Best Online Colleges in Arizona

Q: How many online colleges are in Arizona?

Many of Arizona's colleges and universities offer online degree programming, making it easy for busy students – or those who live in more remote areas – to undertake a quality education. Some schools may offer a more limited variety than others, so carefully review your options.

Q: Can you go to college for free in Arizona?

The Arizona Promise Program covers all tuition and fees at public Arizona universities for qualifying students for up to four years. To take advantage of this scholarship, you must reside in Arizona, hold a 2.5 or higher GPA, complete the FAFSA, and qualify for federal Pell Grant awards.

Q: What is the easiest online college to get into in Arizona?

Arizona State University maintains an acceptance rate of nearly 90%, making it one of the easiest online schools to attend in the state. Meanwhile, several schools in the state also maintain open admission policies for any student with a high school diploma or GED certificate. Mesa Community College is one example of a school providing open admissions.

Q: What is the #1 college in Arizona?

As one of the 10 largest universities in the country, Arizona State University provides myriad degrees at every educational level, including a robust selection of online degrees. As an added benefit, the school does not charge out-of-state tuition for distance learners.

Arizona is home to many top-tier colleges and universities, making it a great destination for students seeking a quality education.

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Updated May 1, 2024

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The Grand Canyon State offers a great place to study, whether you’re working on your first degree or seeking a respected Ph.D. program.

Whether you choose to attend one of the many beautiful campuses in person or you’re looking for an online option, Arizona universities offer quality educational options.

We’ll walk you through some of the best online colleges in Arizona, the state’s average tuition rates, and fast-growing jobs.

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In this Article

Best Online Colleges in Arizona

We use trusted sources like Peterson's Data and the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools. from our partners appear among these rankings and are indicated as such.

How We Rank Schools

To create this ranking, BestColleges sourced the most recent data available from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. We then ranked each school according to the top variables college students selected in our College Choice and Admissions Survey. To learn more, check out our full rankings methodology or read the summary below.

To qualify for our rankings lists, each school must be an accredited public or private, nonprofit institution. Each eligible school was then ranked based on a formula measuring:

Affordability (30%)
Student outcomes (30%)
Reputation (20%)
Diversity and social mobility (20%)

In addition, we only included colleges with graduation rates in the top third of all online colleges.

University of Arizona

Tucson, AZ4 yearCampus + Online

$10,990

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$33,739

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

87%

Acceptance Rate

56%

Online Enrollment

Cost per Credit:
In-State | $500
Out-of-State | $500

Credits to Graduate: 120

The University of Arizona is Arizona's land-grant university, boasting a diverse student body of over 46,000 students. The university offers over 150 undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificate programs online.

Students can choose to enroll in a degree or certificate program or take a single class.

The university offers six online start dates throughout the year. Each course is 7.5 weeks long to offer students maximum ability to balance their courses with a career or other responsibilities.

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$12,348

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$32,290

Retention Rate

86%

Students Enrolled

51,035

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$10,990

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$33,739

University of Arizona

Tucson, AZ4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$10,990

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$33,739

Acceptance Rate

87%

Online Enrollment

56%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$12,348

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$32,290

Retention Rate

86%

Students Enrolled

51,035

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Cost per Credit:
In-State | $500
Out-of-State | $500

Credits to Graduate: 120

Students can choose to enroll in a degree or certificate program or take a single class.

The university offers six online start dates throughout the year. Each course is 7.5 weeks long to offer students maximum ability to balance their courses with a career or other responsibilities.

Arizona State University Digital Immersion

Scottsdale, AZ4 yearOnline

$10,710

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$12,984

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

70%

Acceptance Rate

98%

Online Enrollment

Cost per Credit:
In-State | $560
Out-of-State | $560

Credits to Graduate: 120

The Arizona State University Digital Immersion is part of Arizona State University, one of the most innovative schools in the United States. The university is proud of its culture of innovation and inclusion and has students enrolled from all 50 states and over 130 countries.

Arizona State University's online program has six start dates per year, offering over 300 undergraduate and graduate degrees that are completely online. There are over 82,000 students enrolled in the online program.

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$9,774

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$9,774

Retention Rate

74%

Students Enrolled

57,848

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$10,710

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,984

Arizona State University Digital Immersion

Scottsdale, AZ4 yearOnline

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$10,710

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,984

Acceptance Rate

70%

Online Enrollment

98%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$9,774

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$9,774

Retention Rate

74%

Students Enrolled

57,848

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Cost per Credit:
In-State | $560
Out-of-State | $560

Credits to Graduate: 120

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, AZ4 yearCampus + Online

$10,650

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$26,286

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

80%

Acceptance Rate

55%

Online Enrollment

Cost per Credit:
In-State | $378
Out-of-State | $378

Credits to Graduate: 120

Founded as a teacher's college in 1899, Northern Arizona University now offers undergraduate and graduate degrees with over 150 programs just online. The school enrolls 28,000 students in all of its locations, including online, each year.

Northern Arizona University is ranked in the top three universities nationally for its virtual student services, as well as number one in the state for the lowest average student debt. All online students receive 24/7 technical support and a personal peer mentor during the fall and spring semesters.

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$11,103

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,817

Retention Rate

76%

Students Enrolled

103,007

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$10,650

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$26,286

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, AZ4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$10,650

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$26,286

Acceptance Rate

80%

Online Enrollment

55%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$11,103

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,817

Retention Rate

76%

Students Enrolled

103,007

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Cost per Credit:
In-State | $378
Out-of-State | $378

Credits to Graduate: 120

Ottawa University-Surprise

Surprise, AZ4 yearCampus + Online

$29,600

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$29,600

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

31%

Acceptance Rate

93%

Online Enrollment

Cost per Credit:
In-State | $1,060
Out-of-State | $1,060

Credits to Graduate: 120

Ottawa University-Surprise is a division of Ottawa University, a private university that was founded in 1865 and named after the Ottawa Indian tribe. They offer in person classes in both Arizona and Kansas, in addition to online and evening courses in Arizona, Kansas City, Milwaukee, and internationally.

The university offers undergraduate online programs in 16 different concentrations and four different graduate online programs. Some programs are conducted completely online, while others include a blend of online instruction and in-person interaction.

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$11,253

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,253

Retention Rate

54%

Students Enrolled

972

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$29,600

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$29,600

Ottawa University-Surprise

Surprise, AZ4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$29,600

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$29,600

Acceptance Rate

31%

Online Enrollment

93%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$11,253

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,253

Retention Rate

54%

Students Enrolled

972

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Cost per Credit:
In-State | $1,060
Out-of-State | $1,060

Credits to Graduate: 120

Cost of College in Arizona

The cost of attending college in Arizona can vary dramatically based on whether you attend a public or private institution, as well as whether you pay in-state or out-of-state tuition at a public college.

For in-state students, the average tuition cost in Arizona at public universities was $11,452 in 2022. That’s slightly higher than the national average of $9,596.

Meanwhile, the cost of a private four-year education in Arizona ($13,272) is substantially less than the national average ($34,041).

Cost of College in Arizona in 2021-2022
Institution Type	Average Tuition & Required Fees
Public Four-Year (In-State)	$11,452
Public Four-Year (Out-of-State)	$26,025
Private Four-Year	$13,272
Public Two-Year (In-State)	$2,182
Public Two-Year (Out-of-State)	$7,333

Source: NCES

10 Fast-Growing Jobs in Arizona

Many jobs in Arizona are anticipated to grow over the next ten years, creating opportunities to use your degree in an in-demand field. Many of the fastest-growing jobs in the state center around the healthcare industry, with nurse practitioners projected to grow an incredible 71%.

Other careers on pace for growth include those based in technology. Jobs for data scientists are projected to nearly double in the coming years.

Many of these jobs also offer six-figure salaries. Some may require advanced degrees, so review educational requirements before choosing your path.

10 Fast-Growing Jobs in Arizona
Job	Job Growth 2022-2032	Average Annual Wage 2022
Nurse Practitioners	71%	$121,410
Physician Assistants	51%	$122,420
Medical and Health Services Managers	50%	$121,000
Data Scientists	48%	$104,220
Physical Therapist Assistants	48%	$62,880
Occupational Therapy Assistants	46%	$60,130
Statisticians	45%	$85,060
Mathematical Science Occupations	42%	$99,590
Solar Photovoltaic Installers	41%	$47,880
Home Health and Personal Care Aides	40%	$31,260

Source: Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Colleges in Arizona

What is the cheapest online college in Arizona?

Arizona State University SkySong offers the most affordable online education in the state, which is under $9,000 a year for in-state students. Other campuses in the ASU system, such as Tempe, also have relatively low tuition rates for their online programs.

If you’re looking for the most affordable educational option in Arizona, you may want to consider earning an associate degree. Public two-year institutions cost approximately $2,182 per year for in-state learners. In general, public colleges cost less than private institutions, especially for residents of Arizona.