Is a research university right for me?–

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students. Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines. Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you? If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel. Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well. Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Is an online college right for me?–

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available. Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degrees you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no distinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online. Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whether you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college. Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands. Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain. Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands of balancing work and life, or because the online college affords them the chance to attend a better school without moving. If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are asynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc. The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors. Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions. If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Arizona 2025

Q: Is a liberal arts college right for me?–

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree. Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students. Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom). Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships and make walks across campus more fun. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers. Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Badge for BEST IN ARIZONA LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES

By Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Jenn Finley

Updated: Oct 4, 2024

Key Takeaways

Students seeking an education in Arizona will have smaller class sizes and more direct engagement with professors.
Many of the best liberal arts colleges in Arizona are also some of the most affordable education options for students.
Arizona is known for its natural beauty and hiking destinations, a big draw for many students.

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Arizona in 2025

Prescott College
Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott
Arizona Christian University

2025 Ranking Update

Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or lost ground for the 2025 school year.

There is no change in our ranking of the best liberal arts colleges in Arizona between 2024 and 2025.

Table of Contents

How do we determine Arizona's best colleges and universities?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great! If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence in their fields of study.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

A liberal arts college is a school that puts a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree. We’ve identified 3 liberal arts colleges in Arizona. To be ranked among the 30 best liberal arts colleges in Arizona, schools must fully accredited institutions.

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Arizona

Last Year’s Ranking:
1. Prescott College
2. Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott
3. Arizona Christian University
#1
Prescott College
Prescott , AZ
#1 Best Private Colleges in Arizona 2025 #1 Best Small Colleges Arizona 2025 #4 Best Colleges in Arizona 2025 #4 Best Grad Schools in Arizona 2025
Tuition + fees
$35K
Acceptance
98%
Graduation
55%
Student body
1K
Career Outlook for degree at Prescott College
Cost of Degree: $35,625
Expenses: $12,876
Starting Salary: $34,300
Cost Recoup Time: 20 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Prescott College known for?

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

Psychology
Education
Sociology
Business
Social Work
Medical

Most Influential Alumni

Gary Paul Nabhan
Tom Udall
Lisa Popeil
David Mindell
Charles M. Roessel
With an emphasis on field-based teaching, Prescott College produces students who are capable of leading and creating change in communities. The college fosters a supportive learning community, maintaining small class sizes and close teacher-student interaction.
What we love about Prescott College:
The college provides opportunities for undocumented immigrants to study and earn a degree through the Dreamers program, offering academic guidance and funding.
Prescott College is ideal for students who:
Are looking for a comprehensive online Early Childhood Education program.
Prescott College might not be the best fit for students who:
Aren’t interested in outdoor activities like river navigation and hiking.
Prescott College’s Online Degrees
BA in Adventure Education

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Cultural & Regional Studies

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Arts & Humanities

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BFA in Arts & Letters

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Education

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Environmental Studies

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Environmental Studies

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Interdisciplinary Studies

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Psychology And Human Development

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Sustainability Management

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#2
Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott
Prescott , AZ
#3 Best Small Colleges Arizona 2025 #4 Best Private Colleges in Arizona 2025 #6 Best Colleges in Arizona 2025
Tuition + fees
$40K
Acceptance
68%
Graduation
71%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1275/27
Career Outlook for degree at Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott
Cost of Degree: $42,204
Expenses: $21,064
Starting Salary: $70,300
Cost Recoup Time: 15 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott known for?

Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Engineering
Psychology
Physics
Criminal Justice
Biology
Political Science
Computer Science
As a top Regional College, Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott maintains an engaging academic campus filled with cutting-edge facilities and outdoor experiences. Here, students can explore various interests like martial arts and radio communications.
What we love about Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott:
Home to the Golden Eagles Flight team, the school’s College of Aviation is respected for its pilot training programs and modern laboratories.
Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott is ideal for students who:
Are interested in designing aircraft and managing airports.
Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott might not be the best fit for students who:
Prefer to choose from more business-related programs.
Compare school
#3
Arizona Christian University
Glendale , AZ
#2 Best Christian Colleges in Arizona 2024 #4 Best Small Colleges Arizona 2025 #5 Best Private Colleges in Arizona 2025 #7 Best Colleges in Arizona 2025
Tuition + fees
$32K
Acceptance
70%
Graduation
45%
Student body
1K
Career Outlook for degree at Arizona Christian University
Cost of Degree: $34,697
Expenses: $21,390
Starting Salary: $34,900
Cost Recoup Time: 21 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Arizona Christian University known for?

Arizona Christian University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Religious Studies
Political Science
Biology
Communications
Education
Criminal Justice
Computer Science
Arizona Christian University provides a wide array of degree programs that are anchored on Christian liberal arts, transforming its students’ character and values. From enrollment to graduation, students are involved in various community projects and enriching events.
What we love about Arizona Christian University:
The university offers a CORE Curriculum that provides a road map for first-time college students, helping them navigate general liberal arts courses while enriching their spiritual lives.
Arizona Christian University is ideal for students who:
Want to seek free mental health consultations through experienced counselors.
Arizona Christian University might not be the best fit for students who:
Don’t want to receive any help from Enrollment Specialists.
Arizona Christian University’s Online Degrees
BA in Behavioral Health

Degree Concentrations
Counseling
Coaching

Required Credits: 30
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Communication

Required Credits: 36
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Biblical and Theological Studies

Required Credits: 30
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Business Administration

Degree Concentrations
Accounting
Economics
Entrepreneurship
Finance
Marketing
Management
Non-Profit Management
Sports Management

Required Credits: 30
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Family Studies

Degree Concentrations
Marriage and Family Practicum
Family Counseling
Human Sexuality
Psychology of Marriage

Required Credits: 30
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Psychology

Required Credits: 30
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Elementary Education

Required Credits: 30
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS/BA in Interdisciplinary Studies

Required Credits: 30
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school

Build your own college rankings

Arizona’s Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Your Area of Interest

Frequently Asked Questions About Research Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges, Online Colleges

In pursuing a bachelor’s degree, you will need to choose between three kinds of schools: research universities, liberal arts colleges, and online colleges.

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students.

Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines.

Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you? If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel.

Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well.
Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Learn more about research universities by reading about the best research universities in the US.

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree.

Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students.

Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom).

Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships and make walks across campus more fun. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers.

Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Learn more about liberal arts colleges by reading about the best liberal arts colleges in the US.

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available.

Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degrees you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no distinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online.

Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whether you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college.

Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands.

Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain.

Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands of balancing work and life, or because the online college affords them the chance to attend a better school without moving.

If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are asynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc.

The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors.

Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions.

If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

Check out our directory of liberal arts colleges throughout the U.S. for a look at the top liberal arts schools in every state.

Do you have a question about this topic? Ask it here

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Arizona 2025

Key Takeaways

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Arizona in 2025

2025 Ranking Update

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Arizona

Last Year’s Ranking:

Prescott College

Career Outlook for degree at Prescott College

Most Influential Alumni

What we love about Prescott College:

Prescott College is ideal for students who:

Prescott College might not be the best fit for students who:

Prescott College’s Online Degrees

Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott

Career Outlook for degree at Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott

What we love about Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott:

Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott is ideal for students who:

Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott might not be the best fit for students who:

Arizona Christian University

Career Outlook for degree at Arizona Christian University

What we love about Arizona Christian University:

Arizona Christian University is ideal for students who:

Arizona Christian University might not be the best fit for students who:

Arizona Christian University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Arizona’s Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Your Area of Interest

Frequently Asked Questions About Research Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges, Online Colleges

Is a research university right for me?

Is a liberal arts college right for me?

Is an online college right for me?