Best Public Colleges in Arizona 2023
Public colleges and universities account for almost 75 percent of all undergraduate students in the U.S. The best public colleges in Arizona provide broad access to reputable degree programs, affordable tuition, and sprawling educational communities.
10 Best Public Colleges in Arizona
- Northern Arizona University 22 to 1
- Arizona State University 18 to 1
- University of Arizona 15 to 1
- University of Arizona $10,990
- Arizona State University $10,710
- Northern Arizona University $10,381
- University of Arizona $12,106
- Arizona State University $11,720
- Northern Arizona University $10,724
- University of Arizona 15 to 1
- Arizona State University 18 to 1
- Northern Arizona University 22 to 1
- Northern Arizona University $10,381
- Arizona State University $10,710
- University of Arizona $10,990
- Northern Arizona University $10,724
- Arizona State University $11,720
- University of Arizona $12,106
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.
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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?
- 4 Research Universities
- 3 Liberal Arts Colleges & Universities
- 5 Graduate Schools
- 3 Public Colleges & Universities
- 7 Private Colleges & Universities
- 3 Christian College
- 4 Small Colleges & Universities (fewer than 5,000 students)
- 9 Affordable Colleges (below $20,000/year)
- 21 Community Colleges
- 14 Online Colleges
Arizona’s Best Overall
What is the difference between public and private colleges?
Public and private colleges and universities operate under different business models. Public colleges and universities are owned by the state and receive both state and federal funding to operate. Private colleges and universities are private companies with private funding. If you’re looking at the pros and cons of private vs. public colleges, consider that many public colleges provide diverse course offerings, influential professors, and an excellent return on your investment.
Public colleges are schools that receive most of their funding from tax revenues. As a result, the cost of a bachelor’s degree at a public university is often lower than the equivalent cost at a private college — especially for students attending a public school in their home state. Attending a college in-state is usually the cheapest option. Private universities and colleges can be very competitive with their funding opportunities, so do not simply believe that private colleges are always going to be more expensive. According to National Center for Educational Statistics, the average annual cost (tuition, fees, room and board for full-time students) at a public university was slightly over $20,000. In contrast, private universities cost, on average, nearly $43,000 annually. But in the end, the cost of college comes down to each student’s academic and financial situation.
This list is composed entirely of public colleges and universities that offer bachelor’s degrees. We’ve identified 3 public universities in Arizona. To be included in our list of the best public colleges in Arizona, shcools must receive direct funding from the state, be fully accredited, and offer a broad range of bachelor’s degress.
Best Public Colleges in Arizona 2022
- #13 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2023 #19 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2023 #1 Best Research Universities in Arizona 2023 #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Arizona 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
87%
Graduation
64%
Student body
40K
Median SAT/ACT
1220/25
What is University of Arizona known for?
University of Arizona’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Anthropology
- Earth Sciences
- Physics
- Communications
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Criminal Justice
- Philosophy
- History
- Chemistry
Most Influential Alumni
University of Arizona’s Online Degrees
BA in Africana Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BAS in Administration of Justice
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Care, Health and Society
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Emergency Medical Services
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Accounting
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BAS in Cyber Operations
Degree Concentrations
- Engineering
- Defense & Forensics
- and Cyber Law & Policy
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Communication
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BAS in Early Childhood
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Bachelor of General Studies in Economy and Industry
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Environmental Science
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Bachelor of General Studies, in Arts, Media and Entertainment
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Bachelor of General Studies in Global and Intercultural Understanding
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Global Media
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Government and Public Service
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Human Rights Practice
- Required Credits: None Reported
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BAS in Human Services
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Required Credits: 128
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Business Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Geographic Information Systems Technology (GIST)
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Literacy, Learning and Leadership
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Information Science and ESociety
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BAS in Organizational Leadership
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Psychology
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Law
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Political Science
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BAS in Regional Commerce
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BAS in Intelligence and Information Operations
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in History
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Philosophy: Ethics
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Biology
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Nutritional Sciences
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Spanish
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Bachelor of General Studies in Sports and Society
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Public Health
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Sustainable Built Environments
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Bachelor of General Studies in Social Behavior and Human Understanding
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #22 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2023 #22 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2023 #2 Best Research Universities in Arizona 2023 #2 Most Affordable Colleges in Arizona 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
88%
Graduation
66%
Student body
73K
Median SAT/ACT
1210/24
What is Arizona State University known for?
Arizona State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Earth Sciences
- Business
- Communications
- Chemistry
- Education
- Physics
- Engineering
- Political Science
- Anthropology
- Psychology
Most Influential Alumni
Arizona State University’s Online Degrees
BA in Applied Science
Degree Concentrations
- Project Management
- Health Sciences
- Required Credits: 111-120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Business
Degree Concentrations
- Communication
- Sustainability
- Required Credits: 114-120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Educational Studies
Degree Concentrations
- Business
- Community Health
- Family and Human Development
- Global Studies
- Health Innovations
- Personal Health
- Political Science
- Organizational Leadership
- Required Credits: 114-120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #3 Best Research Universities in Arizona 2023 #3 Most Affordable Colleges in Arizona 2023 #3 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2023 #3 Best Grad Schools in Arizona 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
78%
Graduation
59%
Student body
25K
What is Northern Arizona University known for?
Northern Arizona University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Physics
- Earth Sciences
- Communications
- Anthropology
- Biology
- Computer Science
- Criminal Justice
- Literature
- Education
- Political Science
Most Influential Alumni
Northern Arizona University’s Online Degrees
BAS in Applied Science
Degree Concentrations
- Administration
- Emergency Management
- Logistics and Supply Chain Management
- Public Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Science in Education in Career and Technical Education
Degree Concentrations
- Business and Marketing
- Education and Training
- Family and Consumer Science
- Health Careers
- Industrial and Emerging Technologies
- Occupational
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Dental Hygiene
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Computer Information Technology
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Health Sciences
Degree Concentrations
- Diagnostic Medical Imaging and Therapy
- General Allied Health
- Medical Assisting
- Paramedic Care
- Physical Therapist Assisting
- Respiratory Care
- Surgical Technology
- Public Health
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS/BA in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Degree Concentrations
- Communication General
- Organizational Communication
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Hotel and Restaurant Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BBA in Business Administration
Degree Concentrations
- Entrepreneurship and Small Business
- Global Business
- Human Resource Management
- Logistics and Supply Chain Management
- Management
- Marketing
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Interdisciplinary Studies
Degree Concentrations
- Administration
- Early Childhood
- Technology Management
- Humanities
- Public Administration
- Technology Management
- University Studies
- Emergency Management
- Industrial Leadership
- Technology Management
- Justice Studies: Intelligence Studies
- Criminal Justice Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Psychology
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS/BA in Management
Degree Concentrations
- Health Care
- Entrepreneurship and Business Development
- Human Resource
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Nursing
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Parks and Recreation Management
Degree Concentrations
- Community
- Commercial and Tourism
- Outdoor Education and Leadership
- Park Protection
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Public Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BSW in Social Work
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Arizona’s Best Public College in Your Area of Interest
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.
Check out our directory of public colleges throughout the U.S. for a look at the top public colleges in every state.
