Top 10 Online Colleges in Arizona
Arizona is home to some affordable online colleges. Choosing to enroll in an online college in Arizona gives students more flexibility over the scheduling of their course work while also offering the opportunity to save money on their tuition.
Below you’ll find out the selection of some of the most affordable online colleges in Arizona. The cost of their tuition has selected these online colleges.
#1. Cochise College
Cochise College is one of Arizona’s most affordable online colleges. Operating multiple campuses, one in Sierra Vista and one in Douglas, Cochise College has become well known for its inexpensive college degrees. Founded in 1964, Cochise College has now grown to enroll a student body of over 7,900 students.
Students wanting to enroll in an affordable online college in Arizona should consider Cochise College. Cochise College offers students a few dozen different online degree programs to choose from. These online degrees include undergraduate degrees like associate’s and bachelor’s degrees. Cochise College also offers students undergraduate certificate programs. The Higher Learning Commission has provided Cochise College with accreditation for its online degrees. Cochise College follows an asynchronous format for its online degree programs.
Tuition Price: $7,240
#2. Rio Salado College
Rio Salado College is a great choice for students looking for one of Arizona’s most affordable online colleges. Established in 1978, Rio Salado College has been offering students in Tempe, Arizona with the opportunity for affordable degrees for over forty years. Rio Salado College enrolls a student body of over 52,800 students.
Students enrolling at Rio Salado College can choose from several affordable online degree programs. These online degree programs are designed from the ground up for online completion. The Higher Learning Commission has provided Rio Salado College with accreditation for its online degree programs. Online degrees at Rio Salado College generally follow an asynchronous format for their online degrees. Rio Salado College offers students undergraduate degrees to enroll in online. These include associate’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and undergraduate certificate programs.
Tuition Price: $8,897
#3. Phoenix College
Renowned for the quality of its degree programs, Phoenix College has also been recognized for the affordability of its tuition. Phoenix College was first founded in 1920. Operating for over a century, Phoenix College is one of the oldest community colleges in the country. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, Phoenix College enrolls a student body of over 12,000 students.
Phoenix College offers students a wide array of online degree programs to choose from. Students can choose from over 200 different undergraduate degree programs at Phoenix College, many of which are offered to students online. Phoenix College utilizes an asynchronous course format for its online degrees. The Higher Learning Commission has provided Phoenix College with accreditation for its online degrees. Phoenix College offers online degrees, including associate’s, bachelor’s, and undergraduate certificate programs to its students entirely online. Phoenix College has ranked among the most affordable online colleges in Arizona by offering these online degrees at an affordable tuition rate.
Tuition Price: $8,980
#4. Arizona Western College
An incredibly affordable option for online students, Arizona Western College, was first established in 1963. Operating for over 58 years, Arizona Western College has been recognized for the quality of its degree programs. Located in Yuma, Arizona, Western College enrolls a student body of over 11,400 students.
Online students looking for an affordable online college in Arizona should consider enrolling at Arizona Western College. Arizona Western College offers a wide array of affordable online degrees. Primarily offering online undergraduate programs, students can choose from online associate’s and online bachelor’s degrees. Several online certificate programs are also offered to students. Many of the online degrees at Arizona Western College are offered in an accelerated format and are made available asynchronously. The Higher Learning Commission has provided Arizona Western College with accreditation for its online degrees.
Tuition Price: $10,121
#5. Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University is located in Flagstaff, Arizona. Founded in 1899, Northern Arizona University has grown over the past 122 years to become one of the state’s most prominent public research universities. Predating Arizona’s statehood, Northern Arizona University originally opened as the Northern Arizona Normal School – a teacher’s college. Today, Northern Arizona University enrolls a student body of over 29,500 students.
Students looking for an affordable online university in Arizona should consider enrolling in Northern Arizona University. Northern Arizona University has invested many resources into creating a wide selection of online degree programs. Students can choose from dozens of online degrees, including undergraduate and graduate degree programs. These include online bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs. Students can also complete undergraduate and graduate certificate programs. The Higher Learning Commission has provided Northern Arizona University with accreditation for its online degrees. Courses are offered in a competency-based format as well as a traditional online format.
Tuition Price: $14,236
#6. Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a fantastic option for students looking for an affordable online university in Arizona. Arizona State University is located in Tempe, Arizona. At this time, Arizona State University enrolls a student body of over 100,000 students – making it one of the largest universities in the state. Arizona State University has also been widely recognized for the caliber of its academic programs and research activity.
Online students looking for an online university in Arizona should definitely consider Arizona State University. Arizona State University operates a huge online college known as ASU Online. ASU Online offers students hundreds of different online degree programs to choose from. These online degrees include online bachelor’s, online master’s, online doctorate programs, and undergraduate and graduate certificate programs. These online degrees are offered primarily online, while some are made available in a hybrid format. The Higher Learning Commission has provided Arizona State University with accreditation for its online degrees.
Tuition Price: $14,568
#7. University of Arizona
One of the most affordable universities in Arizona, Arizona State University, is located in Tucson. Founded in 1885, the University of Arizona is one of the oldest public universities in the region. Known for the quality and affordability of its degree programs, the University of Arizona currently enrolls a student body of over 45,900 students.
The University of Arizona is a great option for students looking for an affordable online university in Arizona. Students can choose to enroll in the University of Arizona Global Campus. This online platform offers students hundreds of online degree programs to choose from. The Higher Learning Commission accredits these online degrees. Students can choose from undergraduate and graduate degrees, including online bachelor’s, online master’s, online doctorates, and undergraduate and graduate certificate programs. These online degrees are built from the ground up for online learning and typically follow an asynchronous course format.
Tuition Price: $16,580
#8. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is one of the most affordable online universities in Arizona. Located in Prescott, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University also operates an additional campus in Daytona Beach, Florida. Established in 1926, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has become one of the nation’s top universities for aviation and aerospace programs. Over the course of its over 95 years of operations, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has grown to enroll over 33,600 students.
Students at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University can choose to enroll in a wide selection of online degree programs. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University offers its online degrees to students at an affordable tuition rate helping the school secure its ranking among the most affordable online universities in Arizona. The Higher Learning Commission and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on College have provided Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University accreditation for its online degree programs. Online degrees at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical university include online bachelor’s, online master’s, and certificate programs.
Tuition Price: $20,500
#9. Prescott College
Among the most affordable online colleges in Arizona, Prescott College is located in Prescott, Arizona. Established in 1966, Prescott College is a private college in Arizona. Founded by the Ford Foundation, Prescott College has been serving students for over 55 years. At this time, over 840 students are enrolled at Prescott College.
Prescott College focuses on primarily offering online education opportunities to working adults and distance learners. Prescott College has earned a place among the most affordable online colleges in Arizona with its focus on distance education. Prescott College has received accreditation for its online degrees from the Higher Learning Commission. Students at Prescott College can choose from a catalog of online undergraduate degrees, including online associate’s and online bachelor’s, as well as undergraduate certificate programs. Prescott College utilizes an asynchronous course format for its online courses.
Tuition Price: $20,965
#10. Arizona Christian University
Located in Glendale, Arizona, Arizona Christian University is one of the state’s most affordable online universities. Established in 1960, Arizona Christian University was founded by the Southwestern Conservative Baptist Church. Originally known as the Southwestern Conservative Baptist College, Arizona Christian University has expanded to enroll a student body of over 1,000 students.
Arizona Christian University offers students a great selection of online degrees to choose from. These online degrees are made available to students at an affordable tuition rate, helping Arizona Christian University secure its place among the most affordable online universities and colleges in Arizona. Arizona Christian University has received accreditation for its online degrees from the Higher Learning Commission. Students can choose to enroll in both undergraduate and graduate degrees at Arizona Christian University. These online degrees include online associate’s, online bachelor’s, master’s, and certificate programs. Arizona Chrisitan University is one of the most affordable online colleges in Arizona.
Tuition Price: $21,385
Conclusion
Online college is a great alternative to on-campus studying. Choosing to pursue your education online has many distinct advantages, including the opportunity to save money on your education and having more control over the scheduling of your course work. We hope that this ranking of the most affordable online colleges in Arizona has been helpful with your search for the perfect online college for you.
Will I Make Less Money With an Online Degree?
A fear that many students have regarding online education is that their online degree might not be worth as much as a similar degree earned on-campus for some reason or another. This is a persisting fear that dates back to the earliest days of online learning.
When online learning was first introduced, many people were skeptical of how effective it could be. However, online learning has become more and more popular over the past twenty years and is now just as highly regarded as an on-campus degree. Not only are online degrees just as good as on-campus degrees, but most online degrees also make no mention that they were earned online. If you really do feel self-conscious about having earned your degree online, you don’t have to let your future employers know.
The earning potential of a degree has less to do with the delivery format and more to do with the type of degree chosen. Certain degree programs are more desirable on the job market.
How Old Do You Have to Be For Online College?
While many folks have the image of a college student as someone in their late teens and early twenties, college students run the gamut of all ages. Sure some students move directly from their high school education into a college degree. Many working professionals and adults are either choosing to enroll in college for the first time or are returning to change their career path.
Online colleges accept students of all ages. The only limiting factor is that most online colleges require that students complete high school or receive a GED. There is no cap on how old you can be to enroll in most online colleges.
Something to consider for older students considering an online college is their familiarity with technology. Online college degrees leverage various technologies to help in the delivery of the course work. If you are not particularly comfortable with computers or technology, then an online college may not be quite right for you.
How Does Online College Work?
A broad question, but essentially online college, on the surface, functions very similarly to an on-campus college degree. Students work through a curriculum designed to teach them the skills and knowledge needed for a particular career path or subject. Degrees are broken down into courses, and these courses are worth a certain amount of credits that are then added up to a total needed to earn the entire degree.
The main differences are found in the way that the courses are delivered to students. In an on-campus degree, students attend class at a physical location on-campus. Online degrees have their coursework delivered online. That comes in many different formats. Students can attend live lectures that are very similar to the in-person experience. Or they can view pre-recorded lectures or communicate with their professor and fellow students entirely via discussion boards.
Course work in an online degree is submitted online, and much of the exams and tests are also done online. But really, online college isn’t that much different than an on-campus degree. You’ll still be learning the same material; it’s just delivered in a bit of a different manner.