Planning to get into any community colleges in Arizona? Then you are making the right decisions.
It doesn’t matter whether you are a professional aiming to move up in your career, a recent graduate willing to further your education, or a student hoping to start out in a community college.
Having an idea about the best community colleges in Arizona can help sharpen your path to the future you desire.
This page gives the right information you expect about the ten best community colleges in Arizona, their tuition cost, acceptance rate, where to apply, and more.
Sit back and have a look as we explore all about Arizona and its community colleges.
Table of contents
Is Community College Free in Arizona?
In Arizona, various community colleges offer free courses in which students can apply, learn and get a skill or job with it. Community colleges in Arizona are not free; it requires the institution’s tuition cost to be paid.
Although, thousands of individuals seeking to gain free or low-cost admission from the best community colleges in Arizona can achieve this by applying for the state-wide scholarship program.
If they get selected, they get to study for free in Arizona community colleges.
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Reasons to Attend a Community College
Not everyone can afford private or state university tuition and not everyone wishes to go through the four-year college experience. Some students don’t really know what they want to study and require time to decide on what to do.
Community colleges can be done for a period of two years and then transferred to a four-year program. Students make use of this opportunity to save money to be able to get into a four-year college and some would have made up their minds as to what course they find interesting to switch to.
If you wish to attend a community college but don’t find it beneficial, take a look at some reasons to attend community colleges in Arizona and why it can be of benefit.
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Money
Over the years, the cost of tuition for four-year institutions keeps rising and this makes it hard for some persons to afford such institutions. Community colleges in Arizona have lower tuition cost compared to these four-year institutions.
Some community colleges offer free courses which are also essential. Students can decide to study the free courses or pay a lower tuition cost at community colleges.
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Academic Flexibility
According to some college experts, community colleges educate students. This is an education system where students get to learn at their own pace.
Financial Aid
Community colleges provide financial aid for students just like some four-year institutions.
In order to be eligible and have full access to this financial aid, students need to make sure nothing makes them drop out of college, or else they will risk losing the financial aid award.
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School-Life Balance
Community college is a good option for non-traditional students like older students and parents who wish to balance their school life and their family or career life.
Here, students can attend college part-time and still be able to take one or two classes or work.
How Many Community Colleges does Arizona have?
There are 20 community colleges in Arizona with an enrolment of about 178,838 students. Arizona community colleges are usually affordable and have open admission policies.
It has a flexible system of education where students can study and learn at their own pace.
Also, students can decide to indulge in other courses, work, a skill or family affairs during their spare periods.
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10 Best Community Colleges in Arizona in 2023
1. Gateway Community College
This is a public community college with its main campus located in New Haven, Connecticut, and an automotive technology campus located in North Haven.
The university was formed in 1992 as a result of the merger between the south-central community college in New Haven and the Greater New Haven state technical college in North Haven.
Gateway community college is one of the few community colleges in Arizona that is fully accredited. This Maricopa county community college is a comprehensive institution that emphasizes both academic and occupational programs.
The institution serves over 5,081 students and 23% of which are full-time students. The college has a 24:1 student-to-teacher ratio which is actually lower than the state community college student-to-teacher average of 34:1.
Their minority enrolment is 70% of the student body which is more than the state average of 57%. The university majors popularly in Nursing, Automotive Mechanics, Liberal Arts, and Humanity, Arts, Nursing Assistants, Licensed Practical Nurse Training, Business, Radiologic Technician, Sonographer and Ultrasound Technician, and Respiratory Care Therapy.
Tuition Cost and Acceptance Rate
The gateway community college has out-of-state and in-state tuition that has stayed flat for over four years.
The public in-state tuition is $2,046 and the out-state tuition is $7,830 with an acceptance rate of 100%.
2. Eastern Arizona College
Eastern Arizona College is a community college that is above the average community college located in Thatcher, Arizona. This small institution has an enrolment of 1,762 undergraduate students with over 50 Associate’s degrees and certificates and some Bachelor’s degrees.
Also, the institution provides on-campus housing for single students, but not for married couples. The university’s popular majors include Liberal Arts and Humanities, Business Supportive Services, HVAC, and Refrigeration Engineering Technician. The acceptance rate for this institution is 100% with a registration fee of $0.
Alumni of Eastern Arizona College go on to earn a starting salary of $24,700 after graduation. The mission of this university is to provide open access to acquiring quality higher education mainly for residents of its service areas.
Also, the college is to be held responsible for its students, educational results, and cooperation in community affairs.
The college’s student-to-teacher ratio is 34:1 with a minority enrolment of 35% of the student body and a 19:1 student to faculty ratio.
Tuition Cost and Acceptance Rate
Eastern Arizona College has public in-state tuition of $2,000 which is more than the state average of $1,835.
The college has out-of-state tuition of $9,200 which is more than the state average of $7,133.
3. Scottsdale Community College
Scottsdale community college is part of the MCCC district community colleges in Arizona that serves eastern Maricopa County.
The institution holds a partnership with the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian community.
It is the first public community college on tribal land. The community college offers over 60 certificate programs and 100-degree programs.
They also hold a joint admission program with Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. Scottsdale community college serves over 8,744 students of which 25% of students are full-time.
The college has a student-to-teacher ratio of 31:1 which is lower than the state community college average of 34:1. They have a minority enrolment of 42% of the student body which is also less than the state average of 52%.
The university’s most popular majors include Liberal Arts and Humanities, Arts, Business, Nursing, Cinematography and Video Production, Physical Sciences, Natural Sciences, Culinary Arts and Food Service, Information Science, and Interior Design.
Tuition Cost and Acceptance Rate
Scottsdale community college has in-state tuition of $86 which is less than the state average of $1,835.
The institution has out-of-state tuition of $327 which is less than the state average of $7,133.
4. Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC)
PVCC is one of the community colleges in Arizona considered above average. This institution is located in Phoenix, Arizona. It is a small institution with an enrolment of 2,307 undergraduate students and an acceptance rate of 100%.
The institution’s popular majors include Emergency Medical Technician, Arts, Liberal Arts, and Humanities. Alumni of paradise valley community college go on to earn the starting salary of $30,300.
Just like most community colleges in Arizona, paradise community college serves phoenix students as one of the MCCC districts.
The university also has a campus in northern Scottsdale called the PVCC at black mountain campus. PVCC has a strong and reliable intercollegiate athletics presence with well-equipped facilities for the track, soccer, baseball, and tennis.
They provide over100 degrees and certificate programs.
Tuition Cost and Acceptance Rate
The institution has in-state tuition of $1,020 per semester and a student-to-faculty ratio of 18:1. The acceptance rate of this institution is 100%
5. Chandler-Gilbert Community College
This community college is located in Chandler, Arizona in the Phoenix area. It is a small institution with an enrolment of 4,353 undergraduate students.
The university’s most popular majors are Arts, Liberal Arts and Humanities, Natural Sciences, Physical Sciences, Aircraft Maintenance, Emergency Medical Technician, Nursing, Mechanics and Repair, Electrical Engineering Technician, and Business.
They graduate over 35% of students; alumni of this institution go on to earn a starting salary of $32,200. Chandler-Gilbert community college serves its students and diverse community by ensuring quality lifelong learning access through effective and accessible activities and educational programs.
It is among the community colleges in Arizona associated with the MCCC District of colleges. The college student-to-teacher ratio is 49:1 which is higher than the state community college average of 34:1.
Tuition Cost and Acceptance Rate
The university has in-state tuition of $2,046 which is more than the state average of $1,835. The university’s out-of-state tuition is $7,830 which is more than the state average of $7,133. The university has an acceptance rate of 100%.
6. Phoenix College
Phoenix College is considered the flagship college of the MCCC district; it is one of the oldest public community colleges in Arizona. The college has a campus located in midtown as well as a downtown phoenix.
They offer over 150 certificates and degree programs. The university possesses an inclusive reputation and partnership with community service organizations. This great institution provides teaching and learning experiences that promote educational, professional, and personal goals.
The university serves over 10,959 students with a student-to-teacher ratio of 32:1 which is lower than the state community college average of 34:1. Their popular majors include Liberal Arts and Humanities, Business and Arts.
Tuition Cost and Acceptance Rate
The in-state tuition is $2,046 which is more than the state average of $1,835 while the out-of-state tuition is $7,830. The university’s acceptance rate is 100%.
7. Cochise College
Cochise College is among the public community colleges in Arizona. It’s a small institution with an undergraduate enrolment of 1,477 students.
The university’s popular majors include Nursing, Liberal Arts and Humanities, Intelligence, Nursing Assistants, Military Systems Technology, Aircraft Maintenance, Welding, Police, Criminal Science, and Electrician Engineering Technician.
Cochise College serves the Cochise county region located in southern Arizona. This institution has campuses in Sierra Vista and Douglas and centers in Wilcox, Fort Huachuca, Benson, and the Arizona state prison complex in Douglas.
Tuition Cost and Acceptance Rate
Cochise College’s in-state tuition is $77 which is less than the state average of $1,835 while the out-of-state tuition is $116 which is less than the state average of $7,133.
The institution has an acceptance rate of 100%.
8. Mesa Community College
Mesa community college has the mission of providing excellence in teaching, learning, and preparing individuals for active citizenship in a diverse global society. This community college located in Mesa, Arizona is also part of the Maricopa county community college district.
It has an enrolment of 6,121 undergraduate students. The most popular majors in the institution include Liberal Arts and Humanities, Business and Arts.
This college has two campuses and other educational centers in which it serves students. They offer more than 200 programs in hybrid, online and traditional formats.
Mesa community college is home to the Arizona Gakuen School which serves as a supplementary school for Japanese students offering classes on weekends.
Tuition Cost and Acceptance Rate
The public out-of-state tuition is $7,830 which is more than the state average of $7,133 while the in-state tuition is $2,046 which is also more than the state average of $1,835.
The acceptance rate is 100%.
9. Glendale Community College
This is a mid-size public college located in Glendale, Arizona in the Phoenix area. It has an enrolment of 5,458 undergraduate students.
Its popular majors include Business, Art, Liberal Arts and Humanities, Emergency Medical Technician, Physical Sciences, Natural Sciences, Nursing, and Automotive Mechanics.
GCC offers students clubs of all kinds, yearly cultural performances, student government opportunities, athletic programs, and an internationally known forensics team.
Tuition Cost and Acceptance Rate
GCC has an in-state tuition of $2,046 which is more than the state average of $1,835, and out-of-state tuition of $7,830, which is also more than the state average of $7,133.
10. Arizona Western College
Arizona western college is a public college in Yuma, Arizona, with an enrolment of 2,071 undergraduate students. This college serves students in Yuma and La Paz County.
Its main campus is located in Yuma and they offer classes in 11 other locations across their service area. Arizona western college provides over 100 degrees and certificates in both online and traditional formats.
They provide on-campus housing for up to 348 students. Their popular majors include General Construction Trades, Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Administration, Liberal Arts, and Humanities.
Tuition Cost and Acceptance Rate
AWC has public in-state tuition of $2,480, which is more than the state average of$1,835, and out-of-state tuition of $8,085 which is also more than the state average of $7,133.
The university has an acceptance rate of 100%.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
How many community colleges can I find in Arizona?
Arizona has 20 community colleges and universities with an enrolment of over 178,838 students.
Is there JUCO football in Arizona?
Yes, Arizona has a junior college (JUCO) football league, which gets an academic boost with the snow college partnership.
What is the acceptance rate for the Arizona state university?
The acceptance rate for Arizona state university is 88.4% as of recent.
What is the oldest college in Arizona?
The oldest college in Arizona is the University of Arizona founded in 1885. According to research, it was founded three decades before Arizona was even a state and its first classes began in 1891.
Can I get into Arizona state university with a 2.9 GPA?
Apart from testing and grades, the minimum GPA requirement for ASU is 3.0 and the accepted average GPA for freshmen is 3.5
Are all community colleges’ acceptance rates 100%?
No, the national average community college acceptance rate as of 2024 is 80%. For private community colleges, 75% is the average acceptance rate while that of public community colleges is 85%.
Conclusion
Arizona has some of the world’s best-ranking colleges. These colleges provide free courses which student can decide to study and make a living from.
Also, they provide flexible rate of education where students can learn at their own pace as well as state-wide scholarship opportunities that makes studying at the community colleges in Arizona free for most people.
References
- Bestvalueschools.org – Community Colleges in Arizona
- Communitycollegereview.com – Arizona Western College
- Niche.com – Best Community Colleges in Arizona
- USnews.com – 10 Reasons to Attend a Community College
- Usnews.com – Reasons to Attend Community Colleges
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