On June 27, Governor Katie Hobbs approved the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, which includes a significant financial investment in Maricopa Community Colleges and Arizona’s community college districts. The FY26 budget reinforces Arizona’s commitment to higher education, ensuring Maricopa Community Colleges are well-positioned to continue providing the knowledge, training, and resources students need to support Arizona’s growing economy.
“We applaud Gov. Hobbs and the Arizona State Legislature for recognizing the pivotal role community colleges play in preparing learners of all backgrounds for future-ready careers throughout the state,” said Dr. Steven R. Gonzales, Chancellor of Maricopa Community Colleges. “Investments made in this year’s budget will allow Maricopa Community Colleges to expand on the life-changing opportunities our 10 colleges provide to more than 140,000 students, many of whom will go on to lead, innovate, and serve within our local communities.”
Here’s how the newly approved budget will impact Maricopa Community Colleges:
- Maricopa Community Colleges will receive $8,441,600 in STEM formula funding. This year’s allocation reflects the full amount based on the system’s full-time student equivalency. In previous years, STEM funding has supported various workforce-aligned programs, including advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, and nursing, among others.
- $6 million for adult education, which supports adult students completing their High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma, high school graduates looking to review basic academic skills, and non-English speaking learners. Rio Salado College, one of the system’s 10 colleges, is the largest adult education provider in the state.
- $1.5 million to support dual enrollment scholarship opportunities statewide. Maricopa Community Colleges enrolled more than 25,800 high school students in dual enrollment programs during the previous academic year.
- $1.5 million to support a fourth year of statewide funding for the Nursing Expansion Pilot Grant. Funding has enabled growth across the eight colleges that offer nursing programs, including classroom renovations and upgrades to supplies and lab equipment to ensure high-quality instruction. As the largest integrated healthcare education system in the state, Maricopa Community Colleges produces one-third of Arizona’s nurses.
- Approximately $2 million in first-time funding for the Community College Promise Scholarship, with $900,000 ongoing each year going forward.
- Roughly $9 million in additional funding for the Arizona Teachers Academy. This spring, the passage of HB2765 expanded Arizona Teachers Academy scholarship access to community college bachelor’s of education students. Maricopa Community Colleges offers two education-focused bachelor’s degree programs at four colleges.
- $250,000 to establish a wrestling scholarship at Maricopa Community Colleges.
Serving more Arizona residents than any other college or university in the state, Maricopa Community Colleges play a vital role in building the state’s workforce and future. These critical investments help ensure that Arizonans have access to affordable, high-quality programs that help meet the needs of the state’s growing economy.
To learn about Maricopa Community Colleges’ impact on the Valley, click here.