---

 

Career Colleges    » Arizona

Arizona Career Colleges and Universities

Career and Technical Training in Arizona

Career colleges and universities in Arizona are noted for innovation, affordability, quality of students and degree programs. Each program from a Arizona Career College, a post-secondary for-profit institution, offers an education with an in-demand career field. The programs are designed to get you work-ready, equipped with the practical knowledge, and the competence needed to obtain a competitive career in Arizona.

At career colleges in Arizona, you typically don't take general education classes in core subjects such as English and math. Instead, you focus on career-related courses.

Arizona Career-Focused Degree Programs

Learn how Arizona career training can give you (and your state) an economic edge.

In Arizona, education pays

Historically a stomping ground for Spanish settlers, miners and gunslingers, Arizona established itself early on as a haven for those hoping for a break. Times have changed, but the Grand Canyon State is still known for its economic opportunity, both in terms of education and workforce. Arizona career education can improve your career outlook and bottom line, not to mention help the state remain competitive nationally. Here's how.

Arizona colleges boost potential

Arizona universities serve what the U.S. Census indicates is one of the country's fastest growing populations. The University of Arizona and Arizona State University are the state's largest schools in terms of enrollment, and both regularly rank among U.S. News and Report's Best Colleges in the country. Still, the Census reports that in 2008, only 34.4 percent of Arizonans age 25 or older held degrees, lower than the 38 percent national average. According to the Lumina Foundation, if Arizona's current college-attainment rate continues, 39 percent of Arizonans will hold degrees in 2025, well below the Georgetown's Center on Education and the Workforce's projected employer demand of 60 percent nationally by 2018.

Whatever is causing Arizona's education gap, cost is not the only culprit. The National Center for Education Statistics reports that the average cost to attend Arizona public colleges in 2009 to 2010 was $15,710, on par with the $15,014 national average. Arizona private schools were notably less expensive than those in other states--$24,939 compared to $32,090, nationally. In most cases, the benefits of earning a degree justify this expense: Research provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that higher education improves lifetime earnings and employment potential. Make the most of this advantage by pursuing an in-demand field.

Arizona's modern economy

As part of the American Wild West, Arizona has always been a land of opportunity. Though the legendary Tombstone is mostly a tourist destination today, the state still serves those seeking an economic foothold. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Arizona's largest employers include the likes of Raytheon Missile Systems, the University of Arizona and Intel, but these companies do not necessarily represent the region's highest demand fields.

The Arizona Department of Workforce Services projects that while Arizona's job pool is expected to grow by 6.3 percent between 2008 and 2018, the following industries will grow the fastest:

• Education and health services
• Business and professional services
• Leisure and hospitality

Meanwhile DWS reports that the following occupations will see the strongest growth during the same period:

• Biomedical engineers
• Credit authorization specialists
• Athletic trainers
• Medical scientists
• Electrical repairers

While earning your degree from an Arizona college or technical school in any of these fields may provide you with valuable job security, degrees in virtually all disciplines hold economic benefits. According to the Census, full-time U.S. workers with bachelor's degrees earned nearly $23,000 more than high school graduates in 2009, and the gap widens with continued education. This trend is especially important in Arizona, where the BLS reports workers--who earned a mean annual income of $35,460 in 2010--make less the typical American. The bottom line: Arizona education pays off, literally.

---

© Copyright 2004-2024, eRD (eReferenceDesk.com) owned and operated by Joseph L Ferguson. All rights reserved.