10 Best Colleges in Arizona
What’s Covered:
Arizona is a state that offers a lot—urban living in Phoenix, small town community in Tucson, the Grand Canyon, snow-dusted mountains, and much more. This warm, rapidly growing state is also home to many excellent colleges and universities. Here is a list of the top 10 best schools in Arizona.
Our Ranking Methodology
We put a focus on school quality, outcomes, and return on investment (ROI) when making this list of Arizona’s best 10 colleges. Additionally, we analyzed data ranging from retention rate, selectivity, endowment per student, student-faculty ratio, median earnings, cost of attendance, and more. Learn how CollegeVine has ranked thousands of other schools across the country.
Best Colleges in Arizona
1. Arizona State University | ASU
Location: Tempe, AZ (main campus)
Acceptance Rate: 85%
Middle 50% SAT: 1120-1360
Middle 50% ACT: 22-28
Undergrad Enrollment: 42,800
Arizona State University is Arizona’s flagship university. Its large main campus in Tempe offers an equally large selection of majors, with 400 undergraduate degree tracks to choose from. ASU focuses on inclusion and innovation in its programs, all the while providing a customized education through multiple campuses and online learning. ASU also has world-class transdisciplinary research programs as well as empowering opportunities for entrepreneurs at the Edson E+I Institute.
Learn more about Arizona State University and what it takes to get accepted.
2. University of Arizona
Location: Tucson, AZ
Acceptance Rate: 84%
Middle 50% SAT: 1110-1360
Middle 50% ACT: 21-29
Undergrad Enrollment: 34,100
A public university with a strong school spirit, the University of Arizona seeks to inspire wonder in students and help them do extraordinary things. Arizona has a diverse student body, generous financial aid, and over 300 undergraduate degree programs. Its Wildcat spirit, location in the cozy city of Tucson, and the majestic natural scenery that surrounds campus all give Arizona’s large community a welcoming feel.
Learn more about the University of Arizona and what it takes to get accepted.
3. Arizona State University – Downtown Phoenix Campus
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Acceptance Rate: 81%
Middle 50% SAT: 1120-1360
Middle 50% ACT: 22-28
Undergrad Enrollment: 8,700
ASU’s campus in downtown Phoenix provides specialized programs and professional connections that span the spectrum of the health care industry. The innovative classes and research centers of the campus give students a hands-on learning experience in a multitude of health care fields, from preventive care to journalism. Its location in Phoenix leverages the city’s booming growth in the health care sector and enriching leisure-time activities.
Learn more about Arizona State University – Downtown Phoenix and what it takes to get accepted.
4. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Prescott Campus
Location: Prescott, AZ
Acceptance Rate: 67%
Middle 50% SAT: 1130-1350
Middle 50% ACT: 23-29
Undergrad Enrollment: 2,700
The Prescott campus of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has the mission of educating the aviation, aerospace, security, and intelligence leaders of tomorrow. It distinctively has the nation’s top undergraduate aerospace engineering degree program, in addition to fleets of planes and helicopters—qualified students in aviation tracks can fly them! Students can also soar to new heights through top-notch ROTC programs, unique aeronautical research opportunities, and treks into the nearby Bradshaw Mountains.
Learn more about Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Prescott and what it takes to get accepted.
5. Arizona State University – West Campus
Location: Glendale, AZ
Acceptance Rate: 82%
Middle 50% SAT: 1120-1360
Middle 50% ACT: 22-28
Undergrad Enrollment: 4,000
Dedicated to providing an interdisciplinary liberal arts education for the 21st century, ASU’s West campus houses its programs in arts and sciences, nursing, healthcare-related fields, teaching, global management, forensic science, and public service. Students study these subjects in a setting with modern amenities, ample spaces for socializing, and even Oxford-inspired architecture.
Learn more about Arizona State University – West and what it takes to get accepted.
6. Northern Arizona University | NAU
Location: Flagstaff, AZ (main campus)
Acceptance Rate: 83%
Middle 50% SAT: 940-1160
Middle 50% ACT: 20-25
Undergrad Enrollment: 27,000
Northern Arizona University provides a student-centered, service-oriented education to all its Lumberjacks. NAU strongly supports first-generation students, who make up 46% of the campus population. NAU also has a special commitment to Native Americans—it is a leading school in the nation in terms of Native American student attendance as well as Indigenous Studies programs.
Learn more about Northern Arizona University and what it takes to get accepted.
7. Arizona State University – Polytechnic Campus
Location: Mesa, AZ
Acceptance Rate: 83%
Middle 50% SAT: 1120-1360
Middle 50% ACT: 22-28
Undergrad Enrollment: 4,500
Degree programs in interdisciplinary sciences, engineering, management, technology, education, and more are all offered at ASU’s Polytechnic campus. The campus provides hands-on learning opportunities in these fields through industry partnerships, giving them access to projects that provide real-world education and state-of-the-art laboratory spaces. In between learning, students can enjoy the scenery of the desert arboretum on campus and the Superstition Mountains nearby.
Learn more about Arizona State University – Polytechnic and what it takes to get accepted.
8. Arizona Christian University
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Acceptance Rate: 56%
Middle 50% SAT: 890-1080
Middle 50% ACT: 15-21
Undergrad Enrollment: 700
Arizona Christian University is a culturally and theologically conservative Christian university that has the goals of deepening students’ faith and fostering a tight-knit community. Its degree programs cover 41 areas of study, many of which are applicable to Christian ministry. Arizona Christian is unique for its strong B.S. programs in Secondary Education, along with the sociological research opportunities at its Cultural Research Center.
Learn more about Arizona Christian University and what it takes to get accepted.
9. Diné College
Location: Tsaile, AZ
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Middle 50% SAT: N/A
Middle 50% ACT: N/A
Undergrad Enrollment: 1,500
Diné College is a tribally controlled college located in the Navajo Nation. Diné has the mission of providing a high-quality college education to a predominantly Navajo student population. It offers Bachelor’s and Associate’s degrees in the humanities, business, STEM fields, social sciences, and Navajo Studies. Diné is also home to several research institutes, such as the Diné Environmental Institute, which work to solve issues facing the Navajo community.
Diné College has an open admission policy and does not ask for SAT scores, but it does require the submission of an Official Certificate of Indian Blood (CIB) to apply.
Learn more about Diné College and what it takes to get accepted.
10. Prescott College
Location: Prescott, AZ
Acceptance Rate: 95%
Middle 50% SAT: 1060-1185
Middle 50% ACT: 19-27
Undergrad Enrollment: 400
The mission of Prescott College is to turn diverse learners into leaders. With customizable degree programs, students can craft a flexible, personalized learning experience which will help them achieve their unique goals. Prescott leverages its location by connecting students with local experiential learning opportunities in any area of study—additionally, students can take field-based courses that are distinctly Arizonan, including Border Studies and the Grand Canyon Semester.
Learn more about Prescott College and what it takes to get accepted.
What Are Your Chances of Acceptance?
Want to find out your chances of admission at one of the top schools in the Grand Canyon state? CollegeVine can help. Our free chancing engine crunches data about your whole application profile to predict your odds of acceptance at hundreds of colleges and universities across the country. Though all of these schools are selective, your personal chances may be higher or lower depending on your profile.
Our chancing engine can also help you build a balanced school list with safety, target, and reach schools. Sign up for a free CollegeVine account today to see it in action!
