There are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which school to attend. At College Factual, we're committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our Best Associate Degree Colleges in Arizona ranking.
We analyzed 18 colleges and universities across Arizona to determine which ones have the best associate degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
Better Early-Career Average Salaries
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of associate graduates during the early years of their career. While associate degree recipients from schools in Arizona earn an average starting salary of $46,678, those from the top 17 school on this list made an average of $49,461.
Starting Salary ( 33484 to 61731 )
Student Loan Borrowing
Students may also take on a lot of debt while working on their associate so we factor that into our rankings as well.
When attending a school in Arizona, associate degree students accumulate an average of $11,678 in student debt before graduation.
We consider this number in conjunction with average post-graduation earnings to gauge the difficulty associate recipients will have paying back their loans.
Additional Ranking Factors We Use
In addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt loads, we also look at a host of other factors to determining our Best Associate Degree Schools ranking.
These factors include things like the educational resources, the demand associated with the school, whether or not the school offers online classes, and the student body caliber - just to name a few.
Are you more interested in the top associate degree schools in your area? Try narrowing this list by location. In addition, we've put together a number of other college rankings that may help you in your search.
Our analysis found University of Phoenix - Arizona to be the best school for associate degrees in Arizona in this year’s ranking. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, the large private for-profit school awarded 3,066 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $40,424 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $7,689 in student loans.
The excellent associate degree programs at GateWay Community College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Arizona. GateWay Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Phoenix, Arizona. It awarded 662 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from GateWay Community College make an average of $62,913 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $8,312 in student loans.
Out of the 18 associate degree schools in Arizona that were part of this year’s ranking, Eastern Arizona College landed the #3 spot on the list. This medium-sized public school is located in Thatcher, Arizona, and it awarded 457 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from Eastern Arizona College make an average of $40,964 per year during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend American InterContinental University - Online. The school came in at #4 in Arizona on this year’s best associate degree schools ranking. Located in Chandler, Arizona, the fairly large private for-profit school handed out 1,301 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from AIU Online go into careers with an average salary of $29,646 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $6,686 in student loans.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Pima Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Arizona list. Pima County Community College District is a fairly large public school situated in Tucson, Arizona. It awarded 1,807 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from Pima County Community College District make an average of $39,879 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $10,050 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #6, Mesa Community College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Arizona list. This fairly large public school is located in Mesa, Arizona, and it awarded 1,815 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $59,910 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $21,250 after getting their degree.
Phoenix College landed the #7 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Arizona ranking. Phoenix College is a fairly large public school located in Phoenix, Arizona that handed out 1,033 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Phoenix College is $54,650 during the early years of their career.
Estrella Mountain Community College landed the #8 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Arizona ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Avondale, Arizona, and it awarded 1,208 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from Estrella Mountain Community College make an average of $78,359 per year during the early years of their career.
Glendale Community College landed the #9 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Arizona ranking. Glendale, Arizona is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,568 students in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from Glendale Community College go into careers with an average salary of $47,608 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $8,684 after getting their degree.
Scottsdale Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Arizona list. Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, the medium-sized public school handed out 735 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Scottsdale Community College is $49,702 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $8,153 in student loans.
Chandler-Gilbert Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Arizona list. Chandler, Arizona is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,291 students in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from Chandler-Gilbert Community College go into careers with an average salary of $44,880 during the early years of their career.
Mohave Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Arizona list. MCC is a small public school situated in Kingman, Arizona. It awarded 387 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from MCC go into careers with an average salary of $56,593 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #13, Rio Salado College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Arizona list. Rio Salado College is a public institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 699 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Central Arizona College landed the #14 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Arizona ranking. Located in Coolidge, Arizona, the medium-sized public school handed out 491 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from Pinal County Community College make an average of $30,173 per year during the early years of their career.
Cochise County Community College District landed the #15 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Arizona ranking. Located in Sierra Vista, Arizona, the small public school handed out 1,483 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Cochise College make an average of $47,258 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $14,282 in student loans.
Yavapai College did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Arizona ranking, coming in at #16. Yavapai College is a medium-sized public school situated in Prescott, Arizona. It awarded 689 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Yavapai College is $57,593 during the early years of their career.
Paradise Valley Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Arizona list. Paradise Valley Community College is located in Phoenix, Arizona and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 658 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Paradise Valley Community College is $71,136 during the early years of their career.
Coconino Community College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Arizona list. Flagstaff, Arizona is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 334 students in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from Coconino Community College go into careers with an average salary of $29,142 during the early years of their career.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
