When it comes to a college education, affordability matters for learners at every stage of life, from high school graduates and first-generation college students to adult learners and those returning to school after time away. For more than a century, Maricopa Community Colleges has provided learners with an accessible and affordable entry point to higher education, leading to high-wage careers that impact Arizona’s communities, workforce, and economy.
“Supporting our students goes beyond offering certificates and degrees,” said Dr. Steven R. Gonzales, Chancellor of Maricopa Community Colleges. “We’re committed to aligning education with workforce needs, making higher education affordable, accessible, and purposeful for our community.”
Here are five reasons recent high school graduates, adult learners looking to re-enter the workforce, or reskill, should enroll in Maricopa Community Colleges:
- Convenient Locations Near Home or Work
With 10 colleges and 31 satellite campuses strategically located throughout Maricopa County, students can learn close to home, work, or online. Colleges offer cutting-edge programs taught by industry professionals in state-of-the-art facilities. Students benefit from small class sizes and personalized instruction.
In addition to academic offerings, each college provides wrap-around support services at no cost to students, including academic advisement, counseling, tutoring, career guidance, disability resources, and veterans services.
- Tuition Students Can Afford
Today, the cost of tuition at an in-state public university exceeds $11,800 per academic year, depending on the institution attended. That hefty price tag does not include additional fees, textbooks, housing, meal plans, parking, and other necessities.
College doesn’t need to be exclusive or leave students drowning in student loan debt. Maricopa Community Colleges makes high-quality education accessible and attainable for Valley residents. Students benefit from the lowest tuition rates in Maricopa County, with lower-division courses offered at $97 per credit hour and upper-division courses at $145.50 per credit hour. Taking a closer look at the cost savings value Maricopa Community Colleges provides, a student taking 12 credit hours during the 2025-26 fall and spring semesters will spend approximately $2,330 on lower-division tuition and $3,500 for upper-division tuition.
To help make college even more affordable, scholarships are available to eligible students. As a bonus, parking at all colleges is always free.
- Workforce-Aligned Bachelor’s Degrees
In addition to 600 degree and certificate programs available to students, Maricopa Community Colleges also offers 11 industry-aligned bachelor’s degrees that address critical workforce gaps in high-impact, high-demand, high-wage fields. Today, more than 7,000 students are taking advantage of these affordable bachelor’s degrees in nursing, education, business, AI, healthcare, IT, public safety administration, and more.
Putting people over profits, Maricopa Community Colleges is meeting the financial needs of over 140,000 students. The four-year bachelor’s degrees save students 75% on tuition, which is about one-quarter of the tuition cost of a public in-state university. Students can transfer up to 90 credits from any of the system’s 10 colleges to the bachelor's degree of their choice.
- Saving Money with Textbook Alternatives
Today, students face higher textbook costs, with first-year college students expecting to pay over $1,463 on books and supplies. Within 10 years of launching Maricopa Millions and Open Maricopa, the system has saved students $270 million by offering courses that use Open Educational Resources (OER).
When searching for classes, OER courses are designated as “no-cost” and have no additional cost beyond the fees associated with tuition. Courses marked as “low-cost” have required course materials under $40. More than 4,500 faculty members across the system’s 10 colleges have taught over 103,000 OER, Zero Textbook Cost, and Low Textbook Cost course sections.
- Microcredentials for Today’s Learners
Short-term credentials are designed for today’s fast-paced learners. Microcredentials are industry-aligned, compact, and targeted programs to help students build specific skills and knowledge in a particular industry or field. Typically completed in just a few months to one academic year, microcredentials offer career-ready training in less time than a traditional certificate or degree. Upon completion, students earn a digital badge that can be shared on resumes, social networks, and with employers to support job entry or career advancement.
An affordable higher education exists at Maricopa Community Colleges, with the fall 2025 semester beginning on August 23rd. Learn more at maricopa.edu.