Best Private Colleges in Arizona 2026
Private colleges, unlike large public institutions, can be a great option for students wanting a more intimate campus experience, more personal attention from excellent professors, and more immediate access to support services. Here is our list of the best private colleges in Arizona.
Key Takeaways
- Many of Arizona’s private colleges emphasize unique programs, such as Embry-Riddle’s focus on aviation and aerospace engineering and Prescott College’s emphasis on environmental studies and sustainability, offering students hands-on experience and access to industry-specific expertise.
- Colleges of the best privates colleges in Arizona emphasize outdoor and experiential learning opportunities, allowing students to engage with Arizona’s diverse landscapes through fieldwork, research, and immersive learning experiences in environmental conservation and outdoor education.
- The best private colleges in Arizona offer low student-to-faculty ratios, ensuring students receive personalized attention, mentorship, and close relationships with professors, fostering a more engaging academic environment.
Best Private Colleges in Arizona in 2026
This curated list focuses solely on private, nonprofit institutions in Arizona that offer broad undergraduate curricula and hold full accreditation — a practical starting point for students comparing liberal arts colleges, faith-based universities, and specialized schools. We identified 7 private universities that meet those criteria.
Use the entries below to compare program variety, campus size and culture, typical majors, and financial-aid patterns rather than relying on a single ranking. Pay particular attention to fit: whether you need a research-focused environment, a faith-based mission, strong professional programs, or smaller class sizes will determine which private Arizona college is the best choice for you.
Best Private Colleges in Arizona
- #4 Online Colleges with the Most Generous Financial Aid in 2026 #1 Best Christian Colleges in Arizona 2026 #4 Best Research Universities in Arizona 2026 #4 Best Colleges in Arizona 2026
Tuition + fees
$18K
Acceptance
79%
Graduation
54%
Student body
170K
Median SAT/ACT
1059/21
Career Outlook for degree at Grand Canyon University
Cost of Degree: $17,263Expenses: $16,212Starting Salary: $50,609Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Grand Canyon University known for?
Grand Canyon University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Nursing
- Religious Studies
- Education
- Political Science
- Engineering
- Mathematics
- Business
- History
- Economics
- Communications
Most Influential Alumni
Grand Canyon University’s Online Degrees
BS in Behavioral Health Science
Degree Concentrations
- Adolescent Disorders
- Family Dynamics
- Infancy and Early Childhood Studies
- Substance Use Disorders
- Trauma
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BA in Animation and Digital Design
Degree Concentrations
- Web Design
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Applied Entrepreneurship
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Applied Human Resources Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Applied Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Applied Technology
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Accounting
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Early Childhood Education
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Counseling
Degree Concentrations
- Addiction
- Chemical Dependency
- and Substance Abuse
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Advertising and Marketing
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Applied Business Analytics
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Applied Business Information Systems
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Applied Marketing and Advertising
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BA in Digital Film
Degree Concentrations
- Screenwriting
- Production
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Health Information Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BA in Advertising and Graphic Design Degree
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BA in History
Degree Concentrations
- Secondary Education
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Computer Programming
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Cybersecurity Degree
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BA in English
Degree Concentrations
- Professional Writing
- Secondary Education
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Health Sciences
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Entrepreneurship
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Healthcare Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BA in Christian Studies
Degree Concentrations
- Biblical Studies
- Global Ministry
- Philosophy
- Worship Leadership
- Youth Ministry
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Business Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BA in Government
Degree Concentrations
- Legal Studies
- Public Policy
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Hospitality Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Educational Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BA in Communications
Degree Concentrations
- Broadcasting New Media
- Interpersonal and Human Relations Emphasis
- Political Campaigns
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Elementary Education
Degree Concentrations
- Christian Education
- English as a Second Language
- STEM
- Teaching Reading
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Psychology
Degree Concentrations
- Forensic Psychology
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Elementary Education and Special Education
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Nursuing
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 12 months
- Format: Fully online
BS in Business Analytics
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Degree Concentrations
- Homeland Security and Emergency Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Information Technology
Degree Concentrations
- Cybersecurity
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Business Education
Degree Concentrations
- Secondary Education
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Mathematics for Secondary Education
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Business Information Systems
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Business Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Justice Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Risk Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BA in Social Media
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Sociology
Degree Concentrations
- Social Work
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Finance and Economics
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Public Health
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Sports Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Software Development
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Sports Psychology
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
- #1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Arizona 2026 #1 Best Small Colleges Arizona 2026 #5 Best Colleges in Arizona 2026 #5 Best Grad Schools in Arizona 2026
Tuition + fees
$36K
Acceptance
95%
Graduation
33%
Student body
1K
Career Outlook for degree at Prescott College
Cost of Degree: $35,625Expenses: $12,876Starting Salary: $47,260Cost Recoup Time: 16 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Prescott College known for?
Prescott College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Prescott College’s Online Degrees
BA in Adventure Education
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BA in Cultural & Regional Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BA in Arts & Humanities
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BFA in Arts & Letters
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BA in Education
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BA in Environmental Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Environmental Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BA in Interdisciplinary Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BA in Psychology And Human Development
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BA in Sustainability Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BA in Sustainable Community Development
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
Tuition + fees
$19K
Acceptance
98%
Graduation
31%
Student body
1K
Career Outlook for degree at University of Advancing Technology
Cost of Degree: $19,312Expenses: $15,592Starting Salary: $55,193Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is University of Advancing Technology known for?
University of Advancing Technology’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
University of Advancing Technology’s Online Degrees
BS in Advancing Computer Science
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Data Science
- Format: Fully online
BS in Digital Maker and Fabrication
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BA in Digital Video
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Format: Fully online
BA in Game Design
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Game Programming
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Human Computer Interaction (HCI)
- Format: Fully online
BA in Game Art and Animation
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Business Technology
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Digital Marketing
- Format: Fully online
BS in Robotics and Embedded Systems
- Format: Fully online
BS in Network Engineering
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Network Security
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Technologies Studies
- Format: Fully online
BA in Virtual Reality
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Technology Forensics
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
- #2 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Arizona 2026 #3 Best Small Colleges Arizona 2026 #6 Best Colleges in Arizona 2026
Tuition + fees
$46K
Acceptance
77%
Graduation
69%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1255/26
Career Outlook for degree at Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott
Cost of Degree: $42,204Expenses: $21,064Starting Salary: $92,069Cost Recoup Time: 13 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott known for?
Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- #2 Best Christian Colleges in Arizona 2026 #3 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Arizona 2026 #4 Best Small Colleges Arizona 2026 #7 Best Colleges in Arizona 2026
Tuition + fees
$35K
Acceptance
71%
Graduation
34%
Student body
1K
Career Outlook for degree at Arizona Christian University
Cost of Degree: $34,697Expenses: $21,390Starting Salary: $55,315Cost Recoup Time: 16 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Arizona Christian University known for?
Arizona Christian University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Arizona Christian University’s Online Degrees
BA in Behavioral Health
Degree Concentrations
- Counseling
- Coaching
- Required Credits: 30
- Format: Fully online
BA in Communication
- Required Credits: 36
- Format: Fully online
BA in Biblical and Theological Studies
- Required Credits: 30
- Format: Fully online
BA in Business Administration
Degree Concentrations
- Accounting
- Economics
- Entrepreneurship
- Finance
- Marketing
- Management
- Non-Profit Management
- Sports Management
- Required Credits: 30
- Format: Fully online
BA in Family Studies
Degree Concentrations
- Marriage and Family Practicum
- Family Counseling
- Human Sexuality
- Psychology of Marriage
- Required Credits: 30
- Format: Fully online
BS in Psychology
- Required Credits: 30
- Format: Fully online
BS in Elementary Education
- Required Credits: 30
- Format: Fully online
BS/BA in Interdisciplinary Studies
- Required Credits: 30
- Format: Fully online
BS in Secondary Education
- Required Credits: 30
- Format: Fully online
Tuition + fees
$14K
Graduation
70%
Student body
<1K
What is International Baptist College known for?
Tuition + fees
$8K
Graduation
36%
Student body
<1K
Career Outlook for degree at National Paralegal College
Cost of Degree: $7,995Starting Salary: $44,444What is National Paralegal College known for?
National Paralegal College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
National Paralegal College’s Online Degrees
BA in Business Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
BS in Legal Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Format: Fully online
Arizona’s Best Private Colleges in Your Area Interest
2021 Ranking Archive
Many of our 2024 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2023. That’s because we took a fundamentally different approach. For 2024 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.
Check out our directory of private colleges throughout the U.S. for a look at the top private schools in every state.
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