To answers all these questions (and more), we’ve assembled this short guide to choosing an online program in Arizona. It has details on U.S. News & World Report rankings, credit transfers, free tuition programs, affordable schools, and online schools that have issues with accreditation. We’ve also listed a few useful links to distance learning websites.
Online Degrees in Arizona: What to Know
1. Online Programs at the Big 3 Arizona Universities
Arizona is dominated by three regionally accredited universities with online offerings: Arizona State University (ASU), Northern Arizona University (NAU), and the University of Arizona (UA). Happily, all of them participate in the Quality Matters (QM) Higher Education Program, which is designed to certify the quality of online courses.
ASU often does extremely well in U.S. News & World Report rankings for ASU Online Programs, including high placings for both online bachelor’s programs and graduate programs. These distance education rankings handily beat UA and NAU, but we should point out that UA only started offering online bachelor’s degrees in 2015. So take these numbers with a grain of salt.
2. Online Programs at Arizona Community Colleges
Thinking of earning an associate’s degree at a community college to save money? A number of colleges have put a ton of effort into their online content. For example:
- Mesa Community College has developed three online Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC) paths for aspiring BA, BS, and BBA students.
- Rio Salado has created RioLearn, a custom-built e-learning management system.
- In 2016, Pima Community received a $100,000 distance learning grant to create textbook-free online degree programs using high-quality, open educational resources.
Even better, AZ Transfer gives students step-by-step instructions and tips on how to transfer from an Arizona community college to ASU, NAU or UA! You can use the handy Course Equivalency Guide to see which community college courses qualify.
3. How to Earn Freshman-Level Credit Through edX & ASU
In 2015, ASU formed a partnership with edX to create the Global Freshmen Academy. This allows students to take university freshman-level courses, for credit, without an application or transcript. These online courses are open to anyone who is interested.
4. Starbucks Might Cover Your Tuition at ASU Online
ASU has an unusual partnership with Starbucks called the Starbucks College Achievement Plan. The coffee company covers the full tuition (all four years) of any eligible part-time and full-time employee who wishes to earn a bachelor’s degree through ASU Online. Students have access to coaching and 24/7 tutoring on a variety of subjects.
Affordable Online Schools in Arizona
To come up with this list, we assessed each Arizona university on a variety of criteria, including quality, flexibility, price, and use of financial aid money. These are the schools that made both our “Top Online” and “Most Affordable” lists. (You’ll see a CAG Score next to their profiles in our ranking.) If you’re trying to decide between two options, we also recommend you check the school’s graduation rate and debt load on College Scorecard.
Arizona State University (ASU)
ASU Online charges a standard rate for undergraduate & graduate online degree programs. The cost is fixed regardless of residency status and there are no additional program fees. Students have one week to decide if they wish to withdraw and receive a 100% course refund.
According to the university, more than 7 out of 10 ASU students receive some form of financial aid. The school is also known as being military friendly, and ASU Online offers a specific Military Active Duty and Reservist Commitment Scholarship for undergraduate degree-seekers.Northern Arizona University
NAU Online Degrees has info about all of NAU’s online & blended programs, including competency-based bachelor degrees (e.g. RN to BSN). Traditional and online students pay the same tuition rate, but there is a higher cost of out-of-state students. NAU also has a payment plan option that allows you to pay fall, spring, and summer tuition in interest-free installments.
Are you from out-of-state? If you live outside Arizona and take all of your NAU courses online, you may be eligible for the World Wide University (WWU) tuition program. This means you only have to pay 150% of in-state tuition, instead of full out-of-state rates. Check out NAU’s website for other out-of-state discounts.University of Arizona (UA)
UA Online is built on the back of the university’s status as a land-grant and research institution, with an emphasis on STEM subjects. It has a fixed rate per credit hour, which means in-state and out-of-state students pay the same tuition. Online programs include access to free tutoring, coaching & employment preparation. Many undergraduates (e.g. 85%+) receive some sort of financial aid.
Are you a UA employee or related to one? You may be eligible for one of UA’s tuition reduction programs. Have you taken classes at UA before? Undergraduates returning after an absence of three years or more can apply for the Second Start Readmission Program.
Online Schools in Arizona with Accreditation & Quality Concerns
Whichever school you’re considering, always check to see that it is fully accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Although national accreditation applies to distance learning institutions, regional accreditation is preferred—especially if you’re trying to transfer credits.
- The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), formerly known as the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, is the body responsible for regionally accrediting Arizona institutions of higher education. This list includes universities and community colleges.
- The website allows you to search for HLC-accredited institutions by state. The “Public Disclosure Notice” under the school name will tell you if the institution has been placed on notice, sanctioned, or put on probation.
You can also check for regional or national accreditation status using the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) Database. We list a couple of Arizona’s online schools with accreditation issues below.
American Indian College
Now known as the Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) American Indian College, this private Christian college lost its HLC accreditation in 2015.Arizona Christian University
ACU was placed On Notice by the HLC in November 2016 because it was at risk of being out of compliance with accreditation criteria. This Notice period lasts for up to two years and the institution remains regionally accredited while it addresses HLC concerns.Pima County Community College District
PCC is regionally accredited. In 2015, the HLC removed its probation on the Pima County College District in Tucson, but it continued to keep the college On Notice. It stated that although PCC had made considerable progress, the institution remained at risk in certain areas. If the college makes acceptable changes, then the HLC will remove the notice.University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix is a for-profit institution headquartered in Arizona, with multiple campuses across the country. According to the CHEA Database, the University of Phoenix is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). However, according to College Scorecard, graduation rates for all of its campuses are extremely low. UOP has also been the target of class-action and whistleblower lawsuits.University of Sedona
The University of Sedona does not appear in College Scorecard or the CHEA Database, and it holds no recognized regional or national accreditations. Sedona is owned by International Metaphysical Ministry, which also runs the University of Metaphysics.
Arizona Online Education Resources
Accreditation
- The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is the regional accrediting body for Arizona universities and community colleges. It’s very easy to search for HLC-accredited institutions by state.
Distance Learning Resources
- Greater Arizona eLearning Association (GAZeL): GAZel is a non-profit industry organization that’s designed to connect folks in the eLearning community. Stakeholders include eLearning providers, educators, policy makers, and related businesses & organizations.
Online Degree & Course Catalogs
- Global Freshman Academy Course Catalog: Available through edX, these ASU-led courses allow students to earn freshman-level credit without transcripts or applications. Sample titles include “Introduction to Sociology” and “English Composition.”
1. Northern Arizona University
see online programs Flagstaff, Arizona
Northern Arizona University offers more than 90 undergraduate, graduate, certificate, and endorsement programs that can be pursued completely online or via a blended format. There are close to 50 undergraduate degrees currently offered, including 17 Bachelor of Science programs in fields such as education, criminology & criminal justice, dental hygiene, health sciences, nursing, and hotel & restaurant management. The Bachelor in Business Administration program offers five areas of emphasis: entrepreneurship & small business, global business, logistics and supply chain management, management, and marketing. Students pursuing the online Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies can choose from several concentrations such as early childhood, public administration, law enforcement, technology management, and justice studies. On the graduate level, NAU offers Master of Education degrees in 10 fields, including bilingual & multi-cultural education, educational leadership, elementary education, and educational technology. There are 18 graduate and 6 undergraduate certificates offered online. A Doctor of Nursing Practice degree is also available. Non-Arizona residents who are taking all their NAU courses online are eligible for the World Wide University tuition program. Under this program, students pay only 1.5 times in-state tuition instead of full out-of-state rates, thus saving more than 35 percent in total tuition cost.
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
2.University of Arizona
see online programs Tucson, Arizona
All programs offered through UA Online can be completed 100 percent online. Bachelor of Arts degrees are available in Africana studies, communication, history, information science and e-society, philosophy, and psychology. Students who are interested in earning a Bachelor of General Studies degree can choose from several study areas such as arts, media and entertainment, economy and industry, and global and intercultural understanding. Currently, the university offers three Bachelor of Science programs - BS in Care, Health, and Society, BS in Geographic Information Systems Technology, and BS in Literacy, Learning, and Leadership. The College of Nursing offers an RN to MSN program (MS in Clinical Systems Leadership) in addition to DNP and PhD in Nursing degrees. The online Master of Business Administration program offers concentrations in finance, marketing, management information systems, and management and organizations. Master of Science programs are available in a number of fields such as electrical and computer engineering, optical science, and photonic communications engineering. UA currently offers 25 graduate certificate programs, including applied nutrition, business intelligence and analytics, digital information management, and family nurse practitioner. Eligible UA Online students can apply for the Qualified Tuition Reduction (QTR) or the Educational Assistance Program (EAP) from the Arizona Board of Regents.
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
3.Arizona State University
see online programs Tempe, Arizona
For students in need of flexible schooling options, Arizona State University offers 49 undergraduate degrees, 43 graduate degrees and 15 certificates in an entirely online format. ASU's online curriculum includes a large number of business undergraduate degrees, with six different concentrations offered. The online curriculum for engineering graduate degrees is just as extensive, with six different concentrations offered as well. ASU uses Blackboard as its digital learning platform and encourages students to collaborate through other technological tools like Google Drive.
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
accredited online colleges in arizona
Source: http://docphy.com/business-industry/higher-education/online-colleges-arizona.html
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