University of Advancing Technology
Tempe, Arizona · Private For-Profit · 98.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 28/100 · Poor Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
The University of Advancing Technology (UAT) is a for-profit school in Tempe, AZ that scores 28 (Poor Value). The most alarming indicator is the completion rate: only 35.1% of students finish a degree. Net price averages $28,522 - higher than tuition, suggesting fees and living costs dominate - against median 6-year earnings of $40,500 and a 16.2-year payback period. Median debt is $28,812 with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.711. The repayment rate of 67.9% indicates debt distress. Only the intelligence and cybersecurity program shows a defensible outcome; other programs produce weak to failing ROI grades. UAT serves a niche of gaming, cybersecurity, and digital technology students, but the data does not justify the price at the institutional level.
The data raises concerns about University of Advancing Technology
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score28/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate35.1% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- Payback period16.2 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
University of Advancing Technology
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $19,365/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $19,365/yr |
| Average net price | $28,522/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $114,088 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $50,719 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $40,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $28,812 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $305 |
| Estimated payback period | 16.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 35.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 855 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $19,365/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $28,522/year, or roughly $114,088 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $25,687/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $32,685/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $28,812 in federal loans, which works out to about $305 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $50,719 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.71, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $25,687 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $25,896 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $28,841 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $31,691 |
| $110,001+ | $32,685 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $25,687 net price per year at UAT - a substantial burden for a for-profit school with weak outcomes. Against $40,500 median 6-year earnings and a 35.1% completion rate, low-income students face compounded risks: high cost, low probability of finishing, and weak earnings if they do.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $28,841 per year. The price barely varies by income band, which is characteristic of for-profit aid structures. Families in the $75,001-$110,000 bracket pay $31,691. These figures are in the same range as many private nonprofit universities but produce substantially weaker outcomes.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $32,685 per year. The narrow spread across income bands means aid does very little to differentiate price by ability to pay. Full-pay families should expect the same weak outcomes as other groups.
Earnings by Major
Top 5 most popular majors at University of Advancing Technology with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations | $78,068 | C+ |
| Computer Programming | $72,462 | D |
| Visual and Performing Arts | $48,112 | F |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $84,302 | - |
| Design and Applied Arts | $38,996 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations
The intelligence and cybersecurity operations program (22 graduates) earns $64,915 year-one and $78,068 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.478 (ROI grade C+). This is UAT's strongest program by a significant margin. Graduates enter cybersecurity, defense contractor, and federal agency roles. The C+ grade reflects adequate but not strong ROI - manageable debt against credible earnings, but not compelling when compared to public university CS or cybersecurity programs.
Computer Programming
Computer Programming (16 graduates) earns $38,576 year-one and $72,462 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.792 (ROI grade D). The year-four figure of $72k shows substantial growth potential, but graduates carry high debt relative to their year-one earnings. Median debt of $30,562 against a $38,576 starting salary is a stressful debt burden.
Visual and Performing Arts
Visual and Performing Arts (16 graduates) earns $27,824 year-one and $48,112 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.069 (ROI grade F). Graduates owe more than a full year's salary. At a net price of $28,522, the financial logic of this program is difficult to defend.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 60.4% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 67.9% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 61.9% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 68.5% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Advancing Technology’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 98.1% |
| Enrollment | 855 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 57.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,981 |
UAT's 98.1% admission rate means the school takes essentially all applicants. There is no academic filter. The for-profit model depends on enrollment volume, and the 35.1% completion rate suggests the school enrolls many students who are not positioned to complete. Students should weigh this completion rate as a baseline probability of getting a credential from this institution.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
UAT's peer schools are Grand Canyon University, Strayer University, Brookline College, and Arizona College of Nursing - a mix of for-profit and career-focused institutions. Grand Canyon is significantly larger with more diverse program offerings. UAT's niche in gaming and digital technology gives it a more specialized identity than most for-profit peers, but the completion rate and earnings outcomes are consistent with the for-profit sector's documented challenges. UAT's 28 ROI score is near the floor of the dataset.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Advancing Technology (this school) | 28 | $28,522 | $50,719 |
| Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe | 36 | $31,681 | $34,657 |
| Arizona College of Nursing-Las Vegas | 35 | $30,921 | $34,657 |
| Grand Canyon University | 25 | $22,472 | $42,186 |
| Brookline College-Albuquerque | 24 | $37,459 | $29,576 |
| Strayer University-Florida | 24 | $16,064 | $40,092 |
Who Thrives Here
UAT admits 98.1% of applicants - effectively open enrollment - with a 57.0% Pell rate. At 855 students it is a small for-profit school. The school targets students interested in gaming, cybersecurity, and digital media, but 65% of enrollees do not graduate. Students drawn by the gaming or creative technology programs should compare outcomes carefully; Visual and Performing Arts earns an F-grade ROI with a debt-to-earnings ratio over 1.0.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
We'll be straight with you: the numbers at University of Advancing Technology are a real concern. With a net cost of $28,522 per year and the typical graduate earning only $50,719 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 16.2 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost - go in with your eyes open.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 35.1% graduation rate, high debt relative to what graduates earn, concerning loan repayment rates, a long payback period.
Median debt of $28,812 against $50,719 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.