Best Teaching Schools and Degrees in Arizona

This guide to the many teacher preparation programs available in Arizona offers important information to help aspiring teachers find the best way to obtain a teaching degree in Arizona. There are many colleges and universities in Arizona that offer teaching degree programs that focus on preparing future Arizona educators for a career in the classroom. Scroll down to find a table of top-rated teaching programs, student reviews, and a list of accredited teacher preparation programs. For young students who are interested in becoming an educator or for anyone who is looking to change their current career, this guide to teaching schools in Arizona will help find the best program that fits specific individual needs in order to become a qualified teacher.

Schools with Teaching Programs

There are 33 colleges and universities with teacher degree programs in Arizona.¹
21 colleges and universities offer an associate’s degree in education.¹
12 colleges and universities offer a bachelor’s degree in education.¹
11 colleges and universities offer a master’s or advanced degree in education.¹

Institutional Facts for Schools with Teaching Programs

Highest graduation rate*: Arizona State University-Tempe 67%.¹
Highest transfer-out rate*: Arizona Christian University 49%.¹
Highest net price per year*: Prescott College $25,280.²
Lowest net price per year*: Arizona State University-Tempe $13,007.²
Annual undergraduate tuition range for teaching degree programs in Arizona*: $8,595-$26,995.²
2 schools were in Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges in 2017: Arizona State University-Tempe (#70 in-state, #82 out-of-state), Arizona State University-West (#91 in-state, #89 out-of-state).
3 schools ranked in US News Best Graduate Education Programs in 2017: Arizona State University (#11), University of Arizona #57), Northern Arizona University (#148).
2 schools ranked in US News Best Online Graduate Education Programs in 2017: Arizona State University (#40), Northern Arizona University (#113).
1 not-for-profit teacher program is accredited by the NCATE, TEAC, or CAEP (see below).*

*For 4-year colleges and universities with teacher degree programs.

Top-Rated Teacher Preparation Programs

We have designed the following table to help you compare teacher preparation programs in Arizona according to various factors. All of the schools included are not-for-profit institutions approved by the Arizona Department of Education for the preparation of teachers. Completing a state-approved teacher preparation program is an important step towards earning licensure.

While accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) is not a requirement for licensure, it is included in the following table as CAEP provides a highly-regarded accreditation that is accepted in many states. We have also included rankings from the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), a research and policy group that scores teacher preparation programs at the national level using key standards chosen to measure students’ preparation for success in teaching. For further information on the NCTQ’s program rankings, please see the notes below the table.

You will also find data on teacher preparation program enrollment, completion, and licensing exam pass rates by institution for the 2014-2015 academic year in this table. These data points are collected from annual US Department of Education records under Title II (Teacher Quality) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which provides for reporting that holds institutions and state departments of education accountable for increasing academic achievement through improvements in teacher quality.

Programs that are not ranked, or for which data is not available, in a given category are denoted as “-“.

State-Approved School	CAEP Accred.?⁶	NCTQ Undergrad Elementary Prog. % (2016)**⁷	NCTQ Undergrad Secondary Prog. % (2017)**⁷	Teacher Prep Prog. Enrollment⁸	Teacher Prep Prog. Completers⁸	Licensing Exams Pass Rate⁸	Net Price***¹
Arizona Christian University	No	—	—	103	14	78%	$22,491
Arizona State University	No	99%	99%	2782	838	91%	$13,007
Northern Arizona University-Flagstaff	Yes	—	—	2051	621	96%	$14,678
Northern Arizona University-Yuma	Yes	—	—	45	25	89%	—
Ottawa University	No	—	—	146	47	77%	—
Prescott College	No	—	—	69	13	93%	$25,280
University of Arizona	No	68%	—	882	279	94%	$16,466
University of Arizona South	No	—	—	93	43	79%	—

*The NCTQ rated undergraduate elementary teaching programs in 2016 and undergraduate secondary teaching programs in 2017 by national percentile based on their overall scores on the NCTQ’s standards for teacher education. Schools that do not provide data on all key standards or that fall below the top 50% of schools nationally are not included by the NCTQ in their ratings. Visit the NCTQ website for more information on its standards and methodologies.
**Net price is per year for undergraduate tuition as calculated by the National Center for Education Statistics based on the cost of attendance (tuition, books, room and board, and related expenses) for students who qualify for in-state tuition and fees, less the average financial aid award (including grants and scholarships).

Profiles of Well-Known Schools

University of Arizona: The University of Arizona, located in Tucson, is home to the state’s first College of Education. The first class consisted of 145 students who enrolled in the teacher preparation program in 1922. The college focuses on preparing classroom teachers, special educators, counselors, principals and superintendents for the K-12 system as well as higher education. The UA College of Education is one of the largest schools on campus and is home to 60 full-time faculty members and 30 adjunct professors all holding doctoral degrees in related subjects in which they teach. The College features programs that specialize in educating rehabilitation counselors, as well as educators who work with the deaf and blind. Both programs are unique to the state. Joan Ganz Cooney, the creator and founder of Sesame Street, graduated from the University Of Arizona College Of Education.

Arizona State University: Arizona State University is known for its highly regarded teacher preparation programs offered at all of the university’s locations in Phoenix, downtown Phoenix, online, and Tempe. The Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College prepares educators at all levels from undergraduate to doctoral. The College’s graduate offerings, in particular, are typically very highly ranked in the annual edition of US News & World Report ranking publication and have made the list for 12 consecutive years. The College’s master degree offerings are known for their rigor, innovation, and flexibility. They are designed for full-time working professionals who teach during the day and attend college in the evening or online. Many of the master’s degrees can be completed in as little as 18 months. Majors include Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Physical Education and Special Education.

Teacher Preparation Programs Accredited by the NCATE, TEAC, or CAEP

Northern Arizona University

Read more about the CAEP, NCATE, and TEAC accrediting bodies.

School Programs for Becoming a Teacher in Arizona

Request free information from the following schools to learn more about your options for choosing a teacher degree program. We recommend you: Request information from one or more of these schools

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Schools with Teaching Degree Programs in Arizona

Note: Student Reviews are based on the experiences of a few individuals and it is unlikely that you will have similar results. Please review the “Data, Student Reviews and Other Information” section in our Terms of Use and Disclaimers.

Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ 85287
(480) 965-9011
students.asu.edu

Student Review: “At Arizona State University, the approach to student learning is very much personalized. This is especially important for the preparation of teachers who are getting ready to go into the work force and do the most important job of all: teaching future generations. I had an amazing experience at Arizona State University in the Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Preparation Program. Since I already had an undergraduate degree, it was very refreshing to me to be able to take courses that really mattered and that I actually needed in my career; not redoing courses and content I had already done in the past. The professors were very involved in preparing us for real-life teaching scenarios. They took a special interest in our strengths and made the learning relevant. The student teaching and practicums were also top-notch. I am so glad that I chose Arizona State University!” -Student at Arizona State University

Student Review: “I for the most part felt like my program prepared me to be an effective teacher in the classroom. The courses were appropriately rigorous, but the scheduling was insane, and it really should have been a five-year program. The required internships and student teaching were set up for us, so we had plenty of in-class time which was incredibly useful, and for the most part, the classes followed a logical track. However, there were some inconsistencies between the Teacher’s College and the music school that made parts of my degree difficult, such as different requirements for the same classes. The environment in and out of the classroom was very welcoming and helpful, and we were encouraged to build professional relationships with our peers. The staff was mostly friendly and helpful as well.” -Student at Arizona State University

Student Review: “The Arizona State University College of Education was an okay experience for me. I felt that the curriculum was just from an academic standpoint (mostly theory-based courses) but lacked in an overall daily application. Going through the program for three semesters, one learns about the different ways to teach a certain theory but when I got into the classroom for my student teaching I felt that very little I had studied over the past three semesters was applicable. I would rather have had 1-2 semesters of college courses combined with a minimum of 2 semesters of student teaching before graduating. I definitely felt student teaching was the best and most productive part of the ASU College of Education coursework.” – Student at Arizona State University

Cochise College*
4190 W Highway 80
Douglas, AZ 85607-9724
(520) 515-0500
www.cochise.edu

Eastern Arizona College*
615 N Stadium Ave
Thatcher, AZ 85552-0769
(928) 428-8322
www.eac.edu

GateWay Community College*
108 N 40th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85034
(602) 392-5000
www.gatewaycc.edu

Glendale Community College-Glendale*
6000 W Olive Ave
Glendale, AZ 85302
(623) 845-3000
www.glendale.edu

Mesa Community College*
1833 W Southern Ave
Mesa, AZ 85202
(602) 461-7000
www.mesacc.edu

Mohave Community College*
1971 Jagerson Ave
Kingman, AZ 86409-1238
(928) 757-4331
www.mohave.edu

Northern Arizona University
Knoles Dr
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-4132
(928) 523-9011
nau.edu

Student Review: “The NAU teaching program is the college experience everyone should be looking for. Not only were the professors competent, caring, generous, and attentive, the class sizes were small and the work was thoughtful and never seemed unnecessary. The classes were rarely larger than 15-20 students and each professor was able to give every student the individualized attention and careful study that they need to excel. I found myself challenged but not overwhelmed by the workload. Each and every assignment had a logical purpose and I found that my knowledge of teaching grew with each one. I loved how close knit everyone in the program was after sharing so many experiences together. When I completed my student teaching and moved on to my very own classroom I felt prepared and competent. I would highly recommend the NAU teaching program to anyone who is looking for a good quality education for their money, and an awesome set of professors!” -Student at Northern Arizona University

Northland Pioneer College*
2251 E Navajo Blvd
Holbrook, AZ 86025-0610
(928) 524-7600
www.npc.edu

Ottawa University
10020 North 25th Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85021
(602) 371-1188
www.ottawa.edu

Pima Community College*
401 North Bonita Ave
Tucson, AZ 85709-5000
(520) 206-4500
www.pima.edu

Student Review: “My biggest complaint with Pima is that there are times where I have to take a course that is required for me at a different campus. There are multiple campuses throughout Tucson and most of my classes are at the main campus. However it seems like at least once a semester I have a class that is 20 miles away from my campus. Other than that everything is just fine. I find my classes to be easier than that of high school and this is definitely the route to go if your paying by yourself for college. I will be transferring to U of A next semester and think that I am well prepared from all of my classes at Pima.” -Blake R., student at Pima Community College

Prescott College
220 Grove Ave
Prescott, AZ 86301
(877) 350-2100
www.prescott.edu

Scottsdale Community College*
9000 E Chaparral Rd
Scottsdale, AZ 85256
(480) 423-6000
www.scottsdalecc.edu

University of Arizona
1401 E University
Tucson, AZ 85721-0066
(520) 621-2211
www.arizona.edu

An asterisk (*) denotes a two-year or certificate program in education. While a two-year degree will not qualify graduates for teacher certification, it can be a good starting point for a teaching career. To learn more about what you can do with this degree, see our guide to associate’s degrees in education.

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Niche College Search: https://www.niche.com/colleges/search/best-colleges-for-education/s/arizona/?type=private&type=public
3. Kiplinger’s Best College Values: http://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-public-colleges/
4. 2017 US News Best Graduate Education Schools: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/edu-rankings
5. 2017 US News Best Online Graduate Education Schools: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/education/rankings
6. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): http://caepnet.org/provider-search
7. National Council on Teacher Quality 2014-2016 Teacher Preparation Program Review: http://www.nctq.org/teacherPrep/2016/findings/home.do
8. US Department of Education 2016 Title II Reports: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx