Best Online Healthcare Programs in Surprise, AZ (2026)
Surprise, Arizona has a population of about 149,519. The city’s median household income is $93,371 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 31.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 41 accredited schools offering healthcare programs near Surprise, with tuition ranging from $18,835 to $31,871 per year for indexed programs. In the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area, the top-earning healthcare-related role is Medical and Health Services Manager at a median $124,050 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Healthcare Schools to Surprise
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 41 schools in our directory that offer healthcare programs near Surprise. Distances are calculated from Surprise city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ottawa University-Surprise | Surprise, AZ | 6.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Western Maricopa Education Center | Glendale, AZ | 13.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Estrella Mountain Community College | Avondale, AZ | 15.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Midwestern University-Glendale | Glendale, AZ | 15.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Glendale Community College | Glendale, AZ | 16.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Arizona College-Glendale | Glendale, AZ | 18.9 mi | $18,835 - $31,871 | – |
| Allen School-Phoenix | Phoenix, AZ | 19.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Pima Medical Institute-Phoenix | Phoenix, AZ | 19.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| UEI College-Phoenix | Phoenix, AZ | 20.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Brookline College-Phoenix | Phoenix, AZ | 21.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Arizona schools on the Arizona healthcare page.
Healthcare Wages Near Surprise
Surprise is part of the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area (BLS area code 38060). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Arizona statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Manager | $124,050 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $120,087 |
| Health Information Technologist or Medical Registrar | $49,820 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $48,228 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $50,810 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $49,187 |
| Medical Secretary or Administrative Assistant | $47,560 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $46,041 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $69,620 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $67,396 |
| Epidemiologist | $70,000 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $67,764 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Surprise at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 149,519 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $93,371 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 31.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 103.3 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Healthcare-related employment in Maricopa County | 335,894 workers, 15,402 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Surprise-Area Cities With Healthcare Programs
- El Mirage, AZ – 9.5 mi away (35,043 pop)
- Peoria, AZ – 11.4 mi away (164,173 pop)
- Glendale, AZ – 14.8 mi away (245,895 pop)
- Buckeye, AZ – 20.4 mi away (64,629 pop)
- Avondale, AZ – 21.7 mi away (214,235 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited healthcare schools are near Surprise, AZ?
Our directory has 41 accredited schools offering healthcare programs near Surprise. The closest is Ottawa University-Surprise in Surprise, AZ (6.0 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Brookline College-Phoenix (21.1 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying healthcare roles near Surprise?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying healthcare-related roles near Surprise are: Medical and Health Services Manager ($124,050), Epidemiologist ($70,000), Healthcare Social Worker ($69,620). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Arizona statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in El Mirage instead of Surprise?
El Mirage, AZ is 9.5 miles from Surprise and has its own set of local healthcare programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Surprise an affordable place to study healthcare?
Surprise’s median household income of $93,371 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Surprise while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Arizona public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Related Resources
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.