Rowan University vs University of Arizona: A Comparative Guide for Students When choosing a university abroad or in the U.S., two schools often considered are Rowan University and University of Arizona. Though both are respected institutions, they serve different student needs, environments, and goals. In this guide, we compare them across academics, research, student life, cost, and career prospects, helping you decide which might suit you best.
What is Rowan University?
- Rowan University is a public doctoral research university located in Glassboro, New Jersey. Encyclopedia Britannica+2Wikipedia+2
- Founded in 1923 as a teachers’ college (Glassboro Normal School), it has since expanded to become a full university offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. Encyclopedia Britannica+1
- Rowan has several academic divisions including business, communication, education, engineering, fine & performing arts, liberal arts & sciences. Research.com+1
- It is known for growing fast among public research universities, strong online offerings (Rowan Online), and recently added medical and veterinary schools. Rowan University+1
What is University of Arizona?
- The University of Arizona (UArizona) is a public land-grant research university located in Tucson, Arizona. Wikipedia+2The University of Arizona+2
- It was established in 1885, making it one of the older public universities in the U.S. Wikipedia
- UArizona has a large student population (both undergraduate and graduate), strong research credentials, many programs, and is a flagship institution in its state. Wikipedia+2U.S. News+2
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Rowan University | University of Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Size & Student Population | Smaller to mid-size; Rowan has ~17,000-22,000 total students (undergraduate + graduate + medical etc.) depending on data source. Forbes+2Rowan University+2 | Much larger: UArizona has over 40,000 undergraduates and >50,000 total students. Wikipedia+1 |
| Research Profile | Rowan is classified as a Carnegie R2 (high research activity), rapidly growing in research funding, especially in health care, materials, manufacturing. Rowan University+1 | University of Arizona is a major research university (often R1), with large research expenditures, land-grant status, and many research centers. AAU+2Wikipedia+2 |
| Academic Programs | Strong in education, engineering, business, fine & performing arts; good online options; new medical and veterinary schools are boosting health sciences. Rowan University+2Cooper Medical School+2 | Wide range of programs (150+ majors & graduate programs); strong emphasis on STEM, medicine, engineering, social sciences, environment etc. The University of Arizona+2Wikipedia+2 |
| Tuition & Costs | Rowan offers relatively affordable tuition for in-state U.S students; out-of-state and international fees higher. Costs are moderate compared with top large research universities. (Specific numbers depend on program.) U.S. News+1 | The University of Arizona has in-state vs out-of-state tuition that’s significantly different; living cost in Tucson may be moderate vs big cities in U.S., but still higher overall cost for many international students. U.S. News+1 |
| Campus & Environment | Suburban setting near Philadelphia metro area; smaller town but access to big city amenities; Rowan has multiple campuses within New Jersey. Rowan University+2Encyclopedia Britannica+2 | Tucson provides a warm, southwestern city climate; desert environment; large campus; more urban amenities in terms of cultural, research, outdoor opportunities. The University of Arizona+1 |
| Student Life & Extracurriculars | Rowan offers many student clubs, arts, sports (Division III in many sports), online community etc. More intimate environment likely more personal support. Wikipedia+1 | University of Arizona has a big student body, many student organizations, strong athletics (NCAA Division I, especially for sports like basketball, football, etc.), research labs, international students etc. Wikipedia+2AAU+2 |
| Career & Alumni Outcomes | Strong outcomes, especially in professions tied to local/regional demand; alumni salary is decent; growing in prestige as research and medical/veterinary programs expand. Forbes+1 | Very strong research networks, large alumni base, more global recognition, likely more opportunities in large scale research, cross-disciplinary fields, etc. Wikipedia+1 |
Which Should You Choose? (Based on Your Priorities)
Here are some scenarios to help you pick based on what matters most to you:
- If you prefer smaller class sizes, more personalized attention, a quieter suburban environment, and lower tuition (if you are in the U.S.), Rowan might be a better match.
- If you aim for major research involvement, exposure to large research facilities, and more diversity of programs, University of Arizona may offer more.
- For health & medicine as a field of interest: Rowan is growing fast (new medical/vet schools), but UArizona has established medical schools and research hospital affiliations.
- If cost is a major concern (tuition + living), comparing in-state vs out-of-state costs + scholarships is vital.
- Think about location/climate/culture: east coast-suburban vs southwest desert city, distance from home, access to industry partnerships etc.
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Final Thoughts
Both Rowan University and University of Arizona are excellent choices, each with strengths. Rowan is ideal for students seeking strong education in a smaller, more manageable setting with growing research and health science capacities. University of Arizona excels if you want large-scale research, diverse programs, strong global name recognition, and more extensive facilities.
If you tell me where you are applying from (your country), which field you want (e.g. engineering, medicine, business), and your priorities (cost, location, research, class size), I can help recommend which might be the better fit for you, and even suggest specific programs. Do you want me to do that?