2026 Best Value Graduate Degrees Schools in Arizona
Looking for the best-value Graduate Degrees degree programs in Arizona? Our ranking highlights 110 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Grad Degree reviewed 9 schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in Arizona
Explore the best-value schools below:
Our analysis found Arizona State University Skysong to be the best-value Graduate Degrees school in Arizona. This public school is set in Scottsdale, AZ. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,627, while out-of-state students pay about $13,925. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $23,742. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $62,668. Set against $23,742 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Arizona State University Skysong admits about 67% of applicants. Get the full Arizona State University Skysong report
Grand Canyon University came in at #2 on this year's best-value Graduate Degrees ranking in Arizona. Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit school based in Phoenix, AZ. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,508. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $30,027. Median earnings reach $42,186 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted. See the full Grand Canyon University profile
Out of the 9 schools in Arizona in this year's value ranking, Arizona State University landed the #3 spot. Based in Tempe, AZ, Arizona State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $21,842. Median earnings reach $62,668 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on Arizona State University
Northern Arizona University came in at #5 on this year's best-value Graduate Degrees ranking in Arizona. Set in Flagstaff, AZ, Northern Arizona University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,619 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $21,645. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $54,384. Set against $21,645 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%. More on Northern Arizona University
University Of Arizona ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Based in Tucson, AZ, University Of Arizona is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,573, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $21,861. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $59,979. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants. Get the full University Of Arizona report
University Of Phoenix Arizona came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. This private for-profit school is set in Phoenix, AZ. In-state tuition and fees average $9,552. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $35,323. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $37,752. Set against $35,323 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about University Of Phoenix Arizona
Devry University Arizona placed #8 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Arizona. Based in Phoenix, AZ, Devry University Arizona is a private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $17,008 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $45,728 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,987 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full Devry University Arizona report
American Intercontinental University Online offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. Based in Chandler, AZ, American Intercontinental University Online is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,397. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $39,107. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $36,144. Set against $39,107 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full American Intercontinental University Online report
International Barber College placed #9 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Arizona. Read more about International Barber College
Western Maricopa Education Center placed #10 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Arizona. See the full Western Maricopa Education Center profile
Arizona Western College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Get the full Arizona Western College report
University Of Advancing Technology placed #12 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Arizona. See the full University Of Advancing Technology profile
Coconino Community College placed #13 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Arizona. More on Coconino Community College
Pure Aesthetics Natural Skincare School Arizona Holistic Institute ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Get the full Pure Aesthetics Natural Skincare School Arizona Holistic Institute report
Empire Beauty School Chandler came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Empire Beauty School Chandler
Yavapai College
Yavapai College came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Yavapai College report
Estrella Mountain Community College landed the #17 spot for value in Arizona this year. More on Estrella Mountain Community College
Arizona Culinary Institute offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. Read more about Arizona Culinary Institute
Empire Beauty School Avondale placed #19 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Arizona. See the full Empire Beauty School Avondale profile
International Baptist College offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. Read the full report on International Baptist College
Arizona College Of Nursing Tucson landed the #21 spot for value in Arizona this year. Read the full report on Arizona College Of Nursing Tucson
Prescott College
Prescott College offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. See the full Prescott College profile
Regional Center For Border Health came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Regional Center For Border Health
Central Arizona College came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. More on Central Arizona College
Carrington College Mesa placed #25 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Arizona. Read more about Carrington College Mesa
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in Arizona
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Chandler Gilbert Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. See the full Chandler Gilbert Community College profile
Allen School Phoenix came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. See the full Allen School Phoenix profile
Southwest College Of Naturopathic Medicine And Health Sciences landed the #28 spot for value in Arizona this year. Read more about Southwest College Of Naturopathic Medicine And Health Sciences
Empire Beauty School Tucson ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Get the full Empire Beauty School Tucson report
Southwest Institute Of Healing Arts placed #30 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Arizona. Read more about Southwest Institute Of Healing Arts
Pima Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. Read more about Pima Community College
Avalon School Of Cosmetology Phoenix landed the #33 spot for value in Arizona this year. Get the full Avalon School Of Cosmetology Phoenix report
Maricopa Community College System Office placed #34 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Arizona. Get the full Maricopa Community College System Office report
Midwestern University Glendale offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. Get the full Midwestern University Glendale report
Carrington College Phoenix landed the #36 spot for value in Arizona this year. Get the full Carrington College Phoenix report
Commercial Divers International offered strong value this year, earning the #37 position. More on Commercial Divers International
Justice University came in at #38 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Justice University
Arizona School Of Integrative Studies landed the #39 spot for value in Arizona this year. Read the full report on Arizona School Of Integrative Studies
Paradise Valley Community College ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Read more about Paradise Valley Community College
Indian Bible College ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Get the full Indian Bible College report
Western Maricopa Education Center Northwest Campus landed the #42 spot for value in Arizona this year. More on Western Maricopa Education Center Northwest Campus
Charles Of Italy Beauty College placed #43 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Arizona. Read more about Charles Of Italy Beauty College
Arizona College Of Allied Health came in at #44 in this year's value ranking. More on Arizona College Of Allied Health
Xtylo Beauty College Tolleson Az came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Xtylo Beauty College Tolleson Az
Pure Aesthetics
Pure Aesthetics placed #46 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Arizona. Get the full Pure Aesthetics report
Roberto Venn School Of Luthiery placed #47 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Arizona. Read more about Roberto Venn School Of Luthiery
Bryan University Los Angeles ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. See the full Bryan University Los Angeles profile
Phoenix College
Phoenix College ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Read more about Phoenix College
Florida Career College Uei College Phoenix came in at #50 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Florida Career College Uei College Phoenix report
More Graduate Degrees Value Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 9 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 110 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).