Best Small Colleges Arizona 2024

Badge for BEST IN ARIZONA SMALL COLLEGES
By Dr. James Barham
Published:
Updated:

Small colleges in Arizona are a great option for students interested in a more intimate campus experience, more personal attention from excellent professors, and more immediate access to support services. Whether the focus is on the technical or on the liberal arts, small colleges give you the chance to pursue a well-rounded education while working closely with classmates and professors in a dynamic community atmosphere.

Best Small Colleges in Arizona 2024

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  1. Prescott College
  2. Diné College
  3. Arizona Christian University
  4. Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott
  1. Prescott College
  2. Diné College
  3. Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott
  4. Arizona Christian University
  1. Prescott College 98%
  2. Arizona Christian University 70%
  3. Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott 68%
  1. Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott 18 to 1
  2. Diné College 15 to 1
  3. Arizona Christian University 15 to 1
  4. Prescott College 9 to 1
  1. Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott $40,464
  2. Prescott College $35,450
  3. Arizona Christian University $31,650
  4. Diné College $1,410
  1. Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott $19,488
  2. Prescott College $16,824
  3. Diné College $4,500
  1. Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott
  2. Arizona Christian University
  3. Diné College
  4. Prescott College
  1. Arizona Christian University
  2. Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott
  3. Diné College
  4. Prescott College
  1. Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott 68%
  2. Arizona Christian University 70%
  3. Prescott College 98%
  1. Prescott College 9 to 1
  2. Diné College 15 to 1
  3. Arizona Christian University 15 to 1
  4. Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott 18 to 1
  1. Diné College $1,410
  2. Arizona Christian University $31,650
  3. Prescott College $35,450
  4. Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott $40,464
  1. Diné College $4,500
  2. Prescott College $16,824
  3. Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott $19,488

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 Small Colleges and Universities Badge
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The following list of the best small colleges and universities in Arizona is composed mainly of four-year undergraduate schools (though a handful also offer graduate programs). We’ve identified 4 small colleges in Arizona. The list below of the 30 best small colleges in Arizona. To be included schools must fully accredited, and must have student body populations below 5,000 students.

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Best Small Colleges in Arizona 2023

  1. #1

    Prescott College

    Prescott , AZ
    #1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Arizona 2024 #2 Best Private Colleges in Arizona 2024 #5 Best Colleges in Arizona 2024 #5 Best Grad Schools in Arizona 2024
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $35K

    Acceptance

    98%

    Graduation

    55%

    Student body

    1K

    Career Outlook for degree at Prescott College

    Cost of Degree: $35,450
    Expenses: $12,247
    Starting Salary: $34,300
    Cost Recoup Time: 19 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What 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
    • 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. #2

    Diné College

    Tsaile , AZ
    #5 Most Affordable Colleges in Arizona 2024 #9 Best Community Colleges in Arizona 2024

    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:

    Compare school
  3. #3

    Arizona Christian University

    Glendale , AZ
    #2 Best Christian Colleges in Arizona 2024 #3 Best Private Colleges in Arizona 2024 #3 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Arizona 2024 #6 Best Colleges in Arizona 2024
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $32K

    Acceptance

    70%

    Graduation

    45%

    Student body

    1K

    Career Outlook for degree at Arizona Christian University

    Cost of Degree: $31,846
    Expenses: $19,300
    Starting Salary: $34,900
    Cost Recoup Time: 20 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:

    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
  4. #4

    Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott

    Prescott , AZ
    #2 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Arizona 2024 #4 Best Private Colleges in Arizona 2024 #7 Best Colleges in Arizona 2024

    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: $40,464
    Expenses: $19,694
    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:

    Compare school
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Arizona’s Best Small College in Your Area of Interest

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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.

  1. Prescott College
  2. Arizona Christian University
  3. Diné College
  4. Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott
  5. University of Advancing Technology
  6. National Paralegal College
  7. The Art Institute of Phoenix
  8. Southwest University of Visual Arts
  9. Brookline College
  10. International Baptist College

Many states have great small colleges. If you’re interested in looking into what other states have to offer, check out the best small colleges in Alabama and and Maine.

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