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Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Arizona

2023 Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Arizona

Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing

14 Schools Ranked
$10,559 Avg Tuition & Fees*

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 Basic Certificate Schools in Arizona ranking. This report analyzed 14 schools in Arizona to see which ones offered the best value basic certificate programs for trade school students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.

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.

Top Value Trade Basic Certificate Schools in Arizona

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

GateWay Community College

Phoenix, Arizona
928 Total Awards
$7,854 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found GateWay Community College to be the best value school for trade school students who want to pursue a basic certificate in Arizona. GateWay Community College is a public institution located in Phoenix, Arizona. The school has a small population, and it awarded 928 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at GateWay Community College are $7,854 a year.

Some students may be able to take online classes at GateWay Community College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 57% of undergraduates took at least one course online 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 #5 for overall quality in Arizona.

Read full report on GateWay Community College

#2

Eastern Arizona College

Thatcher, Arizona
486 Total Awards
$9,192 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Eastern Arizona College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Arizona list. Eastern Arizona College is located in Thatcher, Arizona and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 486 basic certificates to qualified students.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Eastern Arizona College are $9,192 a year.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Eastern Arizona College. In 2020-2021 about 24% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Eastern Arizona College also took the #4 spot in our Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Arizona rankings.

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173 Total Awards
$7,854 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 14 schools in Arizona that were part of this year’s value ranking, Chandler-Gilbert Community College landed the # 3 spot on the list. Chandler-Gilbert Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Chandler, Arizona. It awarded 173 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Chandler-Gilbert Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,854 in tuition and fees each year.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Chandler-Gilbert Community College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 43% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Chandler-Gilbert Community College

#4

Mesa Community College

Mesa, Arizona
678 Total Awards
$7,854 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent basic certificate programs at Mesa Community College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best value trade school schools in Arizona. Located in Mesa, Arizona, the fairly large public school handed out 678 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.

Mesa Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,854 in tuition and fees each year.

Mesa Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 59% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Mesa Community College

#5

Mohave Community College

Kingman, Arizona
302 Total Awards
$6,996 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 14 schools in Arizona that were part of this year’s value ranking, Mohave Community College landed the # 5 spot on the list. MCC is located in Kingman, Arizona and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 302 basic certificates to qualified students.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at MCC are $6,996 a year.

MCC 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 52% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Full Mohave Community College Report

#6

Phoenix College

Phoenix, Arizona
415 Total Awards
$7,854 Average Tuition & Fees

Phoenix College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Arizona list. Phoenix, Arizona is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 415 students in 2021-2022.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Phoenix College are $7,854 a year.

Online courses are available at Phoenix College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2020-2021 year, about 64% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Phoenix College

#7

Central Arizona College

Coolidge, Arizona
248 Total Awards
$3,000 Average Tuition & Fees

Central Arizona College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for trade school students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #7 on the list. Pinal County Community College is a public institution located in Coolidge, Arizona. The school has a small population, and it awarded 248 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Pinal County Community College are $3,000 a year.

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. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 84% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Pinal County Community College did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Arizona list.

Full Central Arizona College Report

#8

Pima Community College

Tucson, Arizona
872 Total Awards
$7,614 Average Tuition & Fees

Pima Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for trade school students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #8 on the list. Pima County Community College District is located in Tucson, Arizona and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 872 basic certificates to qualified students.

Pima County Community College District undergraduate students pay an average of $7,614 in tuition and fees each year.

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.

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204 Total Awards
$6,000 Average Tuition & Fees

Cochise County Community College District did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for trade school students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in Sierra Vista, Arizona, the small public school handed out 204 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Cochise College are $6,000 per year.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Cochise College does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 69% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#10

Glendale Community College

Glendale, Arizona
617 Total Awards
$7,854 Average Tuition & Fees

Glendale Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for trade school students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in Glendale, Arizona, the fairly large public school awarded 617 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Glendale Community College are $7,854 per year.

Online courses are available at Glendale Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 59% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Glendale Community College

#11

Yavapai College

Prescott, Arizona
743 Total Awards
$9,340 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #11, Yavapai College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Located in Prescott, Arizona, the medium-sized public school handed out 743 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Yavapai College are $9,340 a year.

Yavapai College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 49% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#12

Arizona Western College

Yuma, Arizona
148 Total Awards
$9,570 Average Tuition & Fees

Arizona Western College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate trade school programs. This medium-sized public school is located in Yuma, Arizona, and it awarded 148 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at AWC are $9,570 a 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 2020-2021 about 71% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Arizona Western College

#13

University of Phoenix - Arizona

Phoenix, Arizona
4,818 Total Awards
$9,552 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Phoenix - Arizona landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate trade school programs. University of Phoenix - Arizona is a large private for-profit school located in Phoenix, Arizona that handed out 4,818 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UOPX - Arizona are $9,552 per year.

UOPX - Arizona 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 100% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

UOPX - Arizona also made our Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Arizona list, coming in at #1.

Full University of Phoenix - Arizona Report

1,172 Total Awards
$30,592 Average Tuition & Fees

Arizona State University - Tempe landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate trade school programs. Located in Tempe, Arizona, the large public school awarded 1,172 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at ASU - Tempe are $30,592 per year.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since ASU - Tempe does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 62% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

ASU - Tempe also took the #2 spot in our Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Arizona rankings.

Full Arizona State University - Tempe Report

Best Value Trade Basic Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region

View Best Value Trade Basic Certificate Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 14 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.

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