Arizona has a wealth of higher education resources that provide plenty of opportunity – whether you’re looking for continuing education, customized training, a four-year or graduate degree program, or a technical school to learn valuable job skills.

Phoenix is also known for its higher education opportunities. Area colleges and universities include the  Arizona State   University   (in   nearby   Tempe),   University   of   Phoenix, Argosy   University, Maricopa   Community Colleges/Phoenix College (plus several other major campuses), Grand Canyon University, Western International University, and the internationally renowned Thunderbird – The Garvin School of International Management.

In particular, the Arizona State University has over 300 undergraduate and more than 350 masters and graduate degree programs  in 18 colleges  and  schools. One of the  largest  research-heavy  institutions  in  the U.S., Arizona State University annually devotes over $385 million in research and development expenditures. And, the huge Maricopa Community Colleges network features 10 colleges that specialize in university transfer, continuing education, career and job training programs. Phoenix College, the system’s main campus, is nationally known for its programs in gerontology, dental hygiene, fire science, emergency medical technology, mathematics, art, graphic design, creative writing, and administration of justice.

Recent  research  comparing  Arizona  to  states  of  similar  size  found  that  Arizona  ranked  second  for  average Arizona  student  test  scores  on  the  ACT  college  entrance  exam,  and  that  Arizona  is  also  ranked  second  among states of similar size for the number of bachelor’s degrees in natural sciences and engineering.

Arizona State University has several primary locations across the Phoenix metropolitan area (with its main campus in Tempe), and there are numerous private colleges that offer associates, bachelors and graduate degrees in many different specialty areas.

There are plenty of opportunities for higher education in Tucson as well, which offers a variety of public and private universities, a large network of community colleges, and a diverse offering of career and training schools.

In particular, the University of Arizona, which has its main campus in Tucson, is one of the largest research-heavy institutions in the U.S. The University of Arizona is also ranked second in research and development expenditures among 11 cities of similar size and 20th in the nation.

Pima Community College has six campuses as well as a variety of Learning/Education Centers in southern Arizona that offer on-campus, alternative and online courses. There are also numerous private colleges that offer associates, bachelors and graduate degrees in many different specialty areas. And, Arizona State University’s main campus in Tempe is about 90 minutes away.

See below for a listing of higher education choices in the Phoenix area, including address, phone, website, college information, degree programs/specialties, tuition (if available), and enrollment (if available). For more information about specific programs and fees, contact the college.

American Indian College of the Assemblies of God

10020 N. 15th Avenue
Phoenix 85021
602-944-3335
www.aicag.edu

American Indian College (AIC) is “committed to the concept of education as developmental growth, specifically spiritual, intellectual, social, and physical. The Christian philosophy of learning is the center of educational philosophy at AIC.

AIC offers Associate of Arts and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Christian ministry, business and elementary education, and served about 86 students in 2012.

Annual tuition and fees in 2013 were about $11,000 for on-campus students (including room & board, tuition, fees, and estimated books), and about $8,000 for off-campus students (including tuition, fees, and estimated books not including room & board).

Anthem College

1515 Indian School Road
Phoenix, 85014
888-852-7272
www.anthem.edu

Based in Phoenix, Anthem College is a national group of schools and colleges that offers “real-world training programs in healthcare, technology, visual communication, accounting, management and criminal justice,” as well as graduate studies. The Phoenix campus offers training in healthcare and technology.

Specific training programs in Phoenix include medical assistant, CAD/drafting technology, computer networking and security, and electronics technology. Tuition varies, depending on which program a student chooses to enroll.

Anthem College also offers several degree programs that can be completed online.

Argosy University

2233 W. Dunlap Avenue
Phoenix, 85021
602-216-2600
866-216-2777
www.argosy.edu

Argosy University has 19 locations across the U.S. as well as an online division, offering undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate degrees.

The Phoenix location offers professional certificates, programs and doctoral, master’s and bachelor’s degrees in the college of psychology/behavioral sciences; college of education; college of business; and college of health sciences.

Tuition per credit hour varies with the different degree programs, but overall in-state/out-of-state tuition is roughly $12,000.  In 2013, enrollment was about 860 students.

Arizona State University (ASU)

University Dr. and Mill Ave.
Tempe, 85287
480-965-9011
www.asu.edu

Arizona State University (ASU) is a “single, unified institution comprising four differentiated campuses positively impacting the economic, social, cultural and environmental health of the communities it serves,” with research that is “inspired by real world application, blurring the boundaries that traditionally separate academic disciplines.”

ASU’s main campus is in Tempe, with several other campuses in the Phoenix metro area, including a large downtown campus. Academic offerings include more than 250 undergraduate and graduate programs, plus a range of certificate programs.

As one of the largest U.S. universities, ASU served more than 72,000 students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries in 2012. Tuition and fees for a full-time undergraduate student living on campus and participating in a college meal plan are about $18,000 annually.

Carrington College

8503 N. 27th Avenue, #A
Phoenix, 85051
 
2701 W. Bethany Home
Phoenix, 85017
 
602-864-1571
www.carrington.edu

Carrington offers degree and diploma programs in healthcare, dental and veterinary career fields, and operates several campuses across the western United States.

Programs at the Phoenix campus include dental assistant, fitness trainer, massage therapy, medical administrative assistant, medical assistant, pharmacy technician, and veterinary assistant, medical billing and coding, medical lab technician, medical radiography, nursing, physical therapy technician, and respiratory care. Tuition varies per program.

DeVry University

2149 W. Dunlap Ave. (Phoenix)
Phoenix, 85021
602-749-4500
www.phx.devry.edu

With three campuses in the Valley of the Sun—Phoenix, Glendale and Mesa—DeVry University offers courses in business administration, computer information systems, engineering, network and communications management, and management as well as professional graduate certificates in business, office management and health information technology. For 2013-14 the annual tuition and fees are about $8,000, without room and board.

Fortis College

555 N. 18th Street, #110
Phoenix, 85006
602-254-3099
www.fortis.edu

Fortis college offers education and certifications in a variety of vocations in medical disciplines, including emergency medicine; medical assisting, billing and coding; dentistry and practical nursing.  With 10 of the 20 fastest growing occupations being healthcare related, a degree program from Fortis can get you employed in a field with promise.

Grand Canyon University

3300 W. Camelback Road
Phoenix, 85017
602-639-7500
800-800-9776
www.gcu.edu

Founded in 1949, Grand Canyon University is a small, private liberal arts university offering a full range of liberal arts and professional programs at the bachelor’s level and master’s degree level.  Programs include online education, online degree programs, campus-based classes, MBA degree programs and an Executive MBA. The private university serves about 25,000 students, and tuition and fees for full-time, undergraduate students are about $16,500 annually.

Maricopa Community Colleges

2411 W. 14th St.
Tempe, AZ 85281
480-731-8000
www.maricopa.edu

One of the largest higher education systems in the nation with 10 colleges and two skill centers, the Maricopa Community Colleges system – part of the Maricopa Community College District – serves more than 250,000 students each year.

The district’s colleges offer approximately 1,000 occupational programs (degrees and certificates), 37 academic associate degrees, and 10,254 courses. The district is also the largest provider of health care workers and job training in Arizona – a major resource for business and industry, and for those looking for education and job training.

Major campuses in the Phoenix area include Chandler-Gilbert, Estrella Mountain, GateWay, Glendale, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Rio Salado, Scottsdale, and South Mountain. Fees for full-time students vary from school to school and whether or not a student lives in the district; cost is generally around $81 per credit hour for a county resident.

Phoenix School of Law

One N. Central Ave.
Phoenix, 85004
602-682-6800 / 888-749-5291
www.phoenixlaw.edu

The Phoenix School of Law is a private law school located in Phoenix, Arizona. Phoenix Law is the only private law school in Arizona and the only one with both full-time and part-time (day and evening) programs. On June 15, 2010, the school announced it had received full accreditation from the American Bar Association. With an enrollment of some 960 students, annual tuition and fees for a full-time student run about $39,000.

Thunderbird School of Global Management

1 Global Place
Glendale, 85306
602-978-7000 / 800-848-9084
www.thunderbird.edu

Founded in 1946 and located just west of Phoenix in the community of Glendale, the Thunderbird School of Global Management is the “first and oldest graduate management school focused exclusively on global business,” with operations in the U.S., Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Russia, Central and South America, Singapore and China. The school has been ranked No. 1 in international business by the Financial Times, U.S. News & World Report, and The Wall Street Journal/Harris Interactive 2007 Survey of Corporate Recruiters.

Full-time programs include MBA in global management, masters of science in global management, masters of arts in global affairs and management, and masters of global management (a dual degree program and post-MBA studies), as well as a range of part-time programs for working professionals. Enrollment for all programs currently about 1,267, and total tuition ranges around $43,000/year, but can vary depending upon individual schedule and electives.

University of Advanced Technology

2625 W. Baseline Road
Tempe, 85283
602-383-8228 / 800-658-5744
www.uat.edu

Founded in 1983, UAT is a university with multiple areas of study in technical fields, while retaining liberal arts requirements in the Fine Arts and Humanities. It purports a general education comparable to typical universities, with specific emphasis on how its specialized mission integrates technology into its general education requirements. The institution offers unique core classes (e.g., Information Research Strategies, Technology and Society, Project Management, Intellectual Property Law), as well as all traditional ones. Some 800+ students attended UAT in Fall 2012, paying an annual undergraduate tuition of about $10,500.

University of Arizona College of Medicine

550 E. Van Buren Street
Phoenix, 85004
602-827-2001
www.phoenixmed.arizona.edu

The University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix campus opened in downtown Phoenix in 2006. Along with its sister campus in Tucson, they are the only MD degree-granting colleges in the state. The college offers full, four-year medical education programs in Phoenix, as well as at the University’s main campus in Tucson.

The program is currently training 183 medical students and plans to graduate 120 physicians per year, when running at full capacity.

University of Phoenix

4635 E. Elwood Street
Phoenix, 85040
866-766-0766
www.phoenix.edu

A nationally known college headquartered in Phoenix, the University of Phoenix provides “campus locations, online degree programs and flexible scheduling for working adults.”

Offerings include more than 100 degree programs at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels in business and management, communications, criminal justice and security, education, general studies, nursing and health care, human services, psychology and technology.

Fees for full-time students vary from school to school and degree program; for the business and management program, and tuition is roughly $15,000 per year, not counting room and board and other expenses.

Western International University

1601 W. Fountainhead Parkway
Tempe, 85282
602-943-2311 / 866-WIU-INFO
www.west.edu

Western International University (WIU), a part of Apollo Group, originated with the mindset to offer post-secondary education for adults.  Starting out as a campus-based university, it quickly evolved with the times to offer programs online, and now educates more than 80% of students attend classes online.  It also has sister schools in the United Kingdom, Chile and Mexico, creating a global educational network.

WIU offers associate, bachelor, and master degree programs, as well as a professional certificate in Accountancy, and most students are “working adults who thrive on the flexibility and convenience of course schedules and locations.”

Current enrollment is about 3200 , and tuition for programs is about $11,000 annually for in-district students.