2023 Best Value Schools in Arizona
Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools and bootcamps that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Value Schools in Arizona to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 23 schools in Arizona to see which ones offered the best value programs for students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
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Top Value Schools in Arizona
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Rio Salado College to be the best value school for students in Arizona. Rio Salado College is located in Tempe, Arizona and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4,161 degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Rio Salado College are $7,854 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $16,711 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Rio Salado College graduates make an average of $42,954 annually.
Rio Salado College did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our Best Schools in Arizona list.
The excellent programs at Mesa Community College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best value schools in Arizona. Located in Mesa, Arizona, the fairly large public school handed out 3,084 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Mesa Community College are $7,854 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,310 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Mesa Community College graduates make an average of $43,129 annually.
Mesa Community College also made our Best Schools in Arizona list, coming in at #5.
The excellent programs at Scottsdale Community College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best value schools in Arizona. Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,350 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Scottsdale Community College are $7,854 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,136 in student loans.After graduating from Scottsdale Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $39,500 during the early years of their career.
The excellent programs at Phoenix College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best value schools in Arizona. Phoenix College is located in Phoenix, Arizona and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,943 degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Phoenix College are $7,854 a year. On average, students take out $17,655 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Phoenix College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,441 during the early year of their career.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means GateWay Community College is a great place for students who want to get the most value for their educational dollar. GateWay Community College is a small public school situated in Phoenix, Arizona. It awarded 1,313 degrees in 2020-2021.
GateWay Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,854 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,654 in student loans. During the early years of their career, GateWay Community College graduates make an average of $41,233 annually.
Eastern Arizona College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Arizona list. Eastern Arizona College is a small public school situated in Thatcher, Arizona. It awarded 734 degrees in 2020-2021.
Eastern Arizona College undergraduate students pay an average of $9,120 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $11,078 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Eastern Arizona College graduates make an average of $42,785 annually.
Mohave Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in Arizona ranking. Located in Kingman, Arizona, the small public school awarded 919 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at MCC are $6,996 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,760 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, MCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $45,154 during the early year of their career.
Cochise County Community College District did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #8 on the list. Cochise College is a public institution located in Sierra Vista, Arizona. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,952 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Cochise College are $6,240 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,978 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Cochise College graduates make an average of $36,183 annually.
Read full report on Cochise County Community College District
Pima Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Arizona list. Located in Tucson, Arizona, the fairly large public school handed out 3,708 degrees in 2020-2021.
Pima County Community College District undergraduate students pay an average of $7,566 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,657 in student loans.After graduating from Pima County Community College District, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,116 during the early years of their career.
Central Arizona College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Coolidge, Arizona is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,164 students in 2020-2021.
Pinal County Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,160 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $16,406 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Pinal County Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $35,004 during the early year of their career.
Glendale Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Arizona list. Glendale Community College is a public institution located in Glendale, Arizona. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3,667 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Glendale Community College are $7,854 a year. On average, students take out $14,695 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Glendale Community College graduates make an average of $35,638 annually.
Yavapai College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #12 on the list. Yavapai College is a medium-sized public school located in Prescott, Arizona that handed out 1,950 degrees in 2020-2021.
Yavapai College undergraduate students pay an average of $9,332 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,468 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Yavapai College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $45,570 during the early year of their career.
Arizona Western College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in Arizona ranking. Located in Yuma, Arizona, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,637 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at AWC are $11,250 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $8,308 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, AWC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $31,430 during the early year of their career.
Arizona State University - Skysong came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in Arizona ranking. This large public school is located in Scottsdale, Arizona, and it awarded 12,598 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at ASU - Skysong are $13,092 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $25,869 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $304. Once they receive their degree, ASU - Skysong graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $48,067 during the early year of their career.
ASU - Skysong not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #3 on our Best Schools in Arizona list.
University of Phoenix - Arizona landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Tempe, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 29,877 students in 2020-2021.
UOPX - Arizona undergraduate students pay an average of $9,552 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $33,058 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $146.After graduating from UOPX - Arizona, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $50,608 during the early years of their career.
UOPX - Arizona did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our Best Schools in Arizona list.
Arizona State University - Tempe ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Arizona list. This large public school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 21,156 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at ASU - Tempe are $29,438 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $24,436 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $329 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, ASU - Tempe graduates make an average of $49,374 annually.
Ottawa University - Phoenix landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, the very small private not-for-profit school handed out 343 degrees in 2020-2021.
Ottawa University - Phoenix undergraduate students pay an average of $13,281 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $31,724 in student loans.After graduating from Ottawa University - Phoenix, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,260 during the early years of their career.
University of Arizona came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in Arizona ranking. Located in Tucson, Arizona, the large public school awarded 11,808 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at University of Arizona are $35,153 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $21,823 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $407, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, University of Arizona graduates make an average of $46,654 annually.
Northern Arizona University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Arizona list. Northern Arizona University is a large public school located in Flagstaff, Arizona that handed out 8,583 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at NAU are $17,761 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $22,450 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $324.After graduating from NAU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $43,197 during the early years of their career.
Grand Canyon University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Arizona list. Grand Canyon University is located in Phoenix, Arizona and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 29,176 degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Grand Canyon University are $17,189 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $31,746 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $174, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Grand Canyon University graduates make an average of $48,396 annually.
DeVry University - Arizona ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Arizona list. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, the very small private for-profit school awarded 93 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at DeVry University - Arizona are $15,032 per year. On average, students take out $42,145 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $163 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from DeVry University - Arizona, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $51,609 during the early years of their career.
American InterContinental University - Online did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #22 on the list. AIU Online is a private for-profit institution located in Schaumburg, Arizona. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 4,440 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at AIU Online are $12,418 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $42,789 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $116 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, AIU Online graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,597 during the early year of their career.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in Arizona ranking. Prescott, Arizona is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 628 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Embry-Riddle Prescott are $38,966 per year. On average, students take out $24,198 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $828, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Embry-Riddle Prescott graduates make an average of $56,446 annually.
Embry-Riddle Prescott did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our Best Schools in Arizona list.
Best Value Schools in the Southwest Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 23 schools only.
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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