Most Affordable Online Bachelor's Degrees in Arizona 2025

Education is fundamental for career development, but it helps to know how to get a degree efficiently and affordably. Many Arizona professionals have gotten their education by enrolling in some of the cheapest online bachelor's degree programs without sacrificing academic quality. This article will show you the best Arizona colleges for online degrees, with a synopsis of each of these cheapest online bachelor's degree programs.

How Much Does an Online Bachelor's Degree Cost in Arizona?

The primary factors that determine degree costs are program type, in-state or out-of-state tuition status, and whether you enroll in private versus public schools. The University of Arizona, for example, charges $525 per credit hour to attend its online courses.

Some affordable online bachelor's degree programs take longer to complete and require higher technological fees, whereas public universities are often more affordable than private ones. If you'd like to reduce academic costs, then it's time to investigate these cheap online colleges that accept financial aid.

Cheapest Online Bachelor's Degree Programs in Arizona

Below is a list of cheap online bachelor's programs. Some of these also offer online master's degrees, but here we focus primarily on four-year-degree online schools.

1. Pathways College

Pathways College, a nonprofit institution, offers some of the most affordable online education in Arizona. That's because it has one of the lowest tuition rates and the school doesn't charge additional fees for textbooks. Pathways has two online degree programs, allowing students to specialize in either business administration or liberal studies.

Average in-state tuition: $206 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $206 per credit hour

Financial aid: The college does not participate in specific Title IV financial aid programs, but students are still welcome to pursue scholarship funding.

Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)

2. Rio Salado College

Rio Salado College promises a quality online bachelor's education at community college prices. This includes new bachelor's programs in public safety administration, elementary education, or special education. It offers a competitive online tuition rate for Arizona bachelor's degrees, but you may qualify for even lower rates if you live in Maricopa County, Rio Salado College's physical location.

Average in-state tuition: $253 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $253 per credit hour

Financial aid: You can complete the Free Applications for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to find out more about other benefits.

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

3. University of Phoenix

The University of Phoenix serves both the Arizona community and the rest of the country with one of the largest catalogs of online degree opportunities anywhere in higher education. This includes some programs that normally require on-campus study, such as psychology, accounting, and computer science. This online university promises college students the chance to put theory into practice with career-relevant skill-building.

Average in-state tuition: $398 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $398 per credit hour

Financial aid: Eligible candidates must use the University of Phoenix school code (014593) to complete the FAFSA.

Accreditation: HLC

4. Arizona Christian University

Arizona Christian University has over a dozen online bachelor's degrees in seven of its colleges. This means you can major in everything from biblical studies or secondary education to psychology or biology at this popular institution for Christians in Arizona. The university also provides ways to reduce your expenses through honors scholarships, partnership scholarships, and spiritual scholarships.

Average in-state tuition: $450 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $450 per credit hour

Financial aid: It offers several achievement awards, including extracurricular scholarships.

Accreditation: HLC

5. Ottawa University - Surprise

This university has three campus locations, including one in Surprise, AZ. Distance learners can also attend undergraduate coursework online in fields like accounting, business administration, healthcare, information systems, history, and several others. If you enjoy those affordable online options, you may choose to remain at Ottawa University for further education at the master's degree level and beyond.

Average in-state tuition: $457 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $457 per credit hour

Financial aid: You must first complete the FAFSA and then the Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note to qualify for further funding

Accreditation: HLC

6. Northern Arizona University

Northern Arizona University has over 60 bachelor's programs with online delivery. It also charges the same rate for in-state and out-of-state students. You can enter this program and receive a 100% online education in subjects like information technology, criminal justice administration, occupational therapy, public administration, and other great specializations.

Average in-state tuition: $473 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $473 per credit hour

Financial aid: You can apply for student loans and military veterans may qualify for special support funding.

Accreditation: HLC

7. Prescott College

Although Prescott College has a greater volume of online doctoral programs and graduate degrees, it also offers a bachelor's degree online if you wish to major in psychology. This grants the chance to explore topics such as social cognition, research methods, critical psychology, psychopathology and health, and much more. Prescott also participates in various outside scholarships, totaling as much as $7,300.

Average in-state tuition: $512 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $512 per credit

Financial aid: Online students are eligible for grants and loans after completing the FAFSA.

Accreditation: HLC

8. University of Arizona

The University of Arizona, the state's largest public university, grants accredited online degrees at multiple levels: bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, doctoral degrees, and various certification programs. You can enroll in several undergraduate programs, either full-time or part-time, in rewarding fields like business administration, bioinformatics, justice and global security, and even game studies.

Average in-state tuition: $525 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $525 per credit hour

Financial aid: Complete the FAFSA with the university's school code 001083.

Accreditation: WSCUC

9. Arizona State University

There are more than 100 college degree programs available in an online learning format at Arizona State University (ASU). This includes four-year programs in geographic information science, applied leadership, biophysics, data science, economics, and more. U.S. News & World Report recognizes ASU as one of the ten best schools in the country for online degrees.

Average in-state tuition: $574 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $574 per credit hour

Financial aid: Complete the FAFSA before receiving consideration for federal and state grants

Accreditation: WSCUC

Other Affordable Online Bachelor's Degrees in the U.S.

If those universities don't match your particular needs or preferences, there's one other option we suggest if you'd like to pursue distance education affordably. Check out Liberty University, another well-known online college, serving students all over the country.

Liberty University

Liberty University is an affordable alternative for students anywhere in the United States. It has special tuition advantages for former and current military personnel and maintains a consistent Christian-friendly reputation. Liberty also provides good instructions on how to test out of certain academic requirements by taking advantage of the College Level Examination Program (CLEP).

Average in-state tuition: $390 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $390 per credit hour

Financial aid: It offers military-based scholarships and allows participation in various tuition payment plans

Accreditation: SACSCOC

How We Rank Schools

Below is a description of how Learn.org evaluates and ranks online colleges. This consists of four important criteria: accreditation status, program affordability, academic reputation, and online format.

• Accreditation: Degree programs must receive accreditation from institutions, such as HLC and WSCUC.
• Affordability: The rankings include Arizona's most affordable colleges, particularly the ones with a tuition rate of about $500 per credit hour (in-state).
• Program reputation and quality: Degree programs must have good recognition within the academic community. They should have supportive and well-credentialed faculty and staff.
• Online format: This list includes only schools that offer degree programs.

FAQs About the Cheapest Bachelor's Degrees in Arizona

This section will answer frequently asked questions. Here, we give some insights on finding Pell Grants, transferring academic credits, and participating in financial payment plans.

What Is the Cheapest Online Bachelor's Degree in Arizona?

There are several universities that compete to offer cheap tuition without compromising course quality. One of the cheapest is Pathways College, known for offering lower tuition rates and for helping transfer students get the most out of their previous education.

There are several other Arizona options, but be sure to investigate whether you would qualify for funding resources upon enrollment. You can make your education even more affordable by selecting from online colleges that accept the Pell Grant or other generous forms of financial aid.

What Is the Cheapest Way To Get a Bachelor's Degree?

The cheapest way to get a bachelor's degree is to attend a public university, which provides competitive financial aid and scholarships and doesn't charge too much for the convenience of online courses. Arizona schools have several ways of doing this, many of which charge the same tuition for in-state and out-of-state applicants alike.

It also helps to leverage the education you've already completed. You eliminate the need to take certain courses by enrolling in online colleges that accept transfer credits.

Is Online College Worth It?

Online college is worth it if you attend an accredited program, which will allow you to impress future employers with your new degree. Then again, the experience should be financially worth it as well. That's why we recommend selecting affordable online programs, especially if they promote several scholarships for online students.

What Other Fees Should I Expect for an Online Bachelor's Degree?

Most undergraduate and graduate degrees carry additional fees beyond the per-credit-hour tuition charge. This usually includes fees for technology, textbooks, and so forth.

You'll want to identify all the fees before enrolling so that your total education bill won't surprise you. So, don't forget to check out the best online colleges with tuition payment plans for Arizona undergraduates. It's an effective way to manage all academic fees rather than struggling to pay for it all at once.

Explore Online Bachelor's Degrees

Learn.org can help you identify the most affordable online degree programs, hybrid programs, and more, anywhere in America. Please explore the rest of our website to learn all about affordable colleges, securing financial aid, and more.