Elementary and secondary education
Public schools in Arizona are separated into about 220 local school districts which operate independently, but are governed in most cases by elected county school superintendents; these are in turn overseen by the Arizona State Board of Education (a division of the Arizona Department of Education) and the state Superintendent of Public Instruction (elected in partisan elections every even-numbered year when there is not a presidential election, for a four-year term). In 2005, a School District Redistricting Commission was established with the goal of combining and consolidating many of these districts.
Higher education
Arizona is served by three public universities: The University of Arizona, Arizona State University, and Northern Arizona University. These schools are governed by the Arizona Board of Regents.
Private higher education in Arizona is dominated by a large number of for-profit and "chain" (multi-site) universities. Only one traditional (single-site, non-profit, four-year) private college exists in Arizona (Prescott College). Arizona has a wide network of two-year vocational schools and community colleges. These colleges were governed historically by a separate statewide Board of Directors but, in 2002, the state legislature transferred almost all oversight authority to individual community college districts. The Maricopa County Community College District includes 11 community colleges throughout Maricopa County and is one of the largest in the nation.
Public universities in Arizona
Arizona State University, (Sun Devils) Tempe/Phoenix/Mesa
Northern Arizona University, (Lumberjacks) Flagstaff/Yuma
University of Arizona, (Wildcats) Tucson/Sierra Vista and UA Agricultural Center in Yuma
Private colleges and universities in Arizona
American Indian College
Apollo College
Art Center College of Design
Art Institute of Tucson
Art Institute of Phoenix
A.T. Still University
Brown Mackie College
Collins College
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Grand Canyon University
International Baptist College
Lamson College
Midwestern University
Northcentral University
Ottawa University
University of Phoenix
Phoenix School of Law
Prescott College
Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine
Southwestern College
Thunderbird School of Global Management
University of Advancing Technology
Western Governors University
Western International University
Community colleges
Arizona Western College
Central Arizona College
Cochise College
Coconino Community College
Diné College
Eastern Arizona College
Chandler-Gilbert Community College
Estrella Mountain Community College
GateWay Community College
Glendale Community College
Maricopa County Community College District
Mesa Community College
Mohave Community College
Northland Pioneer College
Paradise Valley Community College
Phoenix College
Pima Community College
Rio Salado Community College
Scottsdale Community College
South Mountain Community College
Yavapai College