Vocational & Trade Schools in Arizona

Arizona Trade Schools & Colleges

Sponsored Listings

UEI College

• Mesa
• Phoenix

• Automotive Technician
• Dental Assistant
• Electrician Technician
• Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning
• Medical Assistant
• Medical Billing and Insurance Coding

The Refrigeration School

• Phoenix

• Electrical Applications
• Electro-Mechanical Technologies
• Refrigeration Technologies
• Welding Specialist

Arizona College

• Glendale
• Mesa

• Dental Assistant
• Massage Therapy
• Medical Assistant with Phlebotomy
• Medical Billing and Coding
• Pharmacy Technician

Carrington College

• Glendale
• Mesa
• Phoenix
• Tucson

• Dental Assisting
• Maintenance Technician
• Massage Therapy
• Medical Assisting
• Pharmacy Technology
• Surgical Technology
• Veterinary Assisting

Motorcycle Mechanics Institute

• Phoenix

• Motorcycle Technician Specialist

Universal Technical Institute

• Avondale

• Automotive Technology
• Aviation Maintenance
• Diesel & Industrial Technology
• HVACR Technician
• Welding Technology

Financial Aid for Postsecondary Students in Arizona

Financial aid for college comes in several formats and from a variety of sources. Government, private, academic, and public non-profit organizations offer loans, grants, scholarships, loan repayment programs, and work-study programs. So, with so many potential options, where do you start?

Federal Financial Aid

Federal government aid is one of the first areas to start with when looking for help paying for college. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) identifies which loans, grants, and work-study or repayment programs you qualify for at the national level.

State Financial Aid

Arizona Teacher Student Loan Program

• No-cost tuition and loan forgiveness programs are available to Arizona residents training to become teachers
• Funding is first-come, first-served
• Students who receive loan funding are required to commit to a period of teaching at an Arizona public school equivalent to the number of years they received financial support

Arizona Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnerships (AzLEAP)

• Open to residents of Arizona enrolled at least half-time as an undergrad at an accredited Arizona postsecondary school
• Awards are based on need and reserved for students with significant financial hardship
• Award amounts max out at $2,500 per academic year, with $1,000 being the average amount awarded

Local, National, and Institutional Financial Aid

Colleges, universities, and trade schools often offer their own financial aid services, including substantial awards. Some candidates even earn "full-ride" scholarships that cover the entire cost of their program. Academic reps and advisors can tell you what aid you're eligible for and how to apply. They can also provide guidance on how to find scholarships from non-government and non-school sources.

Students can get additional financial assistance through both local and national programs. Candidates' eligibility can be determined by a diverse range of factors, including their academic major, GPA, ethnicity, financial need, and other criteria that can be very individual. Set up a meeting with an academic or financial aid counselor at a school you're interested in to find out how to best explore your options.

It's also worth noting that the Arizona Community Foundation (ACF) awards millions of dollars each year in scholarships funded by charitable donations. With over 100 scholarship options, the ACF can tell you which ones you're eligible for with a single application.

Arizona State Authorization and Accreditation

State Authorization

Arizona is a participating state in the National State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), which ensures a certain standard for distance learning programs of authorized schools. With a common standard for online program quality and expectations, schools can expand to offer programs in partner states.

The Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education oversees the state's licensure and regulation of private trade schools, colleges, and universities.

Accreditation

Accreditation is a major indicator of quality in postsecondary schools or programs. It is usually required to receive awards, financial aid, and state authorization. It is essential to understand what accreditation is, who offers it, why it matters, and what it means for your training path. This detailed but easy-to-understand explanation of accreditation can help fill in any gaps in your knowledge and empower you with information that can help you pick a great school.