The University of Phoenix is a private for-profit university headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, that teaches mostly online. It had 111,248 students in fall 2024, 85% of its undergraduates aged 25 or over. Its pros are open admission, a fixed tuition figure, generous transfer credit and regional accreditation; its cons are very low federal graduation and retention rates, heavy borrowing and a record $191 million FTC settlement over deceptive advertising.
Below are the pros and cons in detail, with cost, outcome and accreditation figures from the federal College Navigator database and regulatory history from the Federal Trade Commission, so you can judge whether the University of Phoenix is legit and a good school for you.
University of Phoenix at a Glance
- Type: private for-profit university; it offers certificates and associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.
- Founded: 1976; it launched its online program in 1989.
- Owner: Phoenix Education Partners, which went public in 2025.
- Enrollment (fall 2024): 111,248 total, 89,828 undergraduate.
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 147 to 1.
- Admission: open admission for most undergraduate programs.
Pros: What the University of Phoenix Does Well
- Anyone with a diploma can start. Most undergraduate programs are open to anyone with a high school diploma, GED or equivalent.
- Predictable tuition. College Navigator lists the same tuition and fees, $9,552, for every year from 2021-2022 through 2024-2025.
- Credit for past study. The university evaluates credit from over 5,000 accredited institutions and accepts up to 87 transferable credits toward a degree.
- Designed for working adults. Students study online, and the typical student is an adult: the university reports an average student age of 37.
- Regionally accredited. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, the same body that accredits many state universities, so its credits and degrees are recognised and eligible for federal aid.
Cons: What to Weigh Before You Enroll at the University of Phoenix
- Very low completion in federal data. Of first-time bachelor’s students who began in 2018-19, 2% finished in four years and 16% in six, and the overall graduation rate was 21%. These figures cover only first-time students, a minority at Phoenix, but they are still a warning sign.
- Low retention. 41% of first-time students returned for a second year.
- Most students borrow. 88% of first-time students took out federal student loans in 2023-2024, averaging $6,458.
- A record FTC settlement. In December 2019 the University of Phoenix and its then-parent Apollo Education Group agreed to a record $191 million settlement of FTC charges that its ads falsely touted relationships and job opportunities with companies such as AT&T, Yahoo!, Microsoft, Twitter and the American Red Cross. It paid $50 million in cash and cancelled $141 million in student debts.
- Federal loan forgiveness for deceived students. In September 2023 the U.S. Department of Education announced it would forgive nearly $37 million in federal loans for more than 1,200 students affected by the school’s deceptive practices, based in part on the FTC case.
- Very little faculty contact on paper. A 147 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio means you should not expect close relationships with instructors.
What the University of Phoenix Costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, 2024-2025 | $9,552 |
| Total estimated cost living off campus (not with family), 2024-2025 | $20,728 |
| Average net price, 2023-2024 | $13,599 |
| Average grant for first-time students, 2023-2024 | $6,388 |
By income, the 2023-2024 net price ranged from $12,776 for families earning up to $30,000 to $19,150 for families earning more than $110,000. Compare that with in-state tuition at your local community college or public university’s online program before you enroll.
Is the University of Phoenix a Good School? What the Numbers Say
The University of Phoenix is a legitimate, accredited university, and for a disciplined working adult with transfer credits and a clear goal it can deliver a recognised degree online.
The federal outcome data is poor, though: 21% overall graduation and 41% retention among first-time students, with 88% of them borrowing. Add the FTC’s findings about its past advertising, and most students should compare it with nonprofit and public online programs, before committing.
Who Accredits the University of Phoenix, and Is It Legit?
Yes, it is accredited. The Higher Learning Commission has accredited the University of Phoenix since 1978, and College Navigator lists its next review for 2033. Its nursing programs hold programmatic accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Accreditation means the degree is real; it does not guarantee that employers will value it as highly as a degree from a traditional university.
Who the University of Phoenix Suits, and Who Should Look Elsewhere
A good fit for: self-directed working adults with prior credits who want a fixed-price online program and understand the outcome data.
Worth comparing alternatives if: you are a recent high school graduate, you want to minimise debt, or a public or nonprofit online program offers the same degree.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the University of Phoenix accredited? Yes, by the Higher Learning Commission.
- Is the University of Phoenix a for-profit school? Yes. It is owned by Phoenix Education Partners.
- What was the University of Phoenix FTC settlement? A record $191 million in 2019: $50 million in cash and $141 million in cancelled student debt.
- Is it hard to get into the University of Phoenix? No. Most undergraduate programs have open admission.