
The University of Phoenix, founded in 1976, is a transfer-friendly university with an open admissions policy. The university offers a combination of career guidance, personal support, and flexible learning opportunities. In 1999, the university's enrollment exceeded 100,000 students, and in 2014, it enrolled almost 50,000 students receiving federal money through the G.I. Bill. The university has a high student-to-teacher ratio of 132 to 1, and in 2022, 9,727 more women than men received degrees. The university's graduation rate was 17 percent according to federal data, and 78% of its students are employed while enrolled.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of Founding | 1976 |
| Location | Maricopa County, AZ |
| Number of Students Enrolled | 100,000+ (as of 1999) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 132:1 |
| Percentage of Students Employed | 78%+ |
| Percentage of Students Receiving Financial Aid | 74% |
| Average Yearly Cost of Room and Board | $5,850 (as of 2022) |
| Average Yearly Cost of Books and Supplies | $1,360 (as of 2022) |
| Most Common Bachelor's Degree Concentration | General Business Administration & Management |
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What You'll Learn

Student demographics
The University of Phoenix was founded in 1976 by John Sperling and John D. Murphy and became one of the first online universities designed for working adults. The university has an open admissions policy, meaning that most of its undergraduate programs are accessible to anyone with a high school diploma, GED, or their equivalent. The university's graduation rate was 17%, according to federal data that measures first-time, full-time undergraduate students who complete their programs at 150% of the normal time.
The student-to-teacher ratio at the University of Phoenix is 132 to 1. The university's 2023 annual academic report stated that more than 78% of its students are employed while attending school, with almost 8 in 10 working and most raising kids. Additionally, six in 10 students are the first in their family to pursue a college degree.
In 2022, 9,727 more women than men received degrees from the University of Phoenix-Arizona, with a total of 7,133 degrees awarded to the most common race/ethnicity group of white recipients. The university awarded 6,561 degrees to men in General Business Administration & Management, 1.81 times more than the 3,626 degrees awarded to women. The most popular Bachelor's Degree concentrations in 2022 were General Business Administration & Management (5,373 degrees), Hospital & Healthcare Facilities Management (1,571 degrees), and Information Technology (962 degrees).
The University of Phoenix's enrollment exceeded 100,000 students by 1999. In 2014, the university enrolled almost 50,000 students through the G.I. Bill, twice as many as any other institution.
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Student employment
The University of Phoenix, founded in 1976, has a large student body with over 100,000 students enrolled by 1999. The university has a high student-to-teacher ratio of 132 to 1. Notably, more than 78% of its students are employed while attending the school. This figure is even higher according to another source, which states that almost 80% of students work while studying. This is a significant aspect of the student population at the University of Phoenix, and the university caters to this demographic through various support services and resources.
The University of Phoenix offers extensive support for students who are employed while studying. The university provides academic counselling and career services to help students manage their academic and professional goals. The Life Resource Center offers clinical counselling, life coaching, and skill-building resources for time management and other relevant topics. Students can also access self-paced workshops, tutorials, and career-relevant content.
Career Services for Life®
The University of Phoenix offers Career Services for Life®, a program that provides continuous assistance to students and graduates in their professional journeys. This program includes resources such as the Job Explorer, which allows individuals to match their skills to jobs and identify areas for improvement. Students can also evaluate career paths based on their interests and degree programs, accessing information on projected job growth, daily tasks, required skills, related job titles, and salary ranges.
Career Navigator
Introduced in 2023, the Career Navigator is a platform that allows students to reference their skills profile, explore career goals, search for job postings, and navigate their career path. This tool helps students easily organize their skills and explore career options.
Student Financial Services
The University of Phoenix's Student Financial Services team provides financial solutions, guidance, and responsible borrowing advice to students. They assist in packaging financial aid awards and fund disbursement or return. The team also analyzes data to enhance the financial aid processes and better support students.
Alumni Chronicles
The University of Phoenix publishes Alumni Chronicles, a digital and print magazine featuring alumni profiles, news, career tips, and inspiring stories. This publication provides valuable insights and guidance for current students, offering a perspective on post-graduation career paths and experiences.
In summary, the University of Phoenix caters to its large student body, with a significant proportion being employed, through a range of support services and resources. These offerings aim to help students balance their academic and professional pursuits and make informed career decisions.
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Student financial aid
The University of Phoenix offers financial aid to its students. In 2008–2009, the university's student body received more Pell Grant money ($656.9 million) than any other university and was the top recipient of student financial aid funds, receiving almost $2.48 billion. The University of Phoenix has been the largest recipient of federal G.I. Bill tuition benefits and the largest for-profit recipient by Pell Grant assistance funding.
The university recruits students and obtains financial aid on their behalf, such as the Academic Competitiveness Grant, Federal Pell Grant, National Science & Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National SMART Grant), Federal Direct Student Loan Program, and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant. The university also provides students with fixed, affordable tuition through its Tuition Guarantee program, which offers a flat rate from enrollment to graduation for a student's program.
Additionally, 74% of undergraduate students at the University of Phoenix received financial aid through grants or loans in 2022. Students can also access academic counselling and tools to help them manage their finances, such as the university's Career Services for Life® commitment. The university also provides financial advisors to guide students through the process of applying for financial aid and understanding their funding options.
To be eligible for federal financial aid, students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for each school year. Federal financial aid includes grant and low-interest loan programs from the U.S. Department of Education. Grants are distributed based on financial need and other qualifying factors, while student loans are available to those with financial need. Federal Work-Study programs can also provide part-time jobs for students with financial needs, allowing them to earn money to pay for their education expenses.
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Student enrolment
The University of Phoenix was founded in 1976 by John Sperling and John D. Murphy and became one of the first online universities designed for working adults. The university has an open admissions policy, meaning that most of its undergraduate programs are accessible to anyone with a high school diploma, GED, or their equivalent. The university's graduation rate was 17 percent according to federal data, which measures first-time, full-time (FTFT) undergraduate students who complete their programs at 150% of the normal time.
In 1999, the University of Phoenix's enrollment exceeded 100,000 students. The university has a student-to-teacher ratio of 132 to 1, and in 2023, more than 78% of its students were employed while attending the school. The University of Phoenix has been a top recipient of federal financial aid funds, receiving almost $2.48 billion in the 2008-2009 fiscal year.
In 2022, the University of Phoenix-Arizona awarded 5,373 degrees in General Business Administration & Management, 1,571 degrees in Hospital & Healthcare Facilities Management, and 962 degrees in Information Technology. The same year, 9,727 more women than men received degrees from the University of Phoenix-Arizona, and the most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (7,133 degrees awarded), followed by black or African American (5,648 degrees).
The University of Phoenix offers a combination of career guidance, personal support, and flexible learning opportunities. It is a transfer-friendly university, accepting transfer credits from over 5,000 schools and providing opportunities for students to gain college credits through the evaluation of relevant experiences, such as life experience and past jobs.
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Student graduation rates
The University of Phoenix was founded in 1976 and expanded to San Jose, California, in 1980. Its online program was launched in 1989. The university's enrollment exceeded 100,000 students by 1999.
The university's graduation rate was 17% according to federal data that measures first-time, full-time (FTFT) undergraduate students who complete their programs at 150% of the normal time. In 2022, 8% of students at the University of Phoenix-Arizona completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 10% within 200%.
The National Center for Education Statistics considers any student who completes their bachelor's degree within six years to have graduated on time. This makes the official University of Phoenix-Arizona graduation rate 26%. The standard length of time for most students to complete their bachelor's degree is 5.51 years.
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are much more likely to graduate in four years. The four-year graduation rate for first-time students in the class of 2015 was 18%. After six years, the graduation rate for the class of 2015 was 20%, and by the eight-year mark, 21% of the cohort had completed their degrees.
The University of Phoenix has a freshmen retention rate of 42%, which is similar to the national average of 70.57%. The university's academic counselors work with students to help them progress toward their academic and professional goals. Students also have access to career tools and resources, including coaching, resume-building, and interview preparation.
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Frequently asked questions
The University of Phoenix does not publicly disclose its current enrolment figures. However, it is known that the university's enrolment exceeded 100,000 students by 1999. In 2014, the university enrolled almost 50,000 students who received federal money through the G.I. Bill.
According to the US Department of Education's College Navigator, the current student-teacher ratio at the University of Phoenix is 132 to 1.
In 2022, 6,561 degrees were awarded to men, and 9,727 more women than men received degrees from the University of Phoenix-Arizona.
According to the university's 2023 annual academic report, more than 78% of its students are employed while attending school.











































