Tucson is Tops

Arizona Ranks High Among States with Best Economic Outlook for 2020

Arizona is 10^th in the nation in a survey that ranked states with the best overall economic outlook for 2020. The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) conducted the survey, titled “Rich States, Poor States.” The data examined ranks the 2020 economic outlook for states using 15 equally weighted policy variables, including various tax rates, regulatory burdens and labor policies. https://www.alec.org/app/uploads/2020/08/RSPS_13th-Edtion_State-Pages_final.pdf (August 2020)

Ranked as Best Employer

Forbes named the University of Arizona #10 out of 80 of Arizona’s best employers in a recent study. Other employer is the state: Arizona Public Service #20, City of Phoenix #29, Pima County #32, Raytheon Technologies #44, and Pima Community College #67 all made the list. https://www.forbes.com/best-employers-by-state/#49e37556487a (August 2020)

Best Arizona Community Colleges

WalletHub looked at more than 700 community colleges and compared 17 metrics in three categories: cost and financing, education outcomes and career outcomes. Among other things, the metrics included tuition and fees, retention rates and student loan default. https://wallethub.com/edu/e/best-worst-community-colleges/15076/#main-findings (August 2020)

• 253. GateWay Community College
• 255. Chandler-Gilbert Community College
• 319. Paradise Valley Community College
• 330. Cochise County Community College District
• 363. Glendale Community College
• 372. Mesa Community College
• 407. Estrella Mountain Community College
• 445. Eastern Arizona College
• 450. Phoenix College
• 494. Pima Community College
• 508. Mohave Community College
• 524. Yavapai College
• 557. Scottsdale Community College
• 566. Coconino Community College
• 584. Northland Pioneer College
• 597. South Mountain Community College
• 634. Rio Salado College
• 645. Central Arizona College
• 653. Tohono O’Odham Community College

Best College for Your Money

Money has ranked a list of the best colleges that combine educational quality, affordability, and alumni success. University of Arizona came in #98 of the more than 700 best performing colleges that were analyzed. https://money.com/money/best-colleges/ (August 2020)

UArizona Among Top 385 Colleges

The Princeton Review again has named University of Arizona as one of the best higher education institutions in the nation for undergraduate education. The Princeton Review does not issue overall rankings for the 385 schools. Instead, it assigns scores ranging from a low of 60 to a high of 99 in a variety of categories. UArizona excelled in campus Top 50 Entrepreneurship Ugrad #36 and Best Health Services #14. https://www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings/best-colleges?ceid=nav-1-es (August 2020)

Arizona is Tops for Dogs

Tucson came in #39 with high rankings for pet friendly outside spaces and businesses. With animal parents in mind, WalletHub compared the pet-friendliness of the 100 largest U.S. cities across 24 key metrics. The data set ranges from minimum pet-care provider rate per visit to pet businesses per capita to walkability. https://wallethub.com/edu/most-pet-friendly-cities/5562/ (August 2020)

Best Hospitals in Arizona

According to U.S. News & World Report, Mayo Clinic ranks #1 (#16 on the top 20 National list), Banner University Medical Center Phoenix #3, Northwest Medical Center, #4, Banner University Medical Center Tucson #7 and Chandler Regional Medical Center #7. All are nationally ranked in various specialties. U.S. News & World Report surveyed nearly 10,000 specialists and sifted through data for approximately 5,000 hospitals to rank the best in 16 adult specialties, from cancer to urology. Only 165 hospitals performed well enough to be ranked in one or more specialties. https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/az (July 2020)

Top Healthiest Employers

The top healthiest Arizona employers include The CORE Institute, Blue Cross Blue Shield of American, Sun Health Senior Living, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Banner Health, Delta Dental of Arizona, Mayo Clinic, USAA, Humana and Cigna HealthCare of Arizona. Ranking Arizona is based purely on opinion and ranks companies based on how voters answer this simple question: with whom would you recommend doing business? https://azbigmedia.com/business/ranking-arizona-top-10-healthiest-employers-for-2020/ (July 2020)

Most Educated Cites

Tucson ranked #63. As the fall semester commences, WalletHub determined where the most educated Americans are choosing to settle. In order to do so, they compared the 150 largest U.S. metropolitan statistical areas across nine key metrics. Their data set ranges from the percentage of adults aged 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher to the attainment gap between women and men. https://wallethub.com/edu/most-and-least-educated-cities/6656/ (July 2020)

UArizona Ranked Among Elite 100 World Universities

University of Arizona is ranked #89 out of 20,000 global colleges and universities in the annual Center for World University Rankings (CWUR). CWUR publishes the only global university performance tables that measure the quality of education and training of students, as well as the prestige of the faculty and the quality of their research, without relying on surveys and university data submissions. https://cwur.org/2020-21.php (June 2020)

Tucson Among Most Affordable Large City in U.S.

GOBankingRates reviewed the cost of living in the 50 largest U.S. cities, taking into account average prices for rent, groceries, utilities, transportation, and health care. According to GOBankingRates research, it costs in the low $70,000s per year to live comfortably in Tucson. https://www.gobankingrates.com/money/economy/cost-to-live-comfortably-biggest-cities-us/#38 (June 2020)

UArizona Water Resources Program No. 1 Globally, Again

The University of Arizona has been recognized by the Shanghai Academic Rankings of World Universities as #1 in the U.S. and #2 globally in the area of water resources. Also ranked in the top 50: communication (#20 globally, #15 in the U.S.), library and information sciences (#21 globally, #16 in the U.S.), ecology (#27 globally, #9 in the U.S.), earth sciences (#31 globally, #14 in the U.S.), atmospheric sciences (#30 globally, #19 in the U.S.), earth sciences (#31 globally, #14 in the U.S.), public administration (#41 globally, #17 in the U.S.), law (#44 globally, #38 in the U.S.), business administration (#46 globally, #32 in the U.S.) and geography (#49 globally, #11 in the U.S.).The Shanghai ARWU subject rankings score more than 1,200 global universities based on the number of papers authored by an institution in an academic subject, the ratio of citations of the papers published to the average citations of the papers in the same category to the number of papers published in the journals in the amount of international collaboration and the total number of staff members that have won significant awards. https://www.shanghairanking.com/index.html (June 2020)

Tucson Top City for Cyclist

PeopleForBikes has released its third annual ratings of the best cities for bicycling in the U.S. and Tucson ranks 13^th overall. Tucson performed well in acceleration, ridership, and safety. The program is a data-driven analysis that evaluates more than 550 cities and towns and shows city leaders how they can invest to make bicycling better for all residents and visitors. https://cityratings.peopleforbikes.org/ (June 2020)

UArizona Top 100 Global Patent Ranking

University of Arizona which ranks #39 is among worldwide institutions in earning utility patents, The National Academy of Inventors and the Intellectual Property Owners Association said today. The report is based on data obtained from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The National Academy of Inventors and the Intellectual Property Owners Association compile the rankings each year by calculating the number of utility patents that list a university as the first assignee. It underscores the university’s effort to ease the process for acquiring patents. https://docserver.ingentaconnect.com/deliver/connect/nai/19498241/v21n3x1/s1.pdf?expires=1598397040&id=0000&titleid=75009783&checksum=A2B9A52CC32C71DA1CCD60AAC46A8201 (June 2020)

Tucson Top Birdwatching City

As #6 in the U.S., Tucson and surrounding areas (Saguaro National Park and Chiricahua Mountains) have an abundance of species that cannot be found elsewhere. July’s monsoon season encourages international fliers to the area. https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/best-places-for-birding-usa (June 2020)

AZ Cities Receive Tree City USA Recognition

The Tree City USA programs a national program that provides the framework for community forestry management for cities and towns across America. Marana, Tucson, and Sahuarita all received recognition as “Tree City USA” in honor of Arbor Day. https://www.arborday.org/programs/treecityusa/treecities.cfm?chosenstate=Arizona (June 2020)

UArizona Earns Tree Campus USA Designation

As the oldest continually maintained public green space in Arizona, the University of Arizona has again earned the Tree Campus USA recognition for its work promoting healthy trees and engaging students and staff in the spirit of conservation. Tree Campus USA, a national program launched in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation and Toyota, honors higher education institutions and leaders across the nation for tree care initiatives. https://www.arborday.org/programs/treecampususa/campuses.cfm (June 2020)

Tucson Best City for Staycation

WalletHub considered 36 key indicators in ranking the 150 largest U.S. cities. Tucson ranks as #90 among best cities for staycations. Peoria #16, Glendale #24, Gilbert #33, Chandler #62, Tempe #55, Phoenix #86, and Mesa #96 are also great places to play. Certain cities are obviously more conducive to a staycation than others. From recreation opportunities to the cost of relaxation, there are a number of factors to consider when evaluating whether or not you can bring the benefits of a vacation to your front door. https://wallethub.com/edu/best-cities-for-staycations/4341/ (May 2020)

Arizona Great Place for Nurses

According to WalletHub, Arizona is ranked 9^th in the U.S. as best place to work as a nurse and 9^th highest for lowest competition. The study compared the all U.S. states across 21 key metrics that collectively speak to the nursing job opportunities in each market. https://wallethub.com/edu/best-states-for-nurses/4041/ (May 2020)

Top Destinations for Migration

Each year, as a prelude to the Memorial Day weekend, U-Haul counts down its top destination cities by tracking the total of one-way trucks arriving at a destination. This year, Phoenix ranked 10^th and Tucson was ranked 19^th. https://www.uhaul.com/Articles/About/21556/Top-Us-Destination-Cities-Houston-Is-U-Haul-No-1-Destination-City-for-2019/ (May 2020)

Arizona Best High Schools in Nation

Nationally ranked Tucson area high schools include: BASIS Oro Valley #18, University High School (Tucson) #22, BASIS Tucson North, #48, and Catalina Foothills High School #708. The U.S. News & World Report rankings include data on more than 20,500 public high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia. Schools were awarded gold, silver or bronze medals based on their performance on state assessments and how well they prepare students for college. https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/national-rankings (April 2020)

UArizona Recognized Nationally

Recognized by the Best Colleges 2020 edition of U.S. News & World Report, The University of Arizona was nationally ranked #117 (tie) among all universities and #53 among public universities. U.S. News Best College Rankings – In addition to ranking No. 4 for Management Information Systems, UArizona also ranks #80 for Best Colleges for Veterans. U.S. News Best Grad School Rankings include #46 Business School, #3 Information Systems, #36 Part-time MBA, #73 Best Education Schools, #63 Best Engineering Schools, #47 Best Law Schools, #62(tie) Best Medical Schools: Research, #31 Best Nursing Schools: Doctor of Nursing Practice and #45 (tie) Best Nursing Schools: Master’s. U.S. News Best Online Programs Rankings Includes #3 Best Online Master’s in Computer Information Technology Programs, #10 Best Online MBA Programs, #38 Best Online Master’s in Engineering Programs, #31 Best Online Master’s in Nursing Programs, #11 Best Online Bachelors Program and #29 Best Online Graduate Education Programs. U.S. News Best Global University Rankings includes #84 Best Global Universities, #30 Arts and Humanities, #95 (tie) Economics and Business, #35 Environment/Ecology, #20 Plant and Animal Science, #103 Psychiatry/Psychology, #94 Social Sciences and Public Health and #11(tie) Space Science. https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/university-of-arizona-1083 (March 2020)

UArizona Leads in Peace Corp Volunteers

The Peace Corp ranks UArizona #17 among large schools on the agency’s 2020 Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities list with 47 volunteering worldwide. https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.peacecorps.gov/documents/topschools2020.pdf.pdf (March 2020)

Safest Arizona Cities in 2020

To determine the safest cities in Arizona, SafeWise.com reviewed 2018 FBI crime report statistics and population data. Rankings are based on the number of violent crimes in each city. Top rankings include: Sahuarita #5, Marana #10, and Sierra Vista #19. https://www.safewise.com/blog/safest-cities-arizona/ (March 2020)

Tucson is Ranked a Happiest City

In a recent study, WalletHub drew upon various findings of positive-psychology research to determine which among 150 largest U.S. cities is home to the happiest people in America. Each city was examined on 30 key indicators of happiness ranging from depression rate to income-growth rate to average leisure time spent per day. Tucson ranked #123. https://wallethub.com/edu/happiest-places-to-live/32619/ (March 2020)

UArizona Earns ‘Military Friendly School’ Accolade

University of Arizona has been designated as a 2019-2020 Military Friendly School by G.I. Jobs Magazine. The designation provides service members and their families with transparent, data driven ratings about post-military education and career opportunities. https://www.militaryfriendly.com/schools/ (February 2020)

UArizona One of Top Universities in America

University of Arizona is ranked #51 of the top public universities in America according to Niche. The rankings were chosen by a rigorous analysis of academic admissions, financial and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education along with millions of reviews from students and alumni. The ranking compares more than 500 public colleges and state universities. https://www.niche.com/colleges/search/top-public-universities/ (February 2020)

UArizona Top U.S. Producer of Fulbright Scholars

University of Arizona was once again named a top-producer – scholars for 2019-2020 according to the Institute of International Education. Setting a record with 20 UArizona faculty members having the opportunity to teach and conduct research, contributing to the UArizona’s status as the #14 top-producers of the Fulbright scholars among research institutions. https://topproducing.fulbrightonline.org/top-producing-institutions-by-year?filter%5Bproducing_type%5D=Student&filter%5Byear%5D=2019-2020&filter%5Btype%5D=PhD (February 2020)

Tucson Ranked Among Healthiest Cities

WalletHub put together a panel of experts to analyze which of the most populated U.S. cities are doing the best job of keeping their residents healthy and happy. Each city was examined for healthcare, fitness and access to green space. Tucson made the list at #74. https://wallethub.com/edu/healthiest-cities/31072/ (February 2020)

UArizona One of Best Employers for Diversity

The University of Arizona has made its inaugural appearance on Forbes’ third annual Best Employers For Diversity list, placing at #241 out of 500 businesses with at least 1,000 employees. The university was one of only four businesses headquartered in Arizona to be included on the national list and one of only 30 education institutions to earn the recognition. https://www.forbes.com/best-employers-diversity/#44da45449b9e (January 2020)

Best Cities for an Active Lifestyle

WalletHub ranked the 100 most populated cities in the U.S. based on how well they accommodate or encourage an active lifestyle and Tucson ranked #27. They analyzed 24 key metrics, ranging from the average monthly fitness club fee to the number of sports clubs per capita. https://wallethub.com/edu/best-and-worst-cities-for-an-active-lifestyle/8817/ (January 2020)

Tops for Finding a Job in 2020

Tucson is ranked at #97 among the top best U.S. cities for finding a new job in 2020 according to WalletHub. To narrow down the best cities for finding a job in WalletHub compared 180 of the most populous US cities based on 26 indicators which ranged from job opportunities to employment growth to monthly average starting salary. https://wallethub.com/edu/best-cities-for-jobs/2173/ (January 2020)

Arizona Gaining as a Top Moving Destination

Arizona ranked third overall as the top moving destination in 2019, according to an annual study by United Van Lines. Last year, 63.2% of all Arizona moves were inbound compared to 36.8% that were outbound. Arizona rose two spots from the 2018 survey with job opportunities, retirement lifestyles and other factors luring newcomers. https://www.unitedvanlines.com/newsroom/movers-study-2019?utm_source=prnewswire.com&utm_medium=press&utm_campaign=National-Movers-Study&utm_content=2019-movers-study (January 2020)

Arizona Restaurants in Top 100 Places to Eat in US

In Yelp’s annual list honoring eateries across the US, two Arizona restaurants made the list of the top places to eat in 2020. Yelp’s list honored eateries that ranked so high on the community opinion that they earned the status of “must try this year”. Yelp looked at reviews received by businesses while considering both the ratings and the volume of reviews to determine the list. Restaurants on the list include: Cocina Madrigal #5 in Phoenix, and Barista Del Barrio #53 in Tucson. https://blog.yelp.com/2020/01/yelps-top-100-places-to-eat-2020 (January 2020)

Tucson Top Cities That Care

Some cities are better at taking care of their neighbors than others according to a recent study conducted by WalletHub. Tucson is ranked at #80. WalletHub analysts compared the 100 most populated cities across 26 key metrics to find which have the most caring spirit. The data set ranges from the percentage of sheltered homeless persons to the percentage of income donated to charity, to the number of rehabilitation centers per capita. https://wallethub.com/edu/most-caring-cities/17814/ (December 2019)

Arizona Gains in Solar Power

Arizona’s solar market remains steady during the first quarter of 2019 (ranks 3^rd in solar capacity), according to GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association latest U.S. Solar Market Insight Report. Arizona ranked 9^th with solar installations. The forecast is strong for Arizona, which is expected to more than double its solar capacity in the next 5 years, according to the report’s data. https://www.seia.org/research-resources/solar-market-insight-report-2019-q4 (December 2019)

Arizona Top Digital Cities

The center for Digital Government announced the winners of the 2018 Digital Cities Survey. In its 18^th year, the annual survey recognizes cities using technology to improve citizen’s services, enhance transparency and encourage citizen engagement. The survey honors cities in five population categories. In the 500,000 and more population category, Phoenix is 7^th, Mesa is 6^th. In the 250,000 – 499,999 population category, Chandler is 9^rd, in the 75,000 – 124,999 Avondale is 10^th and in the up to 75,000 Marana is 10^th. https://www.govtech.com/dc/digital-cities/Digital-Cities-Survey-2019–Winners-Announced.html (November 2019)

Arizona Among Best States for Middle Class

The wealth gap between upper- and middle-income families continues to grow, but in some states the middle class is thriving. Arizona is one of them. Personal finance tech company SmartAsset ranked Arizona #11 among the top states for the middle class based on percentage of middle-income households, cost of living, income, homeownership and job growth. https://smartasset.com/mortgage/best-states-for-the-middle-class-2019 (November 2019)

Tucson Receives National Running Award

The Road Runners Club of America, the leading distance running organization in the U.S., has named Tucson a “Runner Friendly Community.” This is the first designation of its kind for the Tucson community, highlighting our region’s commitment to community infrastructure, business & government support, and community engagement. https://www.rrca.org/our-programs-services/programs/runner-friendly-community/official (November 2019)

Arizona Companies Ranked as the Fastest Growing

Arizona has seven companies on Deloitte’s annual ranking of the fastest growing public and private technology companies in North America, including four software companies. Tucson-based companies include: Accelerate Diagnostics Inc. #34, Audioeye Inc. #83 and HTG Molecular Diagnostics Inc. #253. Other Arizona companies in the rankings include: Iota Communications Inc. #53 (Phoenix), CampusLogic #81 (Chandler), Vici Media #370 (Phoenix) and Nextive #489 (Scottsdale). https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/us/Documents/technology-media-telecommunications/us-tmt-fast-500-2019-winners-list.pdf (November 2019)

Top Public High Schools

Niche has named its 2020 Best Public High Schools ranking which is based on rigorous analysis of key statistics and millions of reviews from students and parents using data from the U.S. Department of Education. Ranking factors include state test scores, college readiness, graduation rates, SAT/ACT scores, teacher quality, and high school ratings. Some of Arizona’s top ranked schools were: Basis Scottsdale #9, Basis Tucson North #26, Basis Oro Valley #41, Basis Peoria #55, Basis Phoenix #59, Basis Chandler #68, Arcadia High School #70, Basis Ahwatukee #95, and University High School Tucson #99. https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-public-high-schools/?page=2 (October 2019)

Arizona’s Three State Universities Best for Vets

Arizona State University ranked No.106, University of Arizona ranked No.18 and Northern Arizona University ranked No.44 among the top public universities in the nation for military and veteran students according to Military Times. The publication released its 2020 list of the top 140 four-year universities. https://charts.militarytimes.com/chart/15 (October 2019)

Arizona 9^th Tax Friendly State

A recent State-by-State Guide to Taxes released by Kiplinger listed Arizona 9^th on the list of tax-friendly states. The ranking is determined by a state’s tax burden as it relates to areas including income tax, property tax, sales tax and more. The ranking follows reports showing Arizona recorded record revenue during the most recent fiscal year. https://www.kiplinger.com/slideshow/taxes/T054-S001-10-most-tax-friendly-states-in-the-u-s-2019/index.html (October 2019)

AZ Community Ranked for Solar Energy

SolSmart a new national designation program funded by U.S. Department of Energy SunShot (SPARC) Initiative recognizes communities that have taken steps to advance solar energy growth. Pima County has received the Gold designee. https://www.solsmart.org/our-communities/designee-map/ (October 2019)

Best Foodie Cities in America

According to WalletHub, several Arizona cities are among the best culinary hotspots in the U.S. Included on the list are: Scottsdale #32, Tucson #37, Mesa #51, Phoenix #52 and Chandler #86. The list includes wallet-friendly cities that cater to diners who prefer to cook at home, explore local flavors or both. In order to determine the best and cheapest local foodie scenes, WalletHub compared 182 cities including the 150 most populated U.S. cities plus at least two “Affordability and “Diversity, Accessibility, and Quality”. https://wallethub.com/edu/best-foodie-cities/7522/ (October 2019)

Four Arizona Cities Among Most Fun Cities in the U.S.

According to WalletHub, Tucson is #25 among the top 50 U.S. cities named as the Most Fun. Wallethub defined a place as fun as one that packs a little bit of everything for everyone. The study compared the 150 largest U.S. cities based on 58 key metrics. They range from fitness centers per capita to movie costs to average open hours of breweries. Other Arizona cities making the top 50 on the list were Scottsdale, #30, Phoenix, #48 and Tempe, #51. https://wallethub.com/edu/most-fun-cities-in-the-us/23455/ (September 2019)

Arizona in Good Position in Latest Crop of Business-Friendly Rankings

Arizona ranked 16^th overall in “Top States for Doing Business” and 4^th in Most Improved Economic Development Polices, and #9 in Competitive Labor Environment categories. https://www.areadevelopment.com/Top-States-for-Doing-Business/Q3-2019/overall-results-georgia-ranked-top-state-by-site-selection-c.shtml (September 2019)

UArizona Top Green Schools

Participation in Sierra Magazine’s, Cool Schools ranking is open to all four-year, degree-granting undergraduate colleges and universities in the United States. The University of Arizona ranked #81 out of the 269 schools that submitted completed responses by the deadline. Each year, school administrators participate by going to stars.aashe.org to complete an extensive questionnaire about their campus sustainability practices. The survey, officially called the Campus Sustainability Data Collector, is the result of the collaborative efforts of four organizations: the Sierra Club, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), the Sustainable Endowments Institute (SEI), and the Princeton Review. https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/cool-schools-2019/cool-schools-2019-full-ranking (September 2019)

UArizona Top 25 Online MBA Programs

For the third year in a row, the Princeton Review has named UArizona’s Eller College of Management (#22) as one of the top 25 Online MBA programs in the nation for online programs. The company chose the schools based on a survey of over 90 business schools offering online programs and used surveys from administers and students attending these schools. https://www.princetonreview.com/business-school-rankings?rankings=top-25-online-mba-programs&page=2 (September 2019)

UArizona Named in Times Higher Education World University Rankings

The University of Arizona is ranked No. 136 out of 801 colleges and universities in the 4th annual Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education World University Rankings. The ranking is an 81-position increase from last year’s list and 36 spots higher than the UArizona’s highest mark in these rankings in 2017. The ranking scores each university on four key areas: resources (30%), engagement (20%), outcomes (40%) and learning environment (10%). The ranking adopts a balanced scorecard approach, with 15 individual performance indicators combining to create an overall score that reflects the broad strength of the institution. https://www.timeshighereducation.com/rankings/united-states/2019#!/page/0/length/25/sort_by/rank/sort_order/asc/cols/stats (September 2019)

Top Places to Live

According to Livability.com, Tucson (No.99) is among the top 100 best places to live in the U.S. Tucson ranked on the list because it’s one of the healthiest cities in the country with excellent access to outdoor activities as was as its top-notch air quality. The study examined more than 1,000 cities based on thousands of data points measuring economics, housing, amenities, infrastructure, demographics, social and civic capital, education and health. Other Arizona cities on the list include Tempe (No. 18) and Mesa (No. 32). https://livability.com/best-places/top-100-best-places-to-live/2019/az/tucson (September 2019)

Town of Oro Valley Receives Procurement Award

For the 12^th consecutive year, Oro Valley has received the Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award from the National Procurement Institute. The Town of Oro Valley is one of 14 agencies in the United States and Canada to receive the award. Additional Award recipients include: the City of Tucson, Pima County. Award Criteria are designed to measure innovation, professionalism, e-procurement, productivity and leadership attributes to the procurement function. https://npiconnection.org/awards/aep.asp (September 2019)

Best Real Estate Markets

WalletHub has released its list of the Best Real Estate markets in the U.S. The rankings include Gilbert #14, Peoria #97, Chandler #63, Tempe #69, Mesa #96, Surprise #104, Phoenix #123, Scottsdale #156, Glendale #162 and Tucson #203. To determine the best local real estate markets, WalletHub’s analysts compared 300 cities of varying sizes across 21 key indicators of housing-market attractiveness and economic strength. https://wallethub.com/edu/best-real-estate-markets/14889/ (September 2019)

Best Places to Retire

Niche has released its 2019 Best Places to Retire list and has named Scottsdale as the top city to retire in the U.S. Other Arizona cities that made the list: Mesa #17, Tucson #29, Tempe #37 and Phoenix #59. This ranking takes into account key factors, such as weather, crime rates, residents 65 and older, housing costs, and access to amenities such as restaurants, golf courses, exercise facilities, and doctors, in an attempt to measure the appeal of an area for retirement. https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/search/best-cities-to-retire/ (September 2019)

Four Arizona Golf Courses Ranked as Tops

The Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain (Marana) and JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa (Tucson) made the Top 100 Courses. Also making the list are Talking Stick (Scottsdale) and Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North (Scottsdale). GOLF.com readers rated each resort based on five key variables: golf experience, accommodations, service, food and ambience. The results of this poll were then weighed against the opinions of a select group of GOLF’s Top 100 Courses panelists and those of internal travel and editorial teams to list destinations in each category. https://www.golf.com/travel/2019/09/26/best-golf-resorts-north-america-golf-ranking/ (September 2019)

Most Dog Friendly Cities

Tucson ranked as the 2^nd most dog-friendly cities in the U.S according to a recent study conducted by smartasset.com. The fourth annual study lists the top 25 most dog-friendly cities based on a metric in 6 categories: dog-friendly restaurants, parks, walk score, average days of precipitation, median home values. https://smartasset.com/mortgage/the-most-dog-friendly-cities-in-america-2019 (September 2019)

UArizona Named Among Top Universities in the Country

University of Arizona placed 92^th overall in Washington Monthly magazine’s 2019 college rankings. Schools are rated based on their contribution to the public good in three broad categories: Social Mobility (recruiting and graduating low-income students), Research (producing cutting-edge scholarship and PhDs), and Service (encouraging students to give something back to their country). https://washingtonmonthly.com/2019college-guide (August 2019)

UArizona Named Best Buy College

The Fiske Guide to Colleges 2019 has named the University of Arizona as one of the nation’s top values in higher education in its annual list of “Best Buy” schools. UArizona was one of 20 out of more than 320 colleges and universities in the U.S. and one of only 10 public universities to qualify for the list. https://uanews.arizona.edu/story/ua-named-best-buy-fiske-guide-colleges (July 2019)

Arizona Cities Among Best for Recreation

WalletHub compared the 100 largest U.S. cities across 35 key metrics that speak to the relative benefits of public spaces and recreational activities across the country. For each city, they examined basic living costs, the quality of parks, the accessibility of entertainment and recreational facilities as well as the climate. Tucson ranked #20 for best recreation. Other Arizona cities that made the list are: Scottsdale #8, Phoenix #29, Glendale #45, Chandler #51, Mesa #63, and Gilbert #69. https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-cities-for-recreation/5144/ (July 2019)

Top City for Best Drivers

Several Arizona cities can be found on America’s 2019 best drivers report. They are: Scottsdale #15, Mesa #16, Chandler #26, Peoria #35, Tucson #40, Gilbert #41, Tempe #64, Phoenix #84 and Glendale #89. Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report^® is an annual ranking that identifies which of the 200 largest U.S. cities have the safest drivers. Sharing this data every year can highlight the importance of educating people about the importance of safe driving. https://www.allstate.com/americas-best-drivers/index.htm (July 2019)

Arizona Ranked for Business Success

Wallethub put Arizona at #7 for successful business start-ups. The study compared 50 states across 25 key indicators of start- up success to determine the most fertile growth in which to launch and grow and enterprise. Arizona ranked 10 for business environment and 23 for business costs. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/09/wallethub-best-and-worst-us-states-for-starting-a-business.html (July 2019)

Best State Economies

A new study by WalletHub finds that the Arizona economy is ranked among the 20 best in the U.S. and listed it ahead of many states for attracting relocating companies. Arizona ranked No. 11, just ahead of Texas (No. 12) and behind North Carolina (No. 10). To compile the rankings, each state and Washington D.C were compared across 28 economic performance and strength indicators. Data ranged from growth in gross domestic product to start up activity and share of jobs in the high-tech industry. https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-the-best-economies/21697/ (July 2019)

Tucson Rank Among Best Big Cities

A recent study by WalletHub compared 62 largest cities in the U.S to live and ranked Tucson at #39. In order to determine the list, 56 key factors of attractiveness were compared such as affordability, economy, public education, health and quality of life. Other Arizona cities that made the list include Mesa #18 and Phoenix #35. https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-large-cities-to-live-in/14358/ (July 2019)

UArizona Among Top 100 World Reputation

Times Higher Education has recognized the University of Arizona as one of the top 100 higher-education institutions in the world, ranking it as a global leader in research, education and innovation in the 2019 edition of its annual World Reputation Rankings. UArizona which appears in the 81-90 range is among 42 colleges and universities from the U.S. to claim the award. https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2019/reputation-ranking#!/page/0/length/25/name/University%20of%20Arizona/sort_by/rank/sort_order/asc/cols/stats (July 2019)

Best Place to Visit

According to a recent study by U.S. News, The Grand Canyon was named as the No. 1 top destination to visit in 2019. U.S. News used expert opinions, user votes and current trends, in addition to evaluating sights, cultures, scenic beauty, food scenes and more, to compile this list. https://travel.usnews.com/rankings/best-usa-vacations/ (July 2019)

AZ Ranks 4^th in Nation for GDP Growth

According to the data released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Arizona’s real gross domestic product (GDP) increased by four percent in 2018, the fourth fastest growth rate in the nation. AZ growth outpaced that of 46 other states. Sectors including manufacturing, real estate and rental leasing and contracting contributed to the most GDP growth over the past year. https://azbigmedia.com/arizona-ranks-4th-in-the-nation-for-gdp-growth/ (June 2019)

UArizona Best Value College

The University of Arizona jumped 46 spots and in now No. 62 of colleges Best Value Ranking by Forbes. UArizona is No. 34 among public universities and No. 41 among research institutions. Forbes ranks 300 colleges and universities by comparing data on 645 institutions across all 50 states. Schools are scored based on quality, net price, net debt, alumni earnings, timely graduation and access for low-income students. https://www.forbes.com/colleges/university-of-arizona/ (June 2019)

Best Cities for Live Music

Phoenix and Tucson have made the list of the top 20 best cities to see live music according to ClickitTicket. To determine the best cities for live music, over 100 of the populated cities were compared. These cities were considered better than the rest for getting the most enjoyment from live music offering a unique experience whether you are moving there or just visiting. https://www.clickitticket.com/best-live-music-cities-in-america/ (June 2019)

Top Public Golf Courses

Golf Digest‘s America’s 100 Greatest Second Greatest courses 2019 includes The Stone Canyon Club in Oro Valley. https://www.golfdigest.com/story/arizona-best-in-state-rankings (June 2019)

Best Cities to Live

For the third year, U.S. News analyzed 125 metro area in the U.S. to find the best places to live based on quality of life and the job market in each area, as well as the value of living there and people’s desire to live there. Tucson came in #76 as the Best Place to Live and #57 as the Best Place to Retire. A sprawling metro that started small and expanded into the empty space around it drawing new residents with its low cost of living, nationally recognized university and impressive sunsets. https://realestate.usnews.com/places/rankings/best-places-to-live?src=usn_pr (May 2019)

Marana and Tucson Named Top 30 Destinations to Avoid Winter

The Town of Marana and Tucson were named as one of the 30 places to Make You Forget About Winter by Forbes Travel Guide. Tucson and Marana made the list along such exotic locals such as St. Kitts, Cancun and Bali. https://stories.forbestravelguide.com/30-places-to-make-you-forget-about-winter (February 2019)

Oro Valley Ranks as Healthy Worksite

The Town of Oro Valley has been recently recognized by the Healthy Arizona Worksite Program as achieving the Gold Award level of excellence in worksite wellness. The program is a public health initiative offered by the Arizona Department of Public Health and Maricopa Department of Public Health. Its’ mission is to help employers learn how to successfully implement worksite wellness initiatives to improve the health of their employees and businesses. The City of Tucson was also recognized as achieving the Gold Award. https://healthyazworksites.org/award/whos-recognized/#1543592495355-c836c524-9d32 (February 2019)

Tucson Ranks 5^th for Air Quality

In 2018, the Tucson Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) ranked fifth out of the 12 MSAs in the percentage of good air quality days. Tucson air quality was rated “good” 53.7% of the time. Tucson had 97% of days classified as good or moderate, 3% ranked unhealthy for sensitive groups and 0% very unhealthy. https://mapazdashboard.arizona.edu/quality-place/air-quality (February 2019)

Best Luxury Hotels

Forbes Travel Guide has recognized The Ritz Carlton, Dove Mountain in Marana as one of the 58 most luxurious hotels in the world. Forbes Travel Guide’s inspectors visited more than 1,000 hotels in 60 countries to determine the 2018 Star Award winners announced in February — those Five-Star, Four-Star and Recommended hotels that deliver superior service and facilities. The company gathers up to 900 data points from every one of those inspections. Fifty-eight hotels in 17 countries earned the coveted designation, representing the top 6 percent of 1,017 Star Rated hotels in luxury-related standards. The honorees include 52 Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star and six Four-Star properties. https://stories.forbestravelguide.com/forbes-travel-guides-58-most-luxurious-hotels-in-the-world (October 2018)

Top Safest Driving Cities

In a recent study by QuoteWizard Arizona was ranked as the 11^th safest state in America. Marana #9 and Sahuarita #10 were among the top ten safest driving cities within Arizona. The list was determined by compiling over 40,000 data points from QuoteWizard users in Arizona on speeding tickets, accidents, DUIs and other citations in the last year. Then, they calculated the rate of incidents across each city. Cities with the lowest rate are ranked safest. https://quotewizard.com/news/posts/arizona-safest-driving-cities (October 2018)

UArizona Top Fine Arts Schools

The University of Arizona is home to exceptional Bachelor of Fine Arts programs in dance, musical theater, and theater design and technology, according to the 2018-19 rankings from OnStage. The School of Dance, which placed No. 9 overall and No. 2 among public universities, was the only dance program at a land-grant university to appear in the top 10. The musical theater program finished No. 15 overall (No. 5 among public universities), and the theater design and technology program placed at No. 16 overall (No. 8 among public universities).https://www.onstageblog.com/onstage-blog-news/2018/8/21/the-top-25-college-dance-programs-for-2018-19 (October 2018)

Tucson Named #1 Bike City

Tucson was ranked as the No.1 out of eight best cities for biking in the United States according to brokeassstuart.com. The Chuck Huckleberry Loop stretching over 53.9 miles through Pima County, Oro Valley, Marana, Tucson and South Tucson connecting trailheads, parks, restaurants, schools, shopping areas and entertainment venues. https://brokeassstuart.com/2018/10/15/these-are-the-8-best-cities-for-biking-in-the-u-s/?fbclid=IwAR1fMA7p9N9uDDxMOmSWiLsL4tihg62FX3-_7rJU0ky87YszRmjTbZjyaWc (October 2018)

Best Real Estate Markets

Tucson is ranked as the #213 best real estate market in the U.S. according to WalletHub. To determine the best local real estate markets, WalletHub’s analysts compared 300 cities of varying sizes across 21 key indicators of housing-market attractiveness and economic strength. https://wallethub.com/edu/best-real-estate-markets/14889/ (September 2018)

UArizona Law School Among Top for Affordability

A new Student Loan Hero study surveyed 116 law schools to find the top 20 that gives graduates a leg up on repaying student loans. University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law ranks 7 among the most affordable law schools. https://studentloanhero.com/featured/20-most-affordable-law-schools-avoid-student-debt/ (June 2018)