| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Public community college, the community college district for Graham County, also serving Greenlee County; campus-based, with some degrees online |
| Campus | 1, in Thatcher next to Safford; teaching at Gila Pueblo (Globe) and Payson ended 30 June 2025 |
| Credentials | Certificates, associate degrees (AAS, plus AA, AS and ABus for transfer) and a few bachelor’s degrees |
| Typical length | Certificates one to three semesters; AAS degrees four to five semesters |
| Accreditation | Higher Learning Commission (Open Pathway); next reaffirmation due in 2026-27 |
| Federal aid | Yes (OPE ID 00107300) |
| 2026-27 tuition | $98 per credit for Arizona residents, capped at $1,470 a semester; $398 per credit out of state |
| Founded | Chartered in 1888; in Thatcher since 1891 |
| Facts checked | October 2026 |
Eastern Arizona College: Graham County’s public college in Thatcher
Eastern Arizona College (EAC) is the public community college district for Graham County in southeastern Arizona, and it also serves Greenlee County. It was chartered in 1888 as St. Joseph Stake Academy, a Latter-day Saint school, held its first classes in 1890 and moved to Thatcher in 1891. The state and county took it over in the early 1930s, and in 1962 it became the first member of Arizona’s junior college system.
Its one campus, in Thatcher next to Safford, teaches every program, from the RN degree and radiography to welding, diesel, cosmetology and CDL training, and has residence halls. For about 50 years EAC also ran classes in Gila County under contract. The Gila County district ended that contract in 2023, and EAC stopped teaching at Gila Pueblo (Globe) and Payson on 30 June 2025. EAC added its first bachelor’s degrees in fall 2024.
Programs at Eastern Arizona College
EAC awards certificates and associate degrees; it does not award diplomas. The career programs are AAS degrees and certificates, and its transfer degrees (AA, AS and ABus) are built for students moving on to a university. EAC gives program length in semesters, and many certificates take two part-time semesters. The table shows the main career programs; all are taught at Thatcher.
| Program | Credential | Length | Where | Prepares for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | AAS | 4 full-time semesters after prerequisites | Thatcher; clinical weekends in the Phoenix area | NCLEX-RN | Selective; ACEN-accredited |
| Radiologic Technology | AAS | 5 full-time semesters after prerequisites | Thatcher | ARRT radiography | Competitive entry; JRCERT-accredited |
| Surgical Technology | AAS, 60-66 credits | 4 full-time semesters after prerequisites | Thatcher | – | New; seeking CAAHEP accreditation |
| Paramedic | Certificate | 3 full-time semesters | Thatcher | NREMT paramedic | Selective; CAAHEP-accredited |
| EMT | Certificate | 1 full-time semester | Thatcher | NREMT | – |
| Certified Nursing Assistant | Certificate | 2 part-time semesters | Thatcher | Arizona written and skills exams | State Board of Nursing approved |
| Medical Assistant | Certificate | 2 full-time semesters | Thatcher | – | 160-hour externship |
| Phlebotomist Technician | Certificate | 1 full-time + 1 part-time semester | Thatcher | State or national certification (not named) | 50 venipunctures, 10 capillary punctures |
| Welding Technology | AAS; certificate | 4 semesters; certificate 2 | Thatcher | – | Part-time Welding Manufacturing Fundamentals option |
| HVAC-R | AAS; two certificates | AAS 4 semesters; certificates 2 part-time semesters each | Thatcher | EPA and ESCO Section 608 | – |
| Diesel Technology | AAS; certificate | 4 semesters; certificate 2 | Thatcher | ASE diesel tests | Built with Freeport-McMoRan and Empire Southwest |
| Automotive Service Technology | AAS; three certificates | AAS 4 full-time semesters | Thatcher | ASE tests | – |
| Electrical and Instrumentation | AAS-BAS; two certificates | Technician certificate 2 full-time semesters | Thatcher | – | Mining named as a career path |
| Cosmetology | Certificate (1,500 hours); AAS | Certificate 3 full-time semesters; AAS 4 | Thatcher; weekdays plus Saturdays | Arizona Board of Barbering and Cosmetology exams | Fall or spring start |
| Commercial Driver’s License | Certificate, 5 credits | As little as 8 weeks | Thatcher | Class A CDL | $965; $1,315 with EAC testing |
| Cyber Security | AAS; certificate | Certificate 2 full-time semesters | Thatcher or online | CompTIA, EC-Council exams | – |
Programmatic accreditation: ACEN accredits the Registered Nurse AAS (spring 2016 to spring 2029), JRCERT the Radiologic Technology AAS (a three-year award from February 2024, with a review that was due on 1 September 2026, according to College Navigator; its result is not yet published), and CAAHEP the Paramedic certificate. The Surgical Technology AAS, approved by the Higher Learning Commission in June 2026, is seeking CAAHEP accreditation and is not yet accredited.
Bachelor’s degrees are a recent addition: a BS in Health Sciences and a BS in Music Education since fall 2024, an online RN-to-BSN whose first cohort is fall 2026, and a BA in Organizational Leadership approved in March 2026. HLC approved BA degrees in Elementary and Secondary Education in June 2026. EAC’s current program list has no culinary, dental assisting or practical nursing (LPN) program.
What the main programs cover
Registered Nurse (AAS)
The RN degree runs four full-time semesters after prerequisites in chemistry, math, psychology and biology. Applicants must already hold a licensed nursing assistant, medical assistant or NREMT paramedic credential, take the ATI TEAS ($87) and apply by 1 April for fall or 1 November for spring; seats are limited. Clinicals take students to the Phoenix area on at least three weekends a semester. The college’s 2026-27 nursing guide lists about $2,380 in one-time costs, including $1,400 for books and $550 for RN licensing, plus $990 a semester in lab and testing fees.
EMT and Paramedic
The EMT certificate takes one full-time semester and leads to the National Registry (NREMT) exam. The Paramedic certificate takes three full-time semesters, has selective entry and holds continuing CAAHEP accreditation, granted on the recommendation of CoAEMSP, the committee that reviews paramedic programs. A Paramedicine AAS is also listed; EAC reports results for it at the advanced EMT level (66% first-attempt NREMT pass rate in 2025), so ask what level of certification it leads to before choosing it over the certificate.
Diesel Technology
Diesel Technology started in fall 2024, after EAC announced a partnership with Freeport-McMoRan and Empire Southwest in May 2024. The partners helped develop the curriculum and offer internships and apprenticeships. Students choose a four-semester AAS or a two-semester Diesel Technician Certificate, both at Thatcher, and courses prepare them for the ASE diesel tests. EAC has no separate mining or industrial maintenance program; Diesel Technology and Electrical and Instrumentation are the programs that serve that employer base.
Welding and HVAC-R
Welding students train on multi-process digital welders in SMAW, GTAW, GMAW and FCAW. The options are a four-semester AAS, a two-semester certificate and Welding Manufacturing Fundamentals, spread over four part-time semesters. The HVAC-R Certificate and the Advanced HVAC-R Certificate each take two part-time semesters and prepare for the EPA and ESCO Section 608 exams; the AAS takes four full-time semesters. The 2026-27 fee schedule lists a $35 EPA exam fee.
Cosmetology
The Cosmetology certificate is 1,500 hours over three full-time semesters, and the AAS takes four. Classes run about eight hours a day, five days a week, plus required Saturdays, so it is a full-time commitment. Students start in fall or spring and finish eligible for the Arizona State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology exams. A 600-hour Nail Technician certificate takes one full-time semester, and the Cosmetology Instructor certificate is 350 hours over one full-time semester.
Commercial Driver’s License
The CDL certificate is 5 credits in three courses: CDL 100 and CDL 101 (2 credits each) and CDL 102 (1 credit). It trains for a Class A license, and EAC says students can be ready to test in as little as eight weeks. The college prices it at $965 in tuition and fees, or $1,315 with testing at EAC; Arizona Department of Transportation and third-party fees are extra. Drivers who already hold a license can take CDL 110, a 15-hour refresher.
Tuition and how students pay
EAC’s 2026-27 rates are the same as in 2025-26. All Arizona residents pay the same rate, with no separate Graham County rate, and the per-credit charge includes the general fees. Course and program fees are extra and vary.
| 2026-27 tuition, general fees included | Per credit | Per semester |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona residents, 100-200 level courses | $98 | Capped at $1,470 (15 credits or more) |
| Arizona residents, 300-400 level courses | $147 | Capped at $2,205 |
| Out-of-state students | $398 | $5,970 at 15 credits |
| WUE states and Texas | – | $1,764 at 12 credits or more |
| Dual enrollment (high school students) | $70 | – |
For a year of two 15-credit semesters, that comes to about $2,940 for an Arizona resident and $11,940 for an out-of-state student, before course fees, books and housing. College Navigator gives 2024-25 tuition and fees of $2,352 in state and $9,552 out of state, and an average net price of $9,400 a year (2023-24). EAC takes federal student aid (OPE ID 00107300). Students from Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) states and Texas get the reduced rate shown above in place of the out-of-state charge.
Residence hall rooms cost $1,150 a semester in Mark Allen, Nellie Lee and Wesley Taylor halls and $1,900 for a single in the Towers in 2025-26; meal plans ran from $500 to $4,500 a semester. EAC’s tuition and fees page has the current figures.
Open admission, with selective health programs
EAC admits applicants openly. Registered Nurse, Radiologic Technology, Surgical Technology and Paramedic have their own entry steps: the RN program needs prerequisites, a prior nursing assistant, medical assistant or paramedic credential, the TEAS and an application by 1 April or 1 November; Radiologic Technology admits by a competitive score sheet; and Surgical Technology takes a separate application after prerequisites.
Schedules vary by program. Cosmetology runs full-time weekdays plus Saturdays, with fall and spring starts. Many certificates, including HVAC-R, bookkeeping, most business certificates and the CNA, take two part-time semesters. Administration of Justice and Cyber Security can be taken online, as can the BA in Organizational Leadership (online or hybrid) and the RN-to-BSN.
Accreditation and results
EAC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission on the Open Pathway. HLC’s 2017 reaffirmation set the next one for 2026-27, so that review falls due this academic year; we found no published outcome. HLC approved new EAC programs in March and June 2026.
| Measure | Result | Period and source |
|---|---|---|
| RN, first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate | 100% (Arizona 93.75%, US 91.16%) | 2024, EAC Student Success Outcomes |
| RN, program completion within 150% of program length | 84.38% | Fall 2023 to spring 2024 cohorts, EAC |
| RN, job placement | 96% (fall 2024) and 100% (spring 2025) | EAC; placement not defined further |
| EMT, NREMT cognitive exam, first attempt | 85% (66% in 2024) | 2025, EAC EMS page |
| Paramedic, NREMT exam, first attempt | 100%; no 2025 graduates | 2024, EAC EMS page |
| Graduation rate, whole college | 42% within 150% of normal time | Students who started in fall 2018, College Navigator |
EAC does not give the number of NCLEX-RN candidates, so a 100% rate may rest on a small class. The RN pass rate has been 96.67% or higher every year since 2020. EAC’s posted 2024 radiography program-effectiveness form is blank, and we found no published pass rates for cosmetology, CDL, welding or the other trade programs.
Before you enroll
- EAC no longer teaches in Gila County. Its Gila Pueblo (Globe) and Payson sites stopped being EAC campuses on 30 June 2025, and some outside listings still show programs there.
- The RN program does not take beginners straight in: applicants need a nursing assistant, medical assistant or paramedic credential first, and EAC’s program list shows no LPN program.
- The Law Enforcement certificate prepares students to apply to an Arizona police agency. EAC does not describe it as a certified police academy.
- Several health certificates are below the level their names may suggest: Medical Laboratory Assistant is not a medical laboratory technician program, and Physical Therapy Technician is an aide credential, not a physical therapist assistant degree.
- Surgical Technology is new and not yet accredited by CAAHEP. Ask about the accreditation timeline before you apply.
The Thatcher campus
All of EAC’s programs meet on the campus at 615 N Stadium Ave in Thatcher, a town next to Safford, the Graham County seat. RN students also travel to clinical sites in the Phoenix area. In Greenlee County, EAC offers only community classes for hobbies and skills, with no credit programs.
Housing, internships and externships
Thatcher has four residence halls (Mark Allen, Nellie Lee, Wesley Taylor and the Towers) and meal plans. Work experience is built into several programs: diesel internships and apprenticeships with Freeport-McMoRan and Empire Southwest, the 160-hour medical assistant externship, 120 clinical-lab hours for medical laboratory assistants, phlebotomy sticks and RN clinicals.
What students say
On Niche, Eastern Arizona College is rated 4.07 out of 5 from 402 reviews, with an overall grade of B− (checked 10 October 2026). Reviews we could read praise caring, helpful professors, the range of programs from nursing to business and education, and free in-person tutoring and study rooms. The main complaints are about small, loud dorms and middling housing and food. We could read only a sample of the reviews, so take these themes as a rough guide; the reviews cover the whole college rather than single programs.
Sources
Checked October 2026: EAC programs · 2026-27 tuition and fees · Nursing program · Emergency Medical Studies · EAC accreditation · EAC Gila County page · College Navigator · Niche
Programs & Courses
Nursing
- Registered Nurse (AAS, RN)
- RN to BSN (online)
- Certified Nursing Assistant
- Certified Medication Assistant
Health Sciences and Imaging
- Radiologic Technology
- Mammography (certificate)
- Surgical Technology (new; seeking CAAHEP accreditation)
- Medical Assistant
- Phlebotomist Technician
- Medical Laboratory Assistant
- Medical Coding and Billing Specialist
- Patient Care Technician
- Health Sciences (transfer track and BS)
Emergency Services and Justice
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
- Paramedic
- Paramedicine (AAS)
- Law Enforcement (certificate)
- Administration of Justice (on campus or online)
Skilled Trades
- Welding Technology
- Welding Manufacturing Fundamentals
- HVAC-R
- Diesel Technology
- Automotive Service Technology
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Electrical and Instrumentation
- Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CADD)
- Commercial Driver's License (Class A)
- Unmanned Aircraft Systems (drones)
Cosmetology
- Cosmetology
- Nail Technician
- Cosmetology Instructor
Business
- Business (AAS)
- Business Administration (transfer)
- Organizational Leadership (BA)
- Bookkeeping
- Business Management
- Retail Management
- Business Project Management Fundamentals
- Business Office Assistant
- Business Technology Specialist
- Entrepreneurship
Computers and Cybersecurity
- Cyber Security (on campus or online)
- Applied Computer Science
- Networking & System Support
- Database Support
- Programming and Cyber Security
Design, Media and Education
- Graphic Design
- Media Communications
- Early Childhood Education
- Elementary and Secondary Education (transfer)
- Music (transfer; BS Music Education)
- Theater (transfer)
Health, Fitness and Human Services
- Personal Trainer
- Physical Therapy Technician (aide level)
- Behavioral Health
Campus Locations
Safford (Thatcher), AZ 615 N Stadium Ave, Thatcher, AZ 85552