Best Accredited Online Colleges in Arizona

In 2021, Arizona’s state government introduced a plan to have a 60% postsecondary graduation rate among its workforce by 2030. In support of that goal, Arizona has pursued strategic initiatives and financial assistance plans to help residents complete their degrees.

Online learning has emerged as a key factor in Arizona’s postsecondary landscape. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 71% of Arizona college students enrolled in distance education courses in 2022.

This guide to the top online colleges in Arizona can help you understand the critical importance of accreditation. Use our research to inform your school search and help evaluate colleges and programs that interest you.

When researching prospective schools and programs, students should look for accreditation. This status expands employment, financial aid, and education opportunities and indicates that a school — and its programs — meet high academic standards.

In 2022, the U.S. accreditation system did away with the longtime distinction between regional and national accreditation. Instead, agencies that previously functioned as regional and national accreditors became institutional accrediting bodies.

Institutional accreditation communicates that an authorized independent agency has evaluated a school and found that it meets acceptable academic standards. Attending an accredited school ensures that employers and other colleges will recognize your degree(s).

You can check the institutional accreditation standing of any online college in Arizona with the Department of Education (ED) or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Some academic departments or programs hold subject-specific or programmatic accreditation. Unlike institutional accreditation, subject-specific accreditation is optional. It usually means that the department or program meets exceptional standards or offers educational opportunities that match highly specific learning goals.

Some well-known examples of programmatic accreditors include:

You can learn about many other subject-specific accreditors using this CHEA resource. Some professions require you to earn a degree from a program with accreditation.

You can typically find a program or school’s accreditation status through the institution’s website. Additionally, the CHEA directory and ED Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs offer easy-to-use resources to check accreditation.

Accreditation significantly affects your ability to transfer credits between schools. If you complete courses at an unaccredited college, accredited schools will not recognize them. You will likely need to repeat those courses, delaying graduation and increasing your costs.

Some professions require licensure. In some cases, licensing bodies require applicants to hold degrees from accredited programs.

Psychology is a good example. Some states will only issue psychologist licenses to graduates of doctoral programs accredited by the American Psychological Association.

Similar standards apply to institutional accreditation. Most regulated professions require that license-seekers hold academic credentials from schools with accreditations recognized by CHEA or the ED.

There’s a lot to consider when evaluating and comparing online colleges in Arizona. Including these five factors in your decision-making process may help you make the right choice:

Begin by consulting the ED or CHEA to confirm that the school holds up-to-date accreditation credentials. Then, look into programmatic accreditations if they apply. While programmatic accreditation isn’t a firm requirement, it may signal that an online program meets more rigorous standards.

If you’re considering online colleges in Arizona but live in another state, you need to make sure your state will recognize your degree. This status is known as state reciprocity, and it uniquely applies to online education.

The National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) will connect you with all the necessary information and resources to complete this important check.

Next, look into data points like year-over-year retention rates and graduation rates. If a school is significantly lower than peer institutions in one or more of these categories, it may indicate a substandard student experience.

How well do students fare after graduating from the school or program? To find out, research post-graduation placement rates. These figures measure the percentage of students who land jobs or continue their education at higher levels after graduating. Higher scores indicate greater success.

If you’re interested in a specialized area of a broader academic discipline, look for online colleges in Arizona that support your goals. For instance, consider an online student looking to become a reading teacher. A specialized education degree in reading and literacy would better match that student’s learning goals than a generalist program.

Current and prospective online students in Arizona can use several resources to support their studies. The following links offer information on topics like financial aid opportunities and Arizona’s postsecondary education options.