Arizona's oldest community college, serving three counties with affordable education and the state's only marching band.
Eastern Arizona College offers over 90 academic programs across nine divisions: Business, Communicative Arts, Fine Arts, Health and Physical Education, Industrial Technology Education, Liberal Studies, Mathematics, Science and Allied Health, and Social Sciences. The college provides traditional associate degrees and certificates, plus four bachelor's degrees: BS in Health Sciences, BS in Music Education, RN to BSN in Nursing, and BA in Organizational Leadership (beginning Fall 2026). EAC is known for small class sizes—half of classes have 10 or fewer students—and transfer success, with 77.3% of transfer students earning a bachelor's degree within six years, 29% higher than the national average.
The main campus sits in the Upper Gila River Valley with Mt. Graham to the south and the Gila River to the north. On-campus housing includes Mark Allen, Wesley Taylor, and Nellie Lee residence halls plus three residence towers. Students engage in over 30 clubs and organizations, intramurals, and 10 competitive athletics programs. The college features a Fine Arts Auditorium, the only marching band in Arizona, and Discovery Park with the Mt. Graham International Observatory, wetland restorations, and a Chiricauhua Leopard Frog Ranarium. The Mills Collection museum houses over 600 restored pottery vessels and 5,000+ artifacts from archaeological excavations.
EAC welcomes new students, returning students, high school/dual enrollment students, personal interest students, and international students. The online application process requires an email address and personal/academic information. Multiple pathways exist for different student types. Academic advisors assist with program selection and transfer planning. The college offers fully online programs in business, administration of justice, and other fields alongside on-campus instruction.
Eastern Arizona College generates $342.4 million in annual economic benefit to the community and supports 190,059 jobs statewide. The college brings $15.2 billion in income statewide. Free tuition is available to Arizona residents aged 55 and over. Notable alumni include NFL players (Mark Gastineau, Michael Haynes, Adarius Glanton), NBA player Mike James, actors Nick Nolte and James Tolkan, and college basketball coach Nolan Richardson. The college maintains partnerships with Arizona State University and University of Arizona Global Campus for bachelor's degree pathways.