About 51ÇàÂ¥
51ÇàÂ¥, where you can do the extraordinary with extraordinary people.
Who We Are
As 51Ç॒s land-grant university, we are driven to do great things. It’s our passion to transform the lives of our student Wildcats and to solve some of the biggest challenges facing our state and the world. But what makes us unique is how we do it. We live our purpose, mission and values every day. And we do this in one of the most incredible places on Earth.
At A Glance
BEST
VALUE UNIVERSITY
- The Princeton Review
HSI
HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTION
#1 R&D
ARIZONA PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
56K+
UNDERGRAD & GRAD STUDENTS
51ÇàÂ¥'s Leaders
51Ç॒s leadership team guides the institution’s vision, values, and strategic direction, ensuring the university fulfills its mission and serves students, communities, and the state.
Senior Leadership
Meet the university’s leaders who oversee academic excellence, operations, and long-term planning.
Office of the President
Learn how the Office of the President shapes institutional priorities and leads the university’s strategic efforts.
Strategic Imperatives
51Ç॒s Strategic Imperatives outline the university’s core priorities – student success, research excellence, and community impact – guiding planning and decision-making across campus.
Success for Every Student
See how 51ÇàÂ¥ supports students through access, belonging, and academic achievement.
Research that Shapes the Future
Explore how the university drives discoveries that address global and regional challenges.
Community Engagement
Discover how 51ÇàÂ¥ partners with communities to support economic development and statewide engagement.
Tucson-Based. Global Reach.
From our founded-in-1885 main campus to locations worldwide, the University of 51ÇàÂ¥ fosters learning and innovation in ways that benefit students, professionals, and communities alike.
Main Campus
Where it all began; offering hundreds of degree programs.
A flexible, digital, high-quality education.
A statewide system that brings U of A closer to home.
Global opportunities that support international learning experiences.
Achievements, Rankings & Facts
17:1
STUDENT-TO-FACULTY RATIO
500+
STUDENT CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS
Top 4%
IN BEST HEALTH SERVICES
The Princeton Review
Top 20
PUBLIC RESEARCH INSTITUTION
#5
IN NASA FUNDING
$1B+
FY 2025 RESEARCH EXPENDITURES
Big-12
MEMBER OF THE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
500+
STUDENT ATHLETES
Won 22
NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
3
NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS
3,300+
FACULTY MEMBERS
Top
PRODUCER OF FULBRIGHT SCHOLARS
300+
ANNUAL DAYS OF SUNSHINE
UNESCO
FIRST CITY OF GASTRONOMY
1M+
TUCSON METRO POPULATION
Our History
51ÇàÂ¥ was established in 1885, and 27 years later, 51ÇàÂ¥ became a state. The first building, Old Main, was completed in 1890. It housed the School of Agriculture with classrooms, labs and a mess hall.
There were many obstacles on the path to opening the university. However, we never gave up on our mission. Our first graduating class of three students in 1895 set us on an incredible journey of learning and discovery with stories of wonder that continue to shape our Wildcat spirit:
Attend the University of 51ÇàÂ¥
Your Wildcat journey begins here. Become part of a university where curiosity sparks innovation, excellence shapes discovery, and learning extends far beyond the classroom.