Best Colleges in Arizona for Associate, Bachelor’s & Master’s

Arizona College Guide – What You Need to Know

Get Matched With Arizona Programs

Arizona is chock full of great colleges and universities. University of Arizona, and its affiliated institutions, is a major research and educational system that offers a full range of studies for graduate and undergraduate students. There are also private colleges that offer unique and creative approaches to education.

While you can find loads of great educational opportunities at in-state on-campus institutions, Arizona also offers plenty of online learning opportunities. If you are in-state and attending class online, you might be able to take a course or two on campus if you choose. You'll also be close by in case you want to complete a degree program through a hybrid online/on-campus program.

What are the most popular bachelor's degrees offered in Arizona?

If you are interested in some of the most popular college majors, Arizona can surely satisfy your academic and career aspirations. One of the most popular fields of study is Business, and Arizona has a fully-accredited business school that will set you on a track to success. Other popular majors, such as those in the health professions, are in ample supply throughout the state and online. If you are interested in a Health Administration degree, for instance, you can find some of the nation’s best programs in-state.

Some of the most popular bachelor's degrees offered in Arizona include:

Education Level & National Average Median Compensation


NO FORMAL EDUCATION HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA ASSOCIATE DEGREE BACHELOR’S DEGREE MASTER’S DEGREE DOCTORAL DEGREE
$30,784* $38,792* $43,024* $64,896* $77,844* $96,772*

Compare Popular Online Arizona Programs

Best Associate Degrees in Arizona


Organizations that rank colleges and universities for quality look at several factors such as financial aid, student resources, graduation and retention statistics, and admission requirements. If you’re looking for associate degree programs, you need look no further for a collection of the best associate programs in the state so that you can choose the best school and program for yourself.

Chandler-Gilbert Community College
College Type
2-year, Public
Campus Housing
Yes
Student Population
15,585
Graduation Rate
24%
Net Price
$10,347
Grads Salary
$38,600
Eastern Arizona College
College Type
2-year, Public
Campus Housing
Yes
Student Population
6,027
Graduation Rate
46%
Net Price
$9,498
Grads Salary
$34,500
Paradise Valley Community College
College Type
2-year, Public
Campus Housing
No
Student Population
7,900
Graduation Rate
20%
Net Price
$9,950
Grads Salary
$40,200
Mesa Community College
College Type
2-year, Public
Campus Housing
No
Student Population
20,351
Graduation Rate
18%
Net Price
$10,337
Grads Salary
$40,800
Rio Salado College
College Type
2-year, Public
Campus Housing
No
Student Population
19,103
Graduation Rate
4%
Net Price
$9,017
Grads Salary
$40,900
Yavapai College
College Type
2-year, Public
Campus Housing
Yes
Student Population
7,428
Graduation Rate
32%
Net Price
$6,872
Grads Salary
$34,000
Estrella Mountain Community College
College Type
2-year, Public
Campus Housing
No
Student Population
10,120
Graduation Rate
20%
Net Price
$9,110
Grads Salary
$37,600
Scottsdale Community College
College Type
2-year, Public
Campus Housing
No
Student Population
8,602
Graduation Rate
17%
Net Price
$10,547
Grads Salary
$43,000
Pima Community College
College Type
2-year, Public
Campus Housing
No
Student Population
19,512
Graduation Rate
18%
Net Price
$3,696
Grads Salary
$35,800
GateWay Community College
College Type
2-year, Public
Campus Housing
No
Student Population
5,067
Graduation Rate
20%
Net Price
$10,692
Grads Salary
$32,800
Full Ranking Report

Best Bachelor's Degrees in Arizona


Here, you can find the best bachelor’s degrees in the state of Arizona. Whether you’re hoping to find a university in a large city, a private university, or a college in a smaller town, here you can review the statistics that demonstrate each school’s claim to academic excellence.

University of Arizona
College Type
4-year, Public
Campus Housing
Yes
Student Population
45,601
Graduation Rate
65%
Net Price
$15,620
Grads Salary
$75,000
Arizona State University
College Type
4-year, Public
Campus Housing
Yes
Student Population
53,286
Graduation Rate
66%
Net Price
$14,653
Grads Salary
$72,000
Northern Arizona University
College Type
4-year, Public
Campus Housing
Yes
Student Population
30,733
Graduation Rate
57%
Net Price
$15,692
Grads Salary
$65,000
University of Advancing Technology
College Type
4-year, Private for-profit
Campus Housing
Yes
Student Population
789
Graduation Rate
40%
Net Price
$12,936
Grads Salary
$73,000
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
College Type
4-year, Private not-for-profit
Campus Housing
Yes
Student Population
2,946
Graduation Rate
59%
Net Price
$36,356
Grads Salary
$84,000
Grand Canyon University
College Type
4-year, Private for-profit
Campus Housing
Yes
Student Population
103,427
Graduation Rate
47%
Net Price
$20,818
Grads Salary
$63,300
University of Phoenix-Arizona
College Type
4-year, Private for-profit
Campus Housing
No
Student Population
89,763
Graduation Rate
12%
Net Price
$12,780
Grads Salary
$73,000
Prescott College
College Type
4-year, Private not-for-profit
Campus Housing
Yes
Student Population
993
Graduation Rate
49%
Net Price
$23,225
Grads Salary
$55,100
American InterContinental University
College Type
4-year, Private for-profit
Campus Housing
No
Student Population
9,952
Graduation Rate
17%
Net Price
$13,278
Grads Salary
$64,500
Arizona Christian University
College Type
4-year, Private not-for-profit
Campus Housing
Yes
Student Population
870
Graduation Rate
44%
Net Price
$28,962
Grads Salary
$56,000
Full Ranking Report

Best Master's Degrees in Arizona


You have a choice from many colleges and universities in Arizona as you look for the best master’s degrees in the state. Whether your goal is to gain employment in top careers, or prepare yourself for promotion, you’ll be able to find the degree program you need to help you advance. These schools not only offer full degree programs, but also some of the most sought-after continuing education in the state. If you are interested in learning more about a master of business administration, here is the University HQ MBA rankings in Arizona.

University of Arizona
College Type
4-year, Public
Campus Housing
Yes
Student Population
45,601
Graduation Rate
65%
Net Price
$15,620
Grads Salary
$75,000
Arizona State University
College Type
4-year, Public
Campus Housing
Yes
Student Population
53,286
Graduation Rate
66%
Net Price
$14,653
Grads Salary
$72,000
Northern Arizona University
College Type
4-year, Public
Campus Housing
Yes
Student Population
30,733
Graduation Rate
57%
Net Price
$15,692
Grads Salary
$65,000
University of Advancing Technology
College Type
4-year, Private for-profit
Campus Housing
Yes
Student Population
789
Graduation Rate
40%
Net Price
$12,936
Grads Salary
$73,000
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
College Type
4-year, Private not-for-profit
Campus Housing
Yes
Student Population
2,946
Graduation Rate
59%
Net Price
$36,356
Grads Salary
$84,000
Grand Canyon University
College Type
4-year, Private for-profit
Campus Housing
Yes
Student Population
103,427
Graduation Rate
47%
Net Price
$20,818
Grads Salary
$63,300
University of Phoenix-Arizona
College Type
4-year, Private for-profit
Campus Housing
No
Student Population
89,763
Graduation Rate
12%
Net Price
$12,780
Grads Salary
$73,000
Prescott College
College Type
4-year, Private not-for-profit
Campus Housing
Yes
Student Population
993
Graduation Rate
49%
Net Price
$23,225
Grads Salary
$55,100
American InterContinental University
College Type
4-year, Private for-profit
Campus Housing
No
Student Population
9,952
Graduation Rate
17%
Net Price
$13,278
Grads Salary
$64,500
DeVry University-Arizona
College Type
4-year, Private for-profit
Campus Housing
No
Student Population
328
Graduation Rate
15%
Net Price
$32,182
Grads Salary
$81,000
Full Ranking Report

Cost of Arizona College Education & Salaries


Educational costs are a big issue for aspiring students. It's important to keep this in mind, as you will likely need to take out student loans, which will start asking for repayment about six months after graduation. For that reason, keep a few guidelines in mind as you pursue your degree.

Find Online Arizona Schools

First, note that public community colleges, online and on-campus, are often your cheapest bet. These schools can offer a terrific education and a degree at the end of your studies. Depending on your state, and how efficiently you manage your courses, you can possibly graduate with a total bill of approximately $10,000. You can then go to work in your field, earn experience, and pay off that debt quickly.

You will eventually need a higher education, however. If you've started off with an associate degree from a community college, a bachelor's degree could cost you aa little as $30,000. However, if you dive headlong into a private college in an expensive metro area, your total cost might be as high as $300,000.

Regardless of what school you attend, your earnings should rise significantly. In fact, the higher-ranked and more well-respected the school you attend, the higher your starting salary is likely to be. It's also been shown that students in highly-competitive schools tend to graduate sooner, and in higher numbers, than those from less-competitive institutions.

When you complete a master's or doctoral-level degree, your earnings will surely be sufficient to justify the money you've invested in education. More than that, your working life will be so much more rewarding. You'll be able to pursue projects about which you'd previously only dreamed. You will be trusted with more and more responsibility, and you'll certainly reap the rewards for years to come.

Keep in mind that if you are working in your field and choose a fully-accredited institution, your employer might reimburse some, or all, of your tuition expenses. Seek out employers that offer these benefits and pursue employment with them. You are sure to make their investment worth their while.

College Cost Analysis - Arizona vs National


Average Arizona Tuition & Fees at 4 Year Public Schools

Public In-State Tuition - $10,666

National Average – $9,580

Public Out-of-State – $26,383

National Average – $27,437

Students Receiving Financial Aid

Arizona sits around the mid-range for financial aid provided federally. ValuePenguin.com did some fancy statistical work and ranked Arizona as 30th out of 51, including the District of Columbia. That puts you, as a student, in a good position to receive aid but it means that you need to also be proactive in your search for other forms of aid, whether that comes from the institution you attend, grants, scholarships, or your employer.

Financial Aid Arizona Nationally
Received Federal Grants 42% 37.7%
Average $ per Recipient $11,138 $10,927

Best Scholarships for Arizona


To help defray the cost of your online Arizona degree, seek out scholarships to help along the way. While most only pay a relatively small sum, under $10,000, you can still apply for multiple scholarships at once. Further, there are still scholarships that provide a full-ride through a degree. These are rare, but it is possible to find them. It's also good to keep in mind that there are many scholarships that go undiscovered and are simply waiting for you to find them. Here are a few of the best scholarships for Arizona students:

Search Programs Offering Arizona Majors

BOCA-logo

BOCA

BOCA Scholarship

http://www.allaboutboca.com/recipients.php
If you grew up on an Arizona ranch, you qualify to apply for this scholarship. If you are a student at any level, a US Citizen, two letters of recommendation, a list of your achievements, a mission statement, and a list of any other scholarships you've won.

ML-logo

ML

Modern Law Scholarship

http://www.allaboutboca.com/recipients.php
If you are an Arizona student you can apply for this open-ended scholarship whose mission is simply to help students pay for college. Their criteria are rather vague, as they only ask that you "impress" them with an essay or video. Given that Modern Law is a firm that specializes in divorce, you might mention how you have been impacted by that phenomenon. You might also focus on more traditional scholarship topics such as your plans and achievements.

MCC-logo

MCC

APS/Maricopa County Community Colleges Scholarships

https://mcccdf.academicworks.com/
If you have a 3.0 GPA and can demonstrate financial need, you should consider applying for this scholarship. This fund is overseen by Pinnacle West Capital Corp. and will help you through your Community College experience. You must also be an Arizona resident.

PR-logo

PR

Phoenix Pride Scholarship

https://phoenixpride.org/phoenixpridecommunityfoundation/pride-scholarships/
Maricopa County LGBTQ students who are currently attending an accredited college or university, or who are soon to graduate high school are welcome to apply. There are two award levels: $1,000 and $5,000. Eight students will receive $5,000 and one is awarded $1,000. If you win, you must enroll for at least 12 credit hours in the following term. The $1,000 award is for a student-athlete. All applicants must have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA.

GGFM

Gail Goodell Folsom Memorial Scholarships

http://scholarshipchart.com/scholarship/lindenwood-university-scouting-scholarships/
If you intend to pursue a career in legal services, this scholarship will help out with $250. The focus is on students who intend to study, or who are currently studying, Paralegal Studies. To apply, you will need to submit a personal letter along with a completed application form.

AZNA-logo

AZNA

Arizona Nursery Association Scholarships

https://azna.org/Scholarship
If you love plants and intend on studying horticultural-related curriculum during your college years, this scholarship is intended for you. Your grades must be above-average, you should be employed by a nursery, and display extra-curricular activities related to the industry. Applicants can be attending a university, college, community college, or continuing education program. The Nursery Association awards two scholarships worth $500 and $3000.

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