Arizona's college system runs on three tracks: three public universities, locally governed community college districts, and a large group of private career, trade and beauty schools. Our database lists 208 colleges in the state, from Arizona State University in Tempe to Diné College in Tsaile on the Navajo Nation. Knowing which track a school belongs to tells you who sets its rules, who hears complaints, and how its tuition works.

This page explains that structure in plain terms. Read it before you apply, enroll or pay a deposit, so you know which board stands behind the campus you are considering.

How Arizona Divides Its Colleges into Three Tracks

The first track is the university system. Arizona State University, the University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University answer to the Arizona Board of Regents, whose members are appointed by the governor. ASU's Tempe campus, listed at University Drive and Mill Avenue, is the best-known example in our listings. The Regents set tuition and residency policy within state law.

The second track is community colleges. They are organized as county or multi-county districts, each with an elected governing board and a local property tax base. In metro Phoenix, the Maricopa County Community College District runs ten colleges. Two appear in our listings: Chandler-Gilbert Community College at 2626 East Pecos Road in Chandler, and Estrella Mountain Community College at 3000 North Dysart Road in Avondale.

The third track is private and proprietary schools. This is where most of the smaller names in our directory sit, including Avalon School Of Cosmetology-Phoenix on East Bell Road, Brillare Hairdressing Academy on North Scottsdale Road, and the Conservatory Of Recording Arts And Sciences in Gilbert. National brands such as DeVry University and Empire Beauty School also appear, with sites in Mesa, Glendale, Avondale and Prescott.

Who Oversees Colleges in Arizona, and Why It Matters

Public universities: the Arizona Board of Regents

If you have a dispute over a grade, a fee or a residency decision at one of the three universities, start with the school's own appeals process. The Board of Regents is the next level up. Its policies are public and cover residency classification and other system-wide matters.

Community colleges: district governing boards

Each district's governing board approves the budget, sets tuition within state law, and hires the college's top administrator. Voters elect board members, so meetings are open and agendas are posted ahead of time. A State Board of Directors for Community Colleges of Arizona also exists, but day-to-day decisions stay local. That means a policy at Cochise College in Douglas can differ from one at Central Arizona College in Coolidge.

Private, career and beauty schools: licensing boards

Private postsecondary schools generally need approval from the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education. That board also administers a student tuition recovery fund meant to protect students if a school closes. Cosmetology and hairdressing schools are typically licensed through the Arizona State Board of Cosmetology instead, the same body that licenses graduates who go on to work in salons. Before enrolling, ask the school for its license number and confirm it with the relevant board.

Accreditation is a separate check. Degree-granting colleges in Arizona are usually accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, while many beauty schools are accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences. Federal financial aid generally requires an accredited school, so ask for the accreditor's name in writing.

Metro Phoenix, Tucson and Rural Arizona: How Access Differs

Maricopa County holds most of the state's listings, and the Valley's campuses cluster along a few corridors. Valley Metro light rail links Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa, so ASU's Tempe campus is reachable without a car. Many beauty and trade schools sit on arterial roads such as Bell Road, McDowell Road and Scottsdale Road. Check parking and commute times before you commit to an evening schedule.

In Pima County, Tucson is the hub. The University of Arizona and Pima Community College anchor the region, and our listings include the Arizona School Of Integrative Studies on North 6th Avenue. Southern Arizona phone numbers mostly use the 520 area code.

Northern Arizona is smaller and more spread out. Flagstaff, in Coconino County, is home to Northern Arizona University and Coconino Community College, and our listings include College America-Flagstaff on Historic Route 66. Farther south, Prescott in Yavapai County has Empire Beauty School-Prescott on West Goodwin Street, along with Yavapai College and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Western and border counties rely on a few anchor campuses. Arizona Western College serves Yuma County through its downtown Yuma center at 1351 South Redondo Center Drive and the San Luis Technology Institute on Main Street. In Mohave County, All Beauty College in Kingman and Charles Of Italy Beauty College in Bullhead offer cosmetology training. Cochise County is served by Cochise College in Douglas and by a Wayland Baptist University site near Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista.

Pinal County has Central Arizona College in Coolidge and Turning Point Beauty College in Casa Grande. On the Colorado Plateau, Northland Pioneer College in Holbrook serves Navajo County, and Diné College at 1 Circle Drive in Tsaile serves Apache County. Diné College, founded in 1968, was the first tribally controlled college in the nation. Graham County students look to Eastern Arizona College in Thatcher, and La Paz County students often use campuses in neighboring counties plus online courses.

Residency, Transfer and Cost Rules to Check Before Enrolling in Arizona

State rules affect what you pay and whether your credits count. These are the points that trip people up most often:

Listings change over time. Campuses open, merge, relocate and close, so confirm hours, programs and addresses by phone before you travel.

Public colleges and universities in Arizona offer residents access to affordable higher education, professional certifications, and workforce training. The Arizona state legislature oversees funding and policy for public institutions, while individual governing boards manage each campus.

Colleges locations are available in 33 cities across Arizona. They are spread across 12 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Phoenix, Tucson, Tempe, reflecting the presence of major university campuses and community college districts serving large student populations.

Prospective students in Arizona should research in-state tuition rates, available degree programs, and financial aid options at public institutions, as these factors vary significantly between community colleges and four-year universities.

Colleges by Counties

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Students in Arizona applying to public colleges and universities should complete the FAFSA as early as possible to maximize eligibility for federal and state financial aid. Many Arizona institutions also offer state-specific grant programs with additional eligibility criteria.

Browse Colleges by county across Arizona to find the nearest location.

Using Arizona College Listings in Practice

Arizona's climate shapes how colleges operate. Summer heat pushes many programs toward early-morning or evening classes, and the fall term starts in August while temperatures are still high. If you plan a campus visit between June and September, go in the morning and confirm that the admissions office is open, since some offices keep reduced summer hours.

Area codes are a quick guide to geography. Numbers beginning 602, 480 and 623 belong to metro Phoenix. The 520 code covers the south, including Tucson, Sierra Vista and Douglas, and 928 covers the north and west, including Flagstaff, Yuma and Kingman. Some schools use toll-free lines instead. Northland Pioneer College in Holbrook lists 800-266-7845, and the Empire Beauty School sites in Avondale and Prescott share 800-920-4593, which suggests a central admissions line rather than a campus desk.

Treat any listing as a starting point. Our records include some addresses that appear under more than one name, such as the two entries at 9945 West McDowell Road in Avondale, and campuses do open, relocate and close. Call before you drive, ask whether the program you want is offered at that specific campus, and request cost and schedule details in writing.

Rural students should also ask about online and hybrid options. A student in La Paz or Graham County may live far from the nearest in-person campus, so many districts offer distance courses to fill the gap. Keep copies of every enrollment agreement and receipt you sign.

The Arizona Board of Regents governs Arizona State University, the University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University. Its members are appointed by the governor, and it sets system-wide policy on tuition, residency classification and degree programs. For practical matters such as admissions, billing or records, contact the campus directly instead. Our listings show ASU's Tempe campus at University Drive and Mill Avenue, with the phone number 855-278-5080. If a campus-level appeal does not resolve your problem, the Board of Regents is the next step, and its meetings are open to the public.

Start by asking the school for its license or approval number. Cosmetology and hairdressing schools in Arizona are typically licensed through the Arizona State Board of Cosmetology, while many other private career schools are approved by the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education. Both boards can confirm a school's status. Also ask for the school's accreditor and check it against the U.S. Department of Education's accreditation database. Schools such as Avalon School Of Cosmetology-Phoenix, Brillare Hairdressing Academy and Empire Beauty School should be able to provide this information on request.

Public universities and community colleges generally require 12 months of continuous domicile in Arizona before the term begins. Living in the state is not enough on its own. Schools look for evidence that you intend to stay, such as an Arizona driver's license, a lease or property records, and Arizona tax filings. Dependent students usually qualify based on a parent's residency. Since Proposition 308 passed in 2022, certain students without lawful status who attended Arizona high schools may also qualify. Ask the registrar about documentation and appeal deadlines early.

In most cases, yes, if you plan ahead. The Arizona General Education Curriculum, known as AGEC, is a block of general education courses that community colleges design to transfer to Arizona's public universities. Completing it generally satisfies lower-division general education requirements at ASU, the University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University. Major-specific courses can differ, so meet a transfer advisor in your first semester and review the pathway for your intended major. Districts such as Maricopa also publish pathway programs with the universities. Ask the advisor to put your course plan in writing.

Each region has anchor campuses. Arizona Western College serves Yuma County, with a downtown Yuma center at 1351 South Redondo Center Drive and a San Luis site at 1135 Main Street. Cochise College operates in Douglas, and Wayland Baptist University has a site near Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista. Northland Pioneer College in Holbrook serves Navajo County, Diné College in Tsaile serves Apache County, and Central Arizona College in Coolidge serves Pinal County. Call ahead for program lists, because smaller campuses offer fewer courses in person.

Community colleges in Arizona are generally open-admission, meaning most adults and high school graduates can enroll without a competitive application. Bring a government photo ID, your high school or prior college transcripts if you want placement or credit, and proof of residency if you are claiming in-state rates. You will usually need a Social Security number for financial aid, although policies vary by school. Allied health and some technical programs have separate application steps and waitlists. Ask the admissions office about placement, orientation dates and tuition payment deadlines before classes begin.