Prescott, Arizona (May 27, 2025) – The Yavapai College District Governing Board (DGB) approved the College’s proposed budget for 2025-2026 today at its annual budget adoption meeting.
The College did not seek an increase in its primary property tax levy and has gone without a tax increase in four out of six years of President Lisa Rhine’s tenure.
The approved budget includes funding for the college’s strategic priorities, initiatives, and improved services for students and the community. The state funds less than 3% of the College’s budget.
Yavapai College is the premier place to learn in Yavapai County. This past spring, 1,258 students graduated from Yavapai College with a degree or certificate. That is 1,258 firefighters, police officers, nurses and healthcare workers, business owners, and skilled tradesmen and women who are now trained to enter the workforce in Yavapai County, provide a better life for their families, and contribute to the county’s economy.
YC fills the needs of students of all ages through learning and training opportunities and community partnerships. The College serves as a stimulus for economic development, and investing in Yavapai College results in a return for the local economy. The College adds $203.7M to the Yavapai County economy annually, and for every $1 that students invest in their education, they receive a return of $7.80 in future lifetime earnings.
Last week, Yavapai College became the first community college in the United States to offer a three-year bachelor’s degree when it announced a 92-credit Bachelor of Applied Science in Business. The degree not only gets students their credentials sooner, but it can be obtained for just $9,482 in total tuition cost. That is one-fifth of the average price for the same degree at Arizona’s Universities.
Yavapai College remains one of the most significant values in the state for higher education. Keeping tuition low gives all residents of Yavapai County access to affordable, life-changing education.
Budget Highlights:
- YC’s base tuition rate is $113 per credit hour, and YC has no fees, making the tuition price the third lowest in the state of Arizona
- Full-time students receive a discount and only pay $1,356 for a 15-credit semester
- Yavapai College tuition is 80% below the Arizona public university average for full-time students, saving students approximately $9,000 per year in tuition and fees alone
- YC’s tuition is 36% below the national community college average for full-time students and 23% below the national community college average for part-time students
- YC’s cost per student is at the national community college average
- 65% of YC programs lead to a living wage job
- YC now offers four bachelor’s degrees, including a Bachelor of Science in Business, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, and a 92-credit Bachelor of Applied Science in Business
- In addition to the full-time student discount, YC offers a dual-enrollment discount for high school students at $10 per credit, a concurrent enrollment discount for high school students at 50% off online classes, and a senior citizen discount at 50% off credit classes.
The Yavapai College District Governing Board is responsible for governing on behalf of and is accountable to the taxpayers of Yavapai County. The Board’s role is to act as a link between the taxpayers and management, directing and regulating the organization on the taxpayers’ behalf.
Registration for fall 2025 semester classes is open, starting at the beginning of the fall semester on Mon., Aug. 18. Anyone interested in pursuing the degree should go online to degrees.yc.edu to learn more.
Yavapai College operates seven campuses and centers throughout Yavapai County and offers over 100 degrees and certificates, four baccalaureate degrees, student and community services, and cultural events and activities. To learn more about YC, visit www.yc.edu.
To learn more about the Yavapai College District Governing Board, visit www.yc.edu/dgb.