Maricopa Community Colleges is set to confer degrees and certificates on more than 20,000 students from its ten colleges, marking a record year for the Arizona educational system. With 20,866 graduates anticipated, the institution continues to play a leading role in the state by providing education opportunities that impact critical regional industries.
Chancellor Dr. Steven R. Gonzales stated, “Graduation is a celebration of perseverance, resilience, opportunity, and transformation. We are incredibly proud of each graduate as they step into the next phase of their lives. We know many of our students will move into impactful careers throughout the Valley, making invaluable contributions to our local communities.”
This achievement underlines the commitment of Maricopa Community Colleges to making higher education both affordable and accessible. The dedicated efforts of the system’s faculty and staff, numbering over 10,000, have been crucial in fostering environments that emphasize academic excellence.
The breakdown of this year’s graduates includes a diverse range of sectors. There are 3,467 graduates in Health Sciences, underscoring the institution’s role as Arizona’s largest integrated healthcare system educator. In business sectors, 2,516 individuals are graduating in Business, Entrepreneurialism, and Management. Behavioral Science and Human Services have 2,372 graduates ready to help address a projected shortfall in behavioral health professionals by 2030. Similarly, 1,929 nursing graduates are set to join a sector facing significant shortages.
In addition, the system is expanding its academic offerings. A select group of students will graduate with bachelor’s degrees in fields such as Behavioral Science, Early Childhood Education-Dual Language, and Information Technology. This comes after Maricopa Community Colleges became the first system in Arizona to confer such degrees. Looking ahead, new programs in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are set to launch in the fall.
Known as the largest community college system in the nation, Maricopa Community Colleges also has a substantial economic impact, supporting one out of every 28 jobs in Maricopa County. Alumni working in the county contribute $6.4 billion in added income.
Graduation ceremonies are optional for students, and not all participate. The total number of graduates reflects awards from the 2024-2025 academic year, including both fall graduates and projected spring graduates.
