by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Arizona, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Our ranking highlights **10** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed 10 colleges using more than 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Here are the top-ranked colleges:
No school ranked higher than Arizona State University this year in Arizona. Located in Tempe, AZ, Arizona State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Median early-career earnings reach $55,876. The median student debt is $21,842.
University Of Arizona came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Arizona. Set in Tucson, AZ, University Of Arizona is a public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $13,573 in tuition and fees, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,834 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $21,861.
You'll be in good company at Northern Arizona University, which ranked #3 this year. Based in Flagstaff, AZ, Northern Arizona University is a public institution. Northern Arizona University graduates 61% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,619, with out-of-state students paying around $20,044. Median early-career earnings reach $47,056. Northern Arizona University students take on a median of $21,645 in debt.
A rank of #4 makes Chamberlain College Of Nursing Arizona one of the top colleges in Arizona. Located in Phoenix, AZ, Chamberlain College Of Nursing Arizona is a private for-profit institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $21,520. Early-career graduates earn a median of $83,188. The median student debt is $39,146.
Arizona State University Skysong came in at #5 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Arizona. Based in Scottsdale, AZ, Arizona State University Skysong is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,627, while out-of-state students pay about $13,925. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $55,793. Graduates carry a median of $23,742 in student loans.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott placed #6 among the best colleges in Arizona. Set in Prescott, AZ, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott is a private not-for-profit institution. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. In-state tuition and fees run about $43,974. Median early-career earnings reach $64,690. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott students take on a median of $24,707 in debt.
Grand Canyon University did well this year, earning the #7 position. This private for-profit school is set in Phoenix, AZ. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,508. Early-career graduates earn a median of $56,285. Grand Canyon University students take on a median of $30,027 in debt.
Arizona Christian University placed #8 among the best colleges in Arizona. Arizona Christian University is a private not-for-profit school based in Glendale, AZ. About 40% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $35,098 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $40,702. Arizona Christian University students take on a median of $22,625 in debt.
University Of Phoenix Arizona came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Based in Phoenix, AZ, University Of Phoenix Arizona is a private for-profit institution. About 16% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,552. Early-career graduates earn a median of $60,453. The median student debt is $35,323.
Ottawa University Surprise did well this year, earning the #10 position. Ottawa University Surprise is a private not-for-profit school based in Surprise, AZ. About 18% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $35,880. Early-career graduates earn a median of $47,453. Ottawa University Surprise students take on a median of $29,968 in debt.
University Of Advancing Technology landed the #11 spot in Arizona this year. University Of Advancing Technology is a private for-profit school based in Tempe, AZ. University Of Advancing Technology posts a six-year graduation rate of 27%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,800. University Of Advancing Technology graduates report median early-career earnings of $40,489. Graduates carry a median of $29,802 in student loans.
Prescott College did well this year, earning the #12 position. Set in Prescott, AZ, Prescott College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 56% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,490. Prescott College graduates report median early-career earnings of $42,966. Prescott College students take on a median of $27,230 in debt.
Devry University Arizona came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Set in Phoenix, AZ, Devry University Arizona is a private for-profit institution. Devry University Arizona posts a six-year graduation rate of 60%. Students from in state pay about $17,008 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $59,134 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $45,728.
American Intercontinental University Online ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Chandler, AZ, American Intercontinental University Online is a private for-profit institution. About 6% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,397. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,008 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $39,107 to complete a degree here.
Bryan University Los Angeles landed the #15 spot in Arizona this year. Located in Tempe, AZ, Bryan University Los Angeles is a private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,219. Early-career graduates earn a median of $31,425. Typical student debt is $26,400.
Dine College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Based in Tsaile, AZ, Dine College is a public institution. Roughly 12% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $1,410 in tuition and fees. Dine College graduates report median early-career earnings of $20,227.
Pima Medical Institute Tucson landed the #17 spot in Arizona this year. This private for-profit school is set in Tucson, AZ. Early-career graduates earn a median of $46,521. Graduates carry a median of $21,054 in student loans.
Aspen University landed the #18 spot in Arizona this year. Located in Phoenix, AZ, Aspen University is a private for-profit institution. Aspen University graduates 27% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,870. Graduates go on to earn a median of $69,902 early in their careers. Aspen University students take on a median of $36,946 in debt.
Arizona College Of Allied Health came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Set in Tempe, AZ, Arizona College Of Allied Health is a private for-profit institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $26,141. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,482 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $18,294 in student loans.
Brookline College Phoenix came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Located in Phoenix, AZ, Brookline College Phoenix is a private for-profit institution. Brookline College Phoenix graduates 38% of students within six years. Brookline College Phoenix graduates report median early-career earnings of $39,601. Typical student debt is $20,921.
Arizona College Of Nursing Phoenix landed the #21 spot in Arizona this year. Based in Phoenix, AZ, Arizona College Of Nursing Phoenix is a private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,041. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $85,169. The median student debt is $51,854.
Arizona College Of Nursing Tucson came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Arizona College Of Nursing Tucson is a private for-profit school based in Tucson, AZ. In-state tuition and fees average $24,944. Early-career graduates earn a median of $85,169. Graduates carry a median of $51,854 in student loans.
National Paralegal College landed the #23 spot in Arizona this year. This private for-profit school is set in Phoenix, AZ. National Paralegal College posts a six-year graduation rate of 19%. Students from in state pay about $7,995 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,124. Typical student debt is $43,560.
Sessions College For Professional Design placed #24 among the best colleges in Arizona. This private for-profit school is set in Tempe, AZ. Students from in state pay about $7,400 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $19,275. Sessions College For Professional Design students take on a median of $25,198 in debt.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
See our data sources and methodologies.