A new academic year is now underway at Maricopa Community Colleges, which is proud to welcome nearly 100,000 Arizona residents across its 10 colleges, underscoring the system's role as the state's leading provider of higher education and workforce training.
"Each of our students represents a goal, a family, and the opportunity for a better Arizona," said Dr. Steven Bloomberg, Maricopa Community Colleges Chancellor. "Whether they are beginning college for the first time, pursuing a bachelor's degree, or training for a new career, our responsibility is to make sure opportunity remains within reach."
The Valley's Most Affordable Bachelor's Degree
As the semester kicks off, the system is celebrating another milestone: more than 4,000 students have newly declared one of Maricopa's 11 workforce-aligned bachelor's degree programs as their program of study this fall. The news comes only a month after the system reached 10,000 enrolled bachelor’s students. Today, total bachelor’s degree enrollment is approaching 11,000 students, the largest bachelor's degree enrollment of any community college system in Arizona.
Additionally, the system plans to introduce three new degrees in Fall 2027. Last year, Maricopa Community Colleges also announced it would expand its bachelor’s degree offerings to 26 programs over the next five years to meet growing student and workforce demand.
Arizona's Leading Higher Education Provider
With nearly 100,000 Arizonan residents expected to enter this fall, the system remains the leading option among higher education providers in the Valley. Last year, Maricopa Community Colleges educated more residents than any other college or university in the state, reinforcing its role as the state’s primary workforce engine.
Designed around the belief that there is a better way to do college, Maricopa Community Colleges kept tuition unchanged for the fourth consecutive year, offering the most affordable tuition in the Valley. With 10 colleges and 31 satellite locations throughout Maricopa County, the system connected learners to smaller class sizes and flexible learning options, making it easy to pursue a degree or credential close to home and on a schedule that works for them.
Creating Generational Change
Nearly 50,000 students attending Maricopa Community Colleges this fall are the first in their families to pursue a college education. For these students, earning a degree or credential can extend far beyond an individual accomplishment. It can open new career opportunities, increase economic mobility, and create possibilities for families and future generations.
Maricopa Community Colleges supports first-generation students throughout their educational journey with academic advising, financial aid assistance, career services, tutoring, and other tailored resources designed to help new learners navigate college and reach their goals.
"Higher education has the power to change the trajectory of a family and the generations that come after," added Dr. Bloomberg. "When nearly 50,000 first-generation students choose Maricopa, that tells us how significant the opportunity is and how important our mission remains."
Discover how Maricopa Community Colleges is making college work for every Arizonan at maricopa.edu.
Maricopa Community Colleges enrolls students for the fall semester on an ongoing basis, with multiple class start dates offered throughout the term. Enrollment figures presented in this release are projections and may change as additional students register.