Find Trade Colleges
2026 Best Trade Schools in Arizona
Looking for the best Trade degree programs in Arizona? Our ranking highlights 110 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Trade College reviewed 82 schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Trade Degree Schools in Arizona
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Leading the list is Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott, our #1 Trade school in Arizona. Based in Prescott, AZ, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,974. The median Trade program debt is $24,707. Read more about Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott
Grand Canyon University came in at #2 on this year's Trade ranking in Arizona. Based in Phoenix, AZ, Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit institution. Grand Canyon University graduates 44% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $18,508 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $30,027 in student loans. More on Grand Canyon University
The strong Trade programs at Arizona State University Skysong earned it the #3 place in Arizona. This public school is set in Scottsdale, AZ. Students from in state pay about $11,627 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,925. Graduates carry a median of $23,742 in student loans. Read more about Arizona State University Skysong
Arizona State University came in at #4 on this year's Trade ranking in Arizona. Based in Tempe, AZ, Arizona State University is a public institution. Arizona State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Arizona State University Trade students take on a median of $21,842 in debt. Read the full report on Arizona State University
The strong Trade programs at Central Arizona College earned it the #5 place in Arizona. This public school is set in Coolidge, AZ. In-state tuition and fees average $2,250, compared with $4,500 for out-of-state students. Typical Trade student debt is $11,635. Read the full report on Central Arizona College
University Of Phoenix Arizona landed the #6 spot in Arizona this year. Set in Phoenix, AZ, University Of Phoenix Arizona is a private for-profit institution. University Of Phoenix Arizona graduates 16% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,552. Typical Trade student debt is $35,323. See the full University Of Phoenix Arizona profile
University Of Arizona came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Set in Tucson, AZ, University Of Arizona is a public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $13,573, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Typical Trade student debt is $21,861. Get the full University Of Arizona report
Estrella Mountain Community College placed #8 among Trade schools in Arizona. This public school is set in Avondale, AZ. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $21,752 in student loans. Read the full report on Estrella Mountain Community College
Gateway Community College Phoenix placed #9 among Trade schools in Arizona. Based in Phoenix, AZ, Gateway Community College Phoenix is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Gateway Community College Phoenix Trade students take on a median of $15,736 in debt. More on Gateway Community College Phoenix
Eastern Arizona College landed the #10 spot in Arizona this year. Eastern Arizona College is a public school based in Thatcher, AZ. Students from in state pay about $2,352 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,552. Eastern Arizona College Trade students take on a median of $6,781 in debt. More on Eastern Arizona College
Chandler Gilbert Community College landed the #11 spot in Arizona this year. Located in Chandler, AZ, Chandler Gilbert Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. The median Trade program debt is $10,447. Read the full report on Chandler Gilbert Community College
Northland Pioneer College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. This public school is set in Holbrook, AZ. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,232, while out-of-state students pay about $10,320. Students borrow a median of $8,680 to complete their Trade program here. Read more about Northland Pioneer College
Phoenix College did well this year, earning the #13 position. Phoenix College is a public school based in Phoenix, AZ. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. The median Trade program debt is $15,204. Get the full Phoenix College report
Mohave Community College placed #14 among Trade schools in Arizona. Located in Kingman, AZ, Mohave Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,208, with out-of-state students paying around $7,968. Graduates carry a median of $14,766 in student loans. Read more about Mohave Community College
Mesa Community College placed #15 among Trade schools in Arizona. Set in Mesa, AZ, Mesa Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete their Trade program here. More on Mesa Community College
Pima Community College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Tucson, AZ. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,442, compared with $7,758 for out-of-state students. Pima Community College Trade students take on a median of $10,655 in debt. More on Pima Community College
Cochise College did well this year, earning the #17 position. Cochise College is a public school based in Sierra Vista, AZ. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,280, compared with $6,120 for out-of-state students. Cochise College Trade students take on a median of $12,013 in debt. Read the full report on Cochise College
Arizona Western College landed the #18 spot in Arizona this year. Located in Yuma, AZ, Arizona Western College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,060, compared with $9,870 for out-of-state students. Get the full Arizona Western College report
Yavapai College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Located in Prescott, AZ, Yavapai College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,948, compared with $9,486 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $14,087 in student loans. Read more about Yavapai College
Glendale Community College Glendale Az ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Based in Glendale, AZ, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Students borrow a median of $15,996 to complete their Trade program here. More on Glendale Community College Glendale Az
American Intercontinental University Online came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Based in Chandler, AZ, American Intercontinental University Online is a private for-profit institution. Roughly 6% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,397. Typical Trade student debt is $39,107. See the full American Intercontinental University Online profile
Jersey College Mesa came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Get the full Jersey College Mesa report
Refrigeration School Inc ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. See the full Refrigeration School Inc profile
Aspen University
Aspen University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. See the full Aspen University profile
Pima Medical Institute Tucson did well this year, earning the #25 position. Get the full Pima Medical Institute Tucson report
Rest of the Top 50 Best Trade Degree Schools in Arizona
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Sessions College For Professional Design did well this year, earning the #26 position. See the full Sessions College For Professional Design profile
Pima Medical Institute Mesa ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Read the full report on Pima Medical Institute Mesa
Empire Beauty School Tucson did well this year, earning the #28 position. Read the full report on Empire Beauty School Tucson
Phoenix Seminary
Phoenix Seminary ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Get the full Phoenix Seminary report
Prescott College
Prescott College came in at #30 in this year's ranking. Get the full Prescott College report
Arizona Academy Of Beauty East did well this year, earning the #31 position. Read the full report on Arizona Academy Of Beauty East
International Barber College landed the #32 spot in Arizona this year. More on International Barber College
Arizona Culinary Institute placed #33 among Trade schools in Arizona. See the full Arizona Culinary Institute profile
Indian Bible College ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. See the full Indian Bible College profile
Brookline College Phoenix ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Read more about Brookline College Phoenix
Turning Point Beauty College placed #36 among Trade schools in Arizona. See the full Turning Point Beauty College profile
Commercial Divers International did well this year, earning the #37 position. Read more about Commercial Divers International
Empire Beauty School Avondale did well this year, earning the #38 position. More on Empire Beauty School Avondale
Studio Academy Of Beauty came in at #39 in this year's ranking. See the full Studio Academy Of Beauty profile
East Valley Institute Of Technology landed the #40 spot in Arizona this year. More on East Valley Institute Of Technology
Arizona College Of Nursing Phoenix came in at #41 in this year's ranking. More on Arizona College Of Nursing Phoenix
Arizona College Glendale came in at #42 in this year's ranking. See the full Arizona College Glendale profile
Devry University Arizona did well this year, earning the #43 position. See the full Devry University Arizona profile
Scottsdale Community College did well this year, earning the #44 position. Get the full Scottsdale Community College report
Pima Medical Institute Phoenix came in at #45 in this year's ranking. More on Pima Medical Institute Phoenix
Southwest Institute Of Healing Arts did well this year, earning the #46 position. More on Southwest Institute Of Healing Arts
National Paralegal College ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. See the full National Paralegal College profile
Penrose Academy
Penrose Academy landed the #48 spot in Arizona this year. Read more about Penrose Academy
Maricopa Community College System Office came in at #49 in this year's ranking. More on Maricopa Community College System Office
University Of Advancing Technology did well this year, earning the #50 position. More on University Of Advancing Technology
More Trade Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Trade College (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 82 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 110 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
TradeCollege.org provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. TradeCollege.org is a for-profit site, and the displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© TradeCollege.org – All Rights Reserved.