Most Affordable College Towns in Arizona;-Many college-bound students from throughout the country flock to Arizona because it is home to some of the most well-known colleges and universities in the country. However, moving away from home to attend school in another state might be expensive due to the nationwide rise in tuition costs. Living off-campus is one of the best ways to save money while attending college since it allows students more choices for housing, food, transportation, and healthcare. There are affordable college towns where one can live and save money, despite Arizona’s average cost of living being 12.4% more than that of the rest of the country.
Our editors compiled a list of every college town in Arizona using information from Wikipedia before ranking them according to general affordability using information from Sperling’s Best Places. We analyzed housing, food, health, transportation, and utility costs to the national average in order to determine which college towns are the most cheap. Before reducing our list to the top 10 college towns in Arizona, we took into account aspects including amenities, crime rates, public transit, and general quality of life.
10 Most Affordable College Towns in Arizona 2023
1.Tucson
Arizona State University, Brown Wayland Baptist University, Mackie College, and Brookline College
Cost of living: 13% less than the state average and.6% less than the national average.
Tucson was popular among retirees for a long time because of its mild climate and picturesque surroundings. Today, it’s gaining popularity as a neighborhood where young people move in because many of them are recent graduates of a college or university in Tucson.
Tucson has a distinctly college-town vibe while being an officially mid-sized metropolis. This is in part because University of Arizona is just one mile from the city center. Although Tucson’s city limits are filled with things to see and do, a weekend or day journey to the mountains is also a simple option. The best part is that Tucson is still one of the few college towns in Arizona where the cost of living is below the national average.10 Most Affordable College Towns in Arizona 2023
2.Lake Havasu City
Extended campuses of Northern Arizona University and ASU Colleges at Lake Havasu City
Price of Living 6.6% less than the state average; 5.8% more than the national average
Although two large institutions have extended campuses in Lake Havasu City, there aren’t many amenities available there. However, it promises to have a lower cost of living for students than many other college towns in Arizona.
Overall, the cost of living in Lake Havasu City is roughly 7% lower than the national average for Arizona. Housing costs here are typically a little higher than those in Arizona; a one-bedroom apartment costs about $647 per month. Fortunately, while prices for food, healthcare, and utilities are on average higher than the national average, transportation costs and entertainment costs both fall below that mark.10 Most Affordable College Towns in Arizona 2023
3.Glendale
Midwestern University, West Campus of Arizona State University
Cost of living: 12.9% higher than the average for the country and.5% higher than the average for the state.
Despite being a suburb of Phoenix, Glendale has a very rural atmosphere thanks to the immense countryside that surrounds it. Although there is less traffic and crowding in upper middle class Glendale, students can still easily access all of Phoenix’s facilities.
Not bad given that Glendale’s cost of living is exactly the same as that of its larger neighbor. While housing and transportation costs are 18 to 37% higher than the national average, typical food prices are marginally lower. A one-bedroom apartment in Glendale is going to cost you roughly $880 per month, which is $50 less than the national average.10 Most Affordable College Towns in Arizona 2023
4.Phoenix
University of Grand Canyon and Phoenix College
Cost of living: 13.4% higher than the average for the country and 1% higher than the average for the state.
Phoenix has transformed over the past 40 years from a vacation destination to one of the biggest urban areas in the country. Phoenix is a fantastic city to attend school because it is home to Grand Canyon University, Phoenix College, and several more smaller colleges.
A one-bedroom apartment in Phoenix can be rented by young people for on average $928 per month. That closely resembles the national average. Even while housing costs are greater, the costs for food, healthcare, utilities, and entertainment are all lower than or equal to the national average.10 Most Affordable College Towns in Arizona 2023
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5.Mesa
A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Benedictine University branch campus, and Arizona State University Polytechnic Campus
Cost of living: 1.2% more than the state average and 13.6% more expensive than the national average.
A middle-class neighborhood in Phoenix is Mesa. Peoria, Chandler, Glendale, Scottsdale, and Tempe, many of which are also on our list, are close neighbors.
Due to its significantly cheaper living expenses, Mesa is a desirable alternative for college students from Peoria, Tempe, Chandler, and Scottsdale. The average rent for a one-bedroom in Mesa is $911 per month, which is $20 less than the national average. In addition to housing, transportation expenses are generally on the higher side. The average cost of utilities, food, healthcare, and entertainment is lower than or comparable.10 Most Affordable College Towns in Arizona 2023
6.Tempe
Brookline College, Bryan University, and Arizona State University
Cost of living: 6.6% more expensive than the state average; 19% more expensive than the national average.
Another suburb of Phoenix, Tempe is a preferred destination for college students due to the presence of Arizona State University. Tempe offers a wide variety of entertainment alternatives, so it’s fortunate that typical entertainment costs are somewhat in line with the national average.
The average cost of food, healthcare, and utilities is also lower than or comparable to the US average. But housing is a different matter. Here, property values are rising quickly. The average cost of housing is currently 47% higher than the national average, and a one-bedroom apartment in Tempe will probably cost more than $1,038 a month.10 Most Affordable College Towns in Arizona 2023
7.Peoria
University of Trine branch campus
Cost of living: 7.9% more than the state average and 20.3% more expensive than the national average.
Peoria, like the previously mentioned Mesa, is a middle-class Phoenix suburb. Even though Peoria’s cost of living is already higher than both the national and state averages, students considering relocating there should be aware that the city’s robust local economy practically guarantees that prices will keep going up.
Here, the average cost of a one-bedroom apartment is already $200 higher than that of the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale metro area and 42.6% higher than the national average. In Peoria, transportation expenditures are often more expensive. The average cost of food, healthcare, utilities, and entertainment is lower than or comparable to the national average.10 Most Affordable College Towns in Arizona 2023
8.Chandler
International Baptist College, Western International University
Cost of living: 10.8% above the state average and 23.2% above the national average.
If you want to live in the suburbs and go to Phoenix schools, Chandler, which is nearby, is a nice alternative. Of course, you’ll have to put up with a little higher cost of living. Here, the average cost of housing is 60% greater than the national average. An average one-bedroom costs $1,108 a month, which is almost $170 more than the metro average. The good news is that both food and entertainment are slightly less expensive than the national average.10 Most Affordable College Towns in Arizona 2023
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9.Prescott
Yavapai College, Prescott College, Northern Arizona University, Old Dominion University, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Cost of living: 27% greater than the average for the country; 14.6% greater than the average for the state.
Prescott’s cost of living is, on average, 27% more than that of the rest of Arizona, which may come as a surprise given the number of colleges and universities that call it home.
Nevertheless, Prescott is a good area to live. The old desert mountain city is well-kept, pleasant, and prosperous, with a thriving artist community and a large number of preserved historic buildings. Prescott’s one-bedroom leases for roughly $703 per month, which is cheaper than both the metro and state averages and perhaps a little mercy for a college student given the city’s higher-than-average living expenses.10 Most Affordable College Towns in Arizona 2023
10.Flagstaff
University of Northern Arizona, College America-Flagstaff
Cost of living: 12.4% more than the state average and 24.8% more expensive than the national average.
Our ranking of the ten Arizona college towns with the lowest cost of living for 2020 now includes Flagstaff. Students wishing to rent a one-bedroom should prepare to pay roughly $1,033 per month, with housing expenses in Flagstaff often being 90% higher than the national average.
The average cost of food and healthcare is also slightly greater than it is across the nation. Thankfully, the average cost of utilities, transportation, and entertainment is cheaper than the national average in the United States.What are Arizona’s college towns that are the most expensive? Gilbert (27.2% above the national average) and Scottsdale (48.7% above the national average) would be those.10 Most Affordable College Towns in Arizona 2023
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