Arizona Colleges, Universities And Trade Schools

The state of Arizona is located in the southwestern United States. The state is home to several post-secondary education institutions, some of which are over a hundred years in age. The state itself is generally warm and dry, with temperatures exceeding one hundred degrees Fahrenheit on some days. The state has several urban centers, wild deserts, and the Grand Canyon National Park.  Arizona is bordered by California and Nevada to the west, Utah to the north, New Mexico to the east, and the country of Mexico to the south.

The state of Arizona has five universities that are managed by the state through Arizona Board of Regents. These universities are located in the three largest urban centers in the state, Phoenix, Tucson and Flagstaff. Arizona State University, with an enrolment of over 72,000, is the largest public university by enrollment in the United States.

Public universities in Arizona:

• Arizona State University (Tempe)
• University of Arizona (Tucson)
• Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff)

There are not many private four year institutions in Arizona. Some of the schools are faith based institutions founded upon Christian ideals, while others private for profit institutions that have locations throughout several states. Private institutions typically cost more than public institutions and have smaller class sizes, creating a much lower and preferable student to teacher ratio. Private Institutions tend to provide educational opportunities that appeal to certain students more so than others.

Private institutions in Arizona include:

• The Art Center Design College (Tucson)
• Midwestern University (Glendale)
• University of Phoenix (Phoenix)
• A. T. Still University (Mesa)

Additionally Arizona supports to institutions of higher learning designated for Native American populations. Diné College is a community college located on a Navajo Indian reservation that spans Arizona, New Mexico and Utah with the main campus located in Tsaile, Arizona. The second is the Tohono O’odham Community College, located in Sells, Arizona, which serves as a community college and vocational school for the Tohono O’odham Indians. Though the school is open to any individuals wishing to attend, its roots are grounded in the traditions of the Tohono O’odham.

Arizona is also home to a large number of community colleges and career colleges. The community colleges typically serve as feeder schools to the states public universities, while the career colleges provide short programs to provide vocational or trade training in high demand fields. Most community colleges offer similar programs for vocational and trade training and it is a matter of location, price and quality when deciding which school to attend.