| 3 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZ Public · 2 feeder programs | 395 | Computer Science | $86,040 | 68% | — | 86% |
| 4 | Arizona State University Digital Immersion Scottsdale, AZ Public · 1 feeder programs | 325 | Computer Science | — | 0% | — | 67% |
| 5 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ Public · 2 feeder programs | 286 | Computer Science | $74,815 | 61% | — | 90% |
| 6 | Mesa Community College Mesa, AZ Public · 3 feeder programs | 200 | Cloud Computing | — | 16% | — | — |
| 7 | The University of Arizona Global Campus Chandler, AZ Public · 1 feeder programs | 188 | Management Information Systems, General | $61,359 | 11% | $26,445 | — |
| 8 | Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZ Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 146 | Computer Programming/Programmer, General | $52,190 | 43% | $21,535 | 79% |
| 9 | University of Advancing Technology Tempe, AZ Private for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 92 | Computer Science | — | 35% | $21,175 | 98% |
| 10 | Glendale Community College Glendale, AZ Public · 3 feeder programs | 73 | Cloud Computing | — | 16% | — | — |
| 11 | Chandler - Gilbert Community College Chandler, AZ Public · 2 feeder programs | 40 | Computer Science | — | 30% | — | — |
| 12 | American InterContinental University System Chandler, AZ Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 35 | Computer Science | — | 9% | $15,785 | — |
| 13 | Estrella Mountain Community College Avondale, AZ Public · 1 feeder programs | 28 | Computer Science | — | 32% | — | — |
| 14 | Mohave Community College Kingman, AZ Public · 3 feeder programs | 22 | Computer Game Programming | — | 38% | — | — |
| 15 | Phoenix College Phoenix, AZ Public · 4 feeder programs | 17 | Computer Science | — | 14% | — | — |
| 16 | Cochise County Community College District Sierra Vista, AZ Public · 4 feeder programs | 16 | Computer Science | — | 30% | — | — |
| 17 | Central Arizona College Coolidge, AZ Public · 1 feeder programs | 13 | Computer Programming/Programmer, General | — | 27% | — | — |
| 18 | Rio Salado College Tempe, AZ Public · 3 feeder programs | 12 | Computer Programming, Specific Applications | — | 9% | — | — |
| 19 | Embry - Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott Prescott, AZ Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 11 | Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation | — | 68% | $38,461 | 77% |
| 20 | Yavapai College Prescott, AZ Public · 1 feeder programs | 11 | Computer Programming/Programmer, General | — | 34% | — | — |
| 21 | Arizona Western College Yuma, AZ Public · 2 feeder programs | 10 | Data Analytics, General | — | 20% | — | — |
| 22 | South Mountain Community College Phoenix, AZ Public · 2 feeder programs | 9 | Computer Programming, Specific Applications | — | 16% | — | — |
| 23 | Paradise Valley Community College Phoenix, AZ Public · 2 feeder programs | 6 | Cloud Computing | — | 19% | — | — |
| 24 | Scottsdale Community College Scottsdale, AZ Public · 1 feeder programs | 6 | Computer Science | — | 17% | — | — |
| 25 | GateWay Community College Phoenix, AZ Public · 1 feeder programs | 5 | Computer Science | — | 29% | — | — |
All 29 schools in Arizona
Every school in Arizona with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.
| School | City | Control | Graduates / yr | Feeder programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion | Tempe | Public | 1,708 | 2 |
| University of Phoenix - Arizona | Phoenix | Private for-profit | 599 | 4 |
| University of Arizona | Tucson | Public | 395 | 2 |
| Arizona State University Digital Immersion | Scottsdale | Public | 325 | 1 |
| Northern Arizona University | Flagstaff | Public | 286 | 2 |
| Mesa Community College | Mesa | Public | 200 | 3 |
| The University of Arizona Global Campus | Chandler | Public | 188 | 1 |
| Grand Canyon University | Phoenix | Private not-for-profit | 146 | 2 |
| University of Advancing Technology | Tempe | Private for-profit | 92 | 4 |
| Glendale Community College | Glendale | Public | 73 | 3 |
| Chandler - Gilbert Community College | Chandler | Public | 40 | 2 |
| American InterContinental University System | Chandler | Private for-profit | 35 | 1 |
| Estrella Mountain Community College | Avondale | Public | 28 | 1 |
| Mohave Community College | Kingman | Public | 22 | 3 |
| Phoenix College | Phoenix | Public | 17 | 4 |
What computer programmers earn in Arizona
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $100,390. Arizona pays below the national figure.
1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.
Metro areas in Arizona
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.
How to get in
The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Computer Programmers page.
How to become a Computer Programmer
Job zone 4 of 5 · SVP 7.0 to < 8.0- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Top skills
The same job in other states
Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.
Related careers in Arizona
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 17 majors mapped to Computer Programmers17 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 11.0201Computer Programming/Programmer, General
- 11.0202Computer Programming, Specific Applications
- 11.0203Computer Programming, Vendor/Product Certification
- 11.0204Computer Game Programming
- 11.0205Computer Programming, Specific Platforms
- 11.0299Computer Programming, Other
- 11.0701Computer Science
- 11.0803Computer Graphics
- 11.0804Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation
- 11.0902Cloud Computing
- 15.1204Computer Software Technology/Technician
- 30.3001Computational Science
- 30.7101Data Analytics, General
- 30.7103Data Visualization
- 30.7199Data Analytics, Other
- 51.0709Medical Office Computer Specialist/Assistant
- 52.1201Management Information Systems, General
Common questions
Answers for people weighing computer programmers programs in Arizona.
What degree do you need to become a Computer Programmer?+
Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Computer Science, which awarded 2,943 degrees in Arizona in 2024-25, 69.0% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Computer Programmer?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 11 programs to this occupation. The largest are Computer Science, Management Information Systems and Services, Computer Programming, Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications, plus 3 more. Together they graduate about 4,267 people a year in Arizona.
How much do computer programmers earn in Arizona?+
The median is $88,990 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 11.4% below the U.S. median of $100,390. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for computer programmers growing?+
BLS projects a -6.0% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, decline, with roughly 5,500 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career in Arizona?+
29 institutions in Arizona reported graduates from at least one of the 11 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do computer programmers work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Programmer, Analyst Programmer, Programmer Analyst, Computer Programmer among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 15-1251.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card