Best Community Colleges in Arizona 2024

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The best community colleges provide an effective springboard into higher education, offering students high-quality two-year degree programs in a wide range of disciplines. The top-rated community colleges in Arizona offer a broad selection of associate’s degrees, affordable tuition rates, and strong partnerships with public four-year schools so that students can easily transfer their credits into accredited bachelor’s degree programs.

10 Best Community Colleges in Arizona

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  1. Glendale Community College
  2. Mesa Community College
  3. Phoenix College
  4. Pima Community College
  5. Yavapai College
  6. Cochise College
  7. Scottsdale Community College
  8. Central Arizona College
  9. Diné College
  10. Eastern Arizona College
  1. Mesa Community College
  2. Eastern Arizona College
  3. Phoenix College
  4. Pima Community College
  5. Diné College
  6. Yavapai College
  7. Cochise College
  8. Mohave Community College
  9. Scottsdale Community College
  10. Central Arizona College
    1. Rio Salado College 28 to 1
    2. Tohono Oʼodham Community College 26 to 1
    3. Chandler–Gilbert Community College 23 to 1
    4. Coconino County Community College 22 to 1
    5. Arizona Western College 20 to 1
    6. Estrella Mountain Community College 19 to 1
    7. Pima Community College 19 to 1
    8. Eastern Arizona College 19 to 1
    9. Yavapai College 18 to 1
    10. Glendale Community College 15 to 1
    1. Coconino County Community College $3,254
    2. Arizona Western College $2,760
    3. Yavapai College $2,680
    4. Eastern Arizona College $2,232
    5. Cochise College $2,184
    6. Pima Community College $2,136
    7. Estrella Mountain Community College $2,040
    8. Glendale Community College $2,040
    9. Phoenix College $2,040
    10. Rio Salado College $2,040
    1. Diné College $4,500
    1. Tohono Oʼodham Community College
    2. Chandler–Gilbert Community College
    3. Estrella Mountain Community College
    4. South Mountain Community College
    5. GateWay Community College
    6. Mohave Community College
    7. Northland Pioneer College
    8. Coconino County Community College
    9. Paradise Valley Community College
    10. Rio Salado College
    1. Tohono Oʼodham Community College
    2. Chandler–Gilbert Community College
    3. South Mountain Community College
    4. Coconino County Community College
    5. Estrella Mountain Community College
    6. Paradise Valley Community College
    7. GateWay Community College
    8. Rio Salado College
    9. Northland Pioneer College
    10. Arizona Western College
      1. Northland Pioneer College 11 to 1
      2. Paradise Valley Community College 11 to 1
      3. Phoenix College 12 to 1
      4. GateWay Community College 12 to 1
      5. Mohave Community College 13 to 1
      6. South Mountain Community College 14 to 1
      7. Scottsdale Community College 14 to 1
      8. Glendale Community College 15 to 1
      9. Mesa Community College 15 to 1
      10. Diné College 15 to 1
      1. Tohono Oʼodham Community College $932
      2. Diné College $1,410
      3. Central Arizona College $1,500
      4. Mohave Community College $1,944
      5. Northland Pioneer College $1,948
      6. Estrella Mountain Community College $2,040
      7. Glendale Community College $2,040
      8. Phoenix College $2,040
      9. Rio Salado College $2,040
      10. Mesa Community College $2,040
      1. Diné College $4,500

      Colleges and Universities in Arizona

      Both traditional and online students hoping to attend college in Arizona have a lot to choose from. With both in-person and online degrees at every level of education, Arizona offers educational variety and excellence. Students can choose from associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs anywhere in the state.

      The state’s largest university, the University of Arizona located in Tucson, offers a competitive tuition rate, at $12,000, for its 39,000 students.Moreover, Arizona’s most affordable schools, such as the tribally-owned Diné College, offer tuition as low as $1,000.

      Private schools make up about one third of the higher education institutes in Arizona. Arizona’s private schools offer a comprehensive range of traditional and online degrees from fine arts to naturopathic medicine.

      Arizona’s public universities and colleges, such as Northern Arizona University located in Flagstaff, offer both on-campus and online students a variety of study concentrations, including mathematics, education, political science, and psychology. If you’re looking for flexibility, Arizona has 14 colleges and universities offering entirely online degrees.

      Find college admissions consultants in your state.

      Arizona is also home to three religiously affiliated schools: Arizona Christian University, Phoenix Seminary, and International Baptist College. While tuition varies greatly among these three schools, each school provides unique degree programs, such as music ministry at International Baptist College.

      Arizona boasts year-round sunshine, the Grand Canyon, award-winning restaurants, and several professional sports teams? With more than 30 colleges and universities to choose from, Arizona allows students to get their degrees while cashing in on some of life’s greatest pleasures.

      If you want to experience the state of Arizona while taking some online courses, you may be able to take a hybrid degree program. Many Arizona colleges and universities allow you to earn a degree through a combination of online learning and on-campus courses.

      Arizona offers a variety of excellent and affordable colleges and universities for on-campus and online students at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree level.


      What are Arizona’s Colleges & Universities?

      Arizona’s Best Overall

      Arizona's Best Community Colleges Badge
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      We’ve identified 21 community colleges in Arizona. The following list shows the best community colleges and primarily associate degree granting colleges in Arizona.

      If you’re interested in an online associate degree, visit our best online associate degrees in Alabama page.

      Best Community Colleges in Arizona

      1. Tuition + fees

        $2K

        Graduation

        12%

        Student body

        21K

        Career Outlook for degree at Glendale Community College

        Cost of Degree: $2,070
        Starting Salary: $38,300
        What is Glendale Community College known for?

        Glendale Community College ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

        Most Influential Alumni

      2. Tuition + fees

        $2K

        Graduation

        13%

        Student body

        24K

        Career Outlook for degree at Mesa Community College

        Cost of Degree: $2,070
        Starting Salary: $41,500
      3. #3

        Phoenix College

        Phoenix , AZ

        Tuition + fees

        $2K

        Graduation

        12%

        Student body

        14K

        Career Outlook for degree at Phoenix College

        Cost of Degree: $2,070
        Starting Salary: $36,000
      4. #5

        Yavapai College

        Prescott , AZ

        Tuition + fees

        $3K

        Graduation

        39%

        Student body

        10K

        Career Outlook for degree at Yavapai College

        Cost of Degree: $2,680
        Expenses: $14,112
        Starting Salary: $34,000
        Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
        Paid back at 15% of annual salary
        What is Yavapai College known for?

        Yavapai College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

        Most Influential Alumni

      5. #6

        Cochise College

        Sierra Vista , AZ

        Tuition + fees

        $2K

        Graduation

        25%

        Student body

        9K

        Career Outlook for degree at Cochise College

        Cost of Degree: $2,184
        Expenses: $12,053
        Starting Salary: $34,300
        Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
        Paid back at 15% of annual salary
        What is Cochise College known for?

        Cochise College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

        Most Influential Alumni

      6. Tuition + fees

        $2K

        Graduation

        22%

        Student body

        12K

        Career Outlook for degree at Scottsdale Community College

        Cost of Degree: $2,070
        Starting Salary: $42,500
        What is Scottsdale Community College known for?

        Scottsdale Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

        Most Influential Alumni

      7. Tuition + fees

        $2K

        Graduation

        18%

        Student body

        8K

        Career Outlook for degree at Central Arizona College

        Cost of Degree: $1,500
        Expenses: $11,715
        Starting Salary: $31,500
        Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
        Paid back at 15% of annual salary
        What is Central Arizona College known for?

        Central Arizona College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

        Most Influential Alumni

      8. #9

        Diné College

        Tsaile , AZ

        Tuition + fees

        $1K

        Graduation

        18%

        Student body

        2K

        Career Outlook for degree at Diné College

        Cost of Degree: $1,410
        Expenses: $11,290
        Starting Salary: $23,400
        Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
        Paid back at 15% of annual salary
        What is Diné College known for?

        Diné College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

      9. #10

        Eastern Arizona College

        Thatcher , AZ

        Tuition + fees

        $2K

        Graduation

        49%

        Student body

        7K

        Career Outlook for degree at Eastern Arizona College

        Cost of Degree: $2,232
        Expenses: $12,686
        Starting Salary: $35,700
        Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
        Paid back at 15% of annual salary
      10. Tuition + fees

        $3K

        Graduation

        21%

        Student body

        5K

        Career Outlook for degree at Coconino County Community College

        Cost of Degree: $3,254
        Starting Salary: $32,200
        What is Coconino County Community College known for?

        Coconino County Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

      11. Tuition + fees

        $2K

        Graduation

        8%

        Student body

        5K

        Career Outlook for degree at Northland Pioneer College

        Cost of Degree: $2,428
        Starting Salary: $31,300
        What is Northland Pioneer College known for?

        Northland Pioneer College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

      12. Tuition + fees

        $2K

        Graduation

        26%

        Student body

        5K

        Career Outlook for degree at Mohave Community College

        Cost of Degree: $2,136
        Starting Salary: $32,900
        What is Mohave Community College known for?

        Mohave Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

      13. Tuition + fees

        $2K

        Graduation

        19%

        Student body

        7K

        Career Outlook for degree at GateWay Community College

        Cost of Degree: $2,070
        Starting Salary: $39,000
        What is GateWay Community College known for?

        GateWay Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

      14. Tuition + fees

        $2K

        Graduation

        17%

        Student body

        5K

        Career Outlook for degree at South Mountain Community College

        Cost of Degree: $2,070
        Starting Salary: $33,400
        What is South Mountain Community College known for?

        South Mountain Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

      15. Tuition + fees

        $2K

        Graduation

        18%

        Student body

        12K

        Career Outlook for degree at Estrella Mountain Community College

        Cost of Degree: $2,070
        Starting Salary: $37,700
        What is Estrella Mountain Community College known for?

        Estrella Mountain Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

      16. Tuition + fees

        $2K

        Graduation

        17%

        Student body

        18K

        Career Outlook for degree at Chandler–Gilbert Community College

        Cost of Degree: $2,070
        Expenses: $23,145
        Starting Salary: $45,800
        Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
        Paid back at 15% of annual salary
        What is Chandler–Gilbert Community College known for?

        Chandler–Gilbert Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

        Most Influential Alumni

      17. Tuition + fees

        $1K

        Graduation

        5%

        Student body

        1K

        What is Tohono Oʼodham Community College known for?

        Tohono Oʼodham Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

      2021 Ranking Archive

      Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.

      1. Diné College
      2. Eastern Arizona College
      3. Mesa Community College
      4. Scottsdale Community College
      5. Yavapai College
      6. Phoenix College
      7. Pima Community College
      8. Glendale Community College
      9. South Mountain Community College
      10. Central Arizona College
      11. Northland Pioneer College
      12. Paradise Valley Community College
      13. Rio Salado College
      14. GateWay Community College
      15. Cochise College
      16. Mohave Community College
      17. Tohono Oʼodham Community College
      18. Estrella Mountain Community College
      19. Arizona Western College
      20. Coconino County Community College
      21. Chandler–Gilbert Community College
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