EDsmart has released its 2026 rankings of the Best Online Colleges in Arizona, highlighting colleges and universities that are delivering strong value for online learners across the state. The full rankings are available at: https://www.edsmart.org/accredited-online-colleges/arizona/
The annual rankings evaluate accredited institutions using four student-centered factors that matter most when choosing an online college: cost, student satisfaction, academic quality, and salary after attending. Together, these measures help students compare both affordability and long-term outcomes.
According to the 2026 rankings, the top three online colleges in Arizona are the University of Arizona (#1), Northern Arizona University (#2), and the University of Advancing Technology (#3). These institutions stood out for their ability to balance reasonable costs with strong student retention, graduation outcomes, and competitive earnings after graduation.
“As online education continues to grow, students are asking better questions about value,” said an EDsmart spokesperson. “The colleges included in our 2026 rankings deserve recognition for delivering strong outcomes for online learners—balancing cost, student satisfaction, academic quality, and salary results after graduation. Each school on this list is helping students turn flexible education into meaningful, long-term opportunity.”
2026 Best Online Colleges in Arizona (Ranked)
The following institutions earned a place in EDsmart’s 2026 rankings:
-
University of Arizona
-
Northern Arizona University
-
University of Advancing Technology
-
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Prescott
-
Prescott College
-
Grand Canyon University
-
Arizona Christian University
-
Ottawa University – Surprise
-
American InterContinental University System
-
University of Phoenix – Arizona
Ranking Methodology
EDsmart’s 2026 rankings are based on publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Each institution was evaluated using consistent, third-party metrics to ensure transparency and comparability:
-
Cost — measured by average net price after grants and scholarships
-
Student Satisfaction — reflected through student retention rates
-
Academic Quality — measured by graduation rates
-
Salary After Attending — median earnings of former students six years after entry
Only accredited institutions with complete federal data were included.
The complete rankings, detailed school profiles, and full methodology are available at: https://www.edsmart.org/accredited-online-colleges/arizona/
Media Contact
Company Name: EDsmart LLC
Contact Person: Tyson Stevens
Email: Send Email
City: Herriman
State: UT
Country: United States
Website: https://www.edsmart.org/
