2023 Most Popular Schools in Arizona
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for students. 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 Most Popular Schools in Arizona to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 100 schools in Arizona to see which programs were the most popular for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.
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Most Popular Schools in Arizona
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our analysis found University of Phoenix - Arizona to be the most popular school for students in Arizona. This large private for-profit school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 29,877 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from UOPX - Arizona accumulate an average of $33,058 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 $146 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, UOPX - Arizona graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $50,608 during the early year of their career. Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Grand Canyon University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Popular Schools in Arizona list. Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit institution located in Phoenix, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 29,176 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $31,746 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $174 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Grand Canyon University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $48,396 during the early year of their career. Around 76% of those degree recipients were women.
The programs at Arizona State University - Tempe helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular schools in Arizona. Tempe, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 21,156 students in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $24,436 in loans while pursuing 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. Of those students who received their degree, 51% were women.
Out of the 100 schools in Arizona that were part of this year’s ranking, Arizona State University - Skysong landed the # 4 spot on the list. Arizona State University - Skysong is a large public school located in Scottsdale, Arizona that handed out 12,598 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from ASU - Skysong accumulate an average of $25,869 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $304, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, ASU - Skysong graduates make an average of $48,067 annually. Around 67% of those degree recipients were women.
You’ll be in good company if you attend University of Arizona. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Most Popular Schools in Arizona list. Tucson, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 11,808 students in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,823 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $407. Once they receive their degree, University of Arizona graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $46,654 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 55% were women.
Northern Arizona University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Schools in Arizona ranking. Flagstaff, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 8,583 students in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $22,450 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $324, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from NAU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $43,197 during the early years of their career. Around 66% of those degree recipients were women.
American InterContinental University - Online came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Schools in Arizona ranking. Located in Schaumburg, Arizona, the fairly large private for-profit school awarded 4,440 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $42,789 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $116, assuming you 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. Of those students who received their degree, 50% were women.
Read full report on American InterContinental University - Online
Rio Salado College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. Located in Tempe, Arizona, the fairly large public school handed out 4,161 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from Rio Salado College 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. Around 46% of those degree recipients were women.
Pima Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Schools in Arizona ranking. Pima County Community College District is a fairly large public school situated in Tucson, Arizona. It awarded 3,708 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,657 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Pima County Community College District graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $34,116 during the early year of their career. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
Glendale Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular Schools in Arizona list. Located in Glendale, Arizona, the fairly large public school handed out 3,667 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,695 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Glendale Community College graduates make an average of $35,638 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 61% were women.
Mesa Community College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. Mesa Community College is a fairly large public school located in Mesa, Arizona that handed out 3,084 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,310 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Mesa Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $43,129 during the early year of their career. Around 58% of those degree recipients were women.
Chandler-Gilbert Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #12 on the list. Located in Chandler, Arizona, the fairly large public school handed out 2,366 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $14,941 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Chandler-Gilbert Community College graduates make an average of $39,768 annually. Around 52% of those degree recipients were women.
Estrella Mountain Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Schools in Arizona ranking. Estrella Mountain Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Avondale, Arizona that handed out 2,295 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $17,910 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Estrella Mountain Community College graduates make an average of $29,019 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.
With a ranking of #14, Aspen University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working. Aspen University is a private for-profit institution located in Denver, Arizona. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2,187 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from Aspen University accumulate an average of $36,338 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Aspen University graduates make an average of $83,891 annually. Around 85% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #15, Cochise County Community College District did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working. This small public school is located in Sierra Vista, Arizona, and it awarded 1,952 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $14,978 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Cochise College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,183 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 41% were women.
Yavapai College ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Schools in Arizona list. Yavapai College is a medium-sized public school located in Prescott, Arizona that handed out 1,950 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from Yavapai College accumulate an average of $17,468 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Yavapai College graduates make an average of $45,570 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
Phoenix College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Schools in Arizona ranking. Phoenix, Arizona is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,943 students in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $17,655 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Phoenix College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $39,441 during the early years of their career. Around 73% of those degree recipients were women.
Arizona Western College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. AWC is a public institution located in Yuma, Arizona. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,637 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $8,308 in student loans.After graduating from AWC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $31,430 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 67% were women.
Paradise Valley Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #19 on the list. Paradise Valley Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Phoenix, Arizona that handed out 1,378 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $16,855 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
Scottsdale Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Schools in Arizona ranking. Scottsdale, Arizona is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,350 students in 2020-2021.
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. Of those students who received their degree, 62% were women.
With a ranking of #21, GateWay Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working. This small public school is located in Phoenix, Arizona, and it awarded 1,313 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,654 in student loans.After graduating from GateWay Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,233 during the early years of their career. Around 67% of those degree recipients were women.
Central Arizona College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #22 on the list. Pinal County Community College is a small public school situated in Coolidge, Arizona. It awarded 1,164 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,406 in student loans. 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. Of those students who received their degree, 67% were women.
Pima Medical Institute - Tucson did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #23 on the list. PMI Tucson is a small private for-profit school situated in Tucson, Arizona. It awarded 1,227 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from PMI Tucson accumulate an average of $23,004 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 $72 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, PMI Tucson graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,610 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 83% were women.
With a ranking of #24, Sonoran Desert Institute did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working. Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, the small private for-profit school handed out 1,082 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,962 in student loans.After graduating from Sonoran Desert Institute, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $62,428 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 1% were women.
With a ranking of #25, Mohave Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working. Mohave Community College is a small public school located in Kingman, Arizona that handed out 919 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $18,760 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, MCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $45,154 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
Most Popular Schools in the Southwest Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 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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