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2023 Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Arizona
Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which trade school program is right for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Trade College Search has created its Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Arizona ranking. Our analysis looked at 17 schools in Arizona to see which associate degree programs offered the best value experiences for trade school students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
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Top Value Trade Associate Degree Schools in Arizona
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Estrella Mountain Community College the best value school in Arizona for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Avondale, Arizona, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,208 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Estrella Mountain Community College are $7,854 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,698 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Estrella Mountain Community College. In fact, around 68% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Estrella Mountain Community College is ranked #2 for overall quality in Arizona.
Out of the 17 schools in Arizona that were part of this year’s value ranking, GateWay Community College landed the # 2 spot on the list. Phoenix, Arizona is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 662 students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at GateWay Community College are $7,854 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $9,353 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that GateWay Community College does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 57% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, GateWay Community College is ranked #3 for overall quality in Arizona.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Central Arizona College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Arizona list. Pinal County Community College is located in Coolidge, Arizona and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 491 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Pinal County Community College are $3,000 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $12,534 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Pinal County Community College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2020-2021 about 84% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Pinal County Community College also made our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Arizona list, coming in at #1.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Phoenix College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Arizona list. Phoenix College is a medium-sized public school located in Phoenix, Arizona that handed out 1,033 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Phoenix College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,854 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,866 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Phoenix College. In 2020-2021 about 64% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
The excellent associate degree programs at Mohave Community College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best value trade school schools in Arizona. Mohave Community College is a small public school located in Kingman, Arizona that handed out 387 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
MCC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,996 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $15,774 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that MCC does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 52% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Mesa Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #6 on the list. Mesa Community College is a fairly large public school located in Mesa, Arizona that handed out 1,815 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Mesa Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,854 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $10,538 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Mesa Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 59% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Eastern Arizona College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in Thatcher, Arizona, the small public school handed out 457 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Eastern Arizona College are $9,192 per year.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Eastern Arizona College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 24% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #8, Chandler-Gilbert Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Chandler-Gilbert Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Chandler, Arizona. It awarded 1,291 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Chandler-Gilbert Community College are $7,854 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $8,445 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Chandler-Gilbert Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 43% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Northland Pioneer College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Arizona list. Holbrook, Arizona is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 171 students in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at NPC are $9,851 per year.
NPC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 52% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Pima Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Arizona ranking. Tucson, Arizona is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,807 students in 2021-2022.
Pima County Community College District undergraduate students pay an average of $7,614 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,213 in student loans.
Pima County Community College District does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 50% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Cochise County Community College District landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Cochise College is a public institution located in Sierra Vista, Arizona. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,483 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Cochise College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,000 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,758 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Cochise College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 69% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #12, Glendale Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Glendale, Arizona, the fairly large public school handed out 1,568 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Glendale Community College are $7,854 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $8,065 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Glendale Community College. In fact, around 59% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Yavapai College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Arizona list. Located in Prescott, Arizona, the medium-sized public school handed out 689 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Yavapai College undergraduate students pay an average of $9,340 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $16,264 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Yavapai College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 49% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Arizona Western College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Arizona ranking. Arizona Western College is a medium-sized public school located in Yuma, Arizona that handed out 864 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
AWC undergraduate students pay an average of $9,570 in tuition and fees each year.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since AWC does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 71% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #15, University of Phoenix - Arizona did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. UOPX - Arizona is located in Phoenix, Arizona and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 3,066 associate degrees to qualified students.
UOPX - Arizona undergraduate students pay an average of $9,552 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $21,782 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at UOPX - Arizona. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 100% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
UOPX - Arizona not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #4 on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Arizona list.
DeVry University - Arizona did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #16 on the list. DeVry University - Arizona is a private for-profit institution located in Phoenix, Arizona. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 7 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at DeVry University - Arizona are $15,032 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $27,154 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at DeVry University - Arizona. During the 2020-2021 year, about 99% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
DeVry University - Arizona also took the #5 spot in our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Arizona rankings.
American InterContinental University - Online did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #17 on the list. This fairly large private for-profit school is located in Chandler, Arizona, and it awarded 1,301 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
AIU Online undergraduate students pay an average of $12,422 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,426 in student loans.
AIU Online is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
Best Value Trade Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 17 schools only.
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.