University of Phoenix

What University of Phoenix does

University of Phoenix is a Phoenix, Arizona-based for-profit online higher-education institution founded in 1976 and continually accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1978. It operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Phoenix Education Partners, Inc. (NYSE: PXED), which re-entered public markets in October 2025 via a $1.35B-valuation IPO. The university delivers asynchronous, 24/7/365 instruction to roughly 88,100 average degreed students (FY2025) through the Blackboard LMS, offering 77 degree programs and 32 certificate programs across nine fields of study (behavioral sciences, business, criminal justice, education, healthcare, IT, liberal arts, nursing, psychology), with start dates every 5-6 weeks and a Tuition Guarantee that locks per-credit pricing ($398 undergraduate, $698 master's, $810 doctoral) from enrollment to graduation. Wrapped around the core platform are skills-aligned modules including 170+ Credly digital badges (1M+ issued since 2020), a Savings Explorer cost tool, the TransferPath mobile app, a Scholarship Finder, Career Services for Life, the University Library, and a competency-based degree track.

The business model is a hybrid of individual-learner tuition, employer-funded Workforce Solutions partnerships (Banner Health, Dish, Grainger, PSEG, Wabash), federal financial aid and military benefits (FAFSA, GI Bill, Tuition Assistance), continuing-education individual course sales, and a Credly-powered digital credentialing ecosystem. Distribution runs through direct-to-consumer enrollment, inside sales, community college articulation agreements (500+ partners, 5,000+ transfer-credit-accepting institutions), employer channels, and event-driven outreach. Proprietary technology investments include the Phoebe AI Assistant (Juji-powered), the Center for AI Resources, the Academic AI Pillars framework refreshing ~20 degree programs with a new Generative AI course, and the 16-stage AI student-success framework.

FY2025 parent-company revenue was $1.007B with $135.4M net income, and management guided FY2026 to $1.025B-$1.035B. The institution was taken private by Apollo Global Management and the Vistria Group in 2017, under whose ownership graduation rates rose from 25% to 37% and retention from 59.7% to 71.5%. Recent material events include the August 2025 Clop ransomware breach affecting ~3.5M individuals (CVE-2025-61882, Oracle E-Business Suite) and subsequent securities class-action investigations; the institution marked its 50th anniversary in 2026.

Name

University of Phoenix

Legal name

University of Phoenix

Website

https://phoenix.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

University of Phoenix is a Phoenix-based, HLC-accredited online higher-education institution serving ~88,100 working-adult degree-seeking students annually through 77 degree programs and 32 certificate programs delivered asynchronously on Blackboard, generating FY2025 parent-company revenue of $1.007B.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online For-Profit Career Universities (EDAHALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fully Online Universities (Online-First, Degree-Granting) (EDAHALAA), College & Career Transition Services (Bridge Programs, Dual Enrollment Pathways) (EDAAABAK)

Keywords

• Online higher education
• Adult learning programs
• Workforce skills training
• Degree completion programs
• Employer tuition benefits

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Resource Fees: Per-credit tuition plus mandatory resource fees for associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs, locked in via Tuition Guarantee from enrollment to graduation; courses typically 3 credits with $398/credit undergrad, $698/credit master's, $810/credit doctoral and resource fees of $170/$195/$205 respectively.
2. Employer Workforce Solutions & Direct Tuition Billing: B2B revenue from employer tuition benefits and direct tuition billing partnerships (e.g., PSEG, Wabash, Banner Health, Dish, Grainger) where employers cover or cap tuition costs and pay the university directly.
3. Federal Financial Aid and Military Benefits: Revenue enabled through federal grants, loans (FAFSA), GI Bill, military Tuition Assistance, and third-party billing arrangements that are paid directly to the institution.
4. Individual Online Courses and Continuing Education: Direct purchase of individual continuing teacher education courses, college-credit courses, and certificate programs (5–13 months) at fixed per-course pricing including $1,364 for a 3-credit undergraduate course and $8,184 for an 18-credit certificate.
5. Digital Badges / Micro-Credentials Ecosystem: Skills-aligned, employer-driven digital badge ecosystem delivered via Credly by Pearson — 170+ active badge offerings and 1,000,000+ badges awarded since 2020, supporting credentialing revenue and employer relationships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion6 records

Core offering

University of Phoenix delivers asynchronous online higher education to working adults through 77 degree programs and 32 certificate programs across nine fields of study (Behavioral Sciences, Business, Criminal Justice, Education, Healthcare, IT, Liberal Arts, Nursing, Psychology), plus 500+ standalone online courses and competency-based degrees. Programs are delivered via the Blackboard LMS with locked-in Tuition Guarantee pricing ($398/undergrad credit, $698/master's credit, $810/doctoral credit) plus mandatory resource fees. The institution also sells employer Workforce Solutions for tuition benefits and direct billing, and issues Credly digital badges aligned to 300+ occupations.

Product overview

University of Phoenix is an online higher-education platform-plus-modules architecture rather than a single unified product. The core offering is a portfolio of asynchronous online degrees (associate, bachelor's, master's, doctoral — 77 degree programs and 32 certificate programs) and 500+ individual online courses across nine fields of study, delivered through the Blackboard LMS. Wrapped around the core platform are several add-on modules: a Skills-Aligned Learning ecosystem with Credly by Pearson digital badges (170+ active badges, one-millionth awarded March 2026), the Savings Explorer cost-estimation tool, the Scholarship Finder, the TransferPath mobile app for credit evaluation, the Tuition Guarantee, Career Services for Life with the Career Navigator tool, and the University Library / Financial Literacy & Wellness Center. A separate AI layer launched in 2025–2026 includes the Center for AI Resources, the three-pillar Academic AI Pillars Framework (curriculum refresh, AI-tool augmentation, AI process automation), the Phoebe AI Assistant chatbot on phoenix.edu, and AI-supported research and coursework (e.g., environmental science storytelling). Supporting services include competency-based degrees (MBA-CB, Health Management, IT, Information Systems, Psychology), the Phoenix Veterans and Affiliates Network (PVAN), the Bridging Perspectives webinar series, the Degrees of Success alumni podcast, and research products such as the C-Suite AI Impact Report and Career Optimism Index. The parent company, Phoenix Education Partners, Inc. (NYSE: PXED), is the platform owner.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Alumni Chronicles Magazine: Magazine for University of Phoenix alumni, featuring alumni accomplishments, career-focused insights, and alumni network stories.
• Degrees of Success® podcast
• Stories of Success
• University of Phoenix Career Institute®
• TransferPath®
• Phoenix Education Partners, Inc.
• Phoenix Veterans and Affiliates Network (PVAN)
• Center for AI Resources

Products and services

• Online Degree Programs (Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral) Career-focused online degree programs across nine fields of study (Behavioral Sciences, Business, Criminal Justice, Education, Healthcare, IT, Liberal Arts, Nursing, Psychology) housed in seven specialized colleges, with 77 degree programs and 32 certificate programs aligned to more than 300 occupations and delivered 24/7/365 with new start dates every 5-6 weeks.
• Individual Online Courses and Continuing Education

Quantifiable outcome

• Average savings of $11,000 and 1 year off an undergraduate degree via prior credits and experience
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability11 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• LinkedIncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host with University of Phoenix of a free virtual webinar on January 22, 2026, titled 'AI in Action: Skills and Strategies for a New Era of Nursing' for nurses and healthcare professionals.
• Wabash (NYSE: WNC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce Solutions collaboration aligning University of Phoenix learning and development with Wabash's business and operational priorities; recognized as a 2025 Wabash Platinum Indirect Supplier out of 8,000+ Coupa suppliers.
• PSEGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect Tuition Benefit partnership for all eligible PSEG employees, removing financial barriers by capping annual tuition costs and waiving resource fees across degree and certificate programs.
• Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAcademic transfer pathway agreement allowing OCCC students to transfer credits toward any undergraduate program at University of Phoenix, saving time and money on their bachelor's degree.
• EC-CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for cybersecurity education; University of Phoenix received the EC-Council 2025 Academia Partner of the Year Award for the second consecutive year, with programs and faculty actively contributing to industry-aligned curriculum. Co-presented on standards-based micro-credentials at 1EdTech 2026 Digital Credentials Summit.
• Credly by PearsoncoreTechnology or IntegrationPowers the University of Phoenix digital badge ecosystem: 170+ active academic badge offerings, 1,000,000+ badges awarded since 2020, with plans for Learner Employment Records and digital credential wallets.
• BlackboardflagshipTechnology or IntegrationCore LMS partner for online classes since 1989; the institution was recognized with the 2026 Blackboard Catalyst Award for Ethical AI Leadership for advancing responsible AI use in the learning environment.
• Center on Rural Innovation (CORI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner for a national study on rural digital divide and organizational wellness, providing survey data for the white paper 'The Rural Digital Divide and Organizational Wellness' authored by Dr. Stella Smith.
• Honoring America's Veterans (HAV)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerUniversity of Phoenix is a Medal of Honor sponsor of the Phoenix Veterans Day Parade; Sandra Perez, UOPX Vice President, was featured as a guest on HAV's new podcast amplifying veterans' voices.
• GitHub (Ed Summers) / AFixt and Tenon.io (Karl Groves)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerKeynote speakers at the University of Phoenix 'Access Amplified™' virtual event on December 17, 2025, promoting digital accessibility in web development.
• Juji (AI chatbot provider)coreTechnology or IntegrationPowers 'Phoebe,' the University of Phoenix AI assistant for live chat, including chatbot-assisted enrollment and 24/7 prospect engagement.
• Spencer's TV & Appliance (Clifton Orlandi)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFirst guest on Honoring America's Veterans' new podcast; partner in veterans community events.
• Community Colleges (500+ articulation partners)flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUniversity of Phoenix holds more than 500 articulation agreements with community colleges nationwide to support credit mobility and transfer pathways; 5,000+ accredited institutions accept or send transfer credits.
• The Harris PollminorOthersConducted survey research on behalf of University of Phoenix on hiring leaders' perceptions of online degrees, producing the finding that 98% consider online degrees more credible than a decade ago.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Southern New Hampshire University: SNHU is the closest direct competitor to University of Phoenix among large-scale, primarily online, career-focused U.S. universities serving working adults with associate through doctoral programs. Both institutions compete on tuition transparency, employer partnerships, and credit-mobility, with SNHU operating on a non-profit basis.
• Western Governors University: WGU is a nonprofit, competency-based online university with a comparable working-adult value proposition and a Tuition Guarantee-style flat-rate model. Its competency-based degrees (IT, business, healthcare, education) directly overlap UoP's competency-based MBA-CB, Health Management, and IT offerings, making it a primary alternative for adult learners.
• Grand Canyon University: GCU is a Phoenix-based for-profit university with a large online program competing directly with UoP across healthcare, business, education, and counseling. Both institutions are headquartered in the Phoenix metro and target similar working-adult and transfer-student populations, intensifying local competitive overlap.
• Purdue Global: Purdue Global (formerly Kaplan University) is the online arm of the Purdue University system serving working adults, with strong emphasis on workforce-relevant certificates and competency-based pathways. It is a direct for-profit-style peer competing for the same adult-learner segments and employer tuition benefits contracts.
• DeVry University: DeVry is a long-established for-profit university with online and hybrid programs in business, healthcare, IT, and engineering technology. It overlaps UoP's adult-learner, employer-sponsored tuition-benefit value proposition and competes for many of the same articulation and transfer pathways.
• Capella University: Capella is an online-focused for-profit university (owned by Strategic Education) with FlexPath competency-based degrees and a working-adult focus that closely mirrors UoP's competency-based MBA-CB, RN-to-BSN, and IT tracks. It is a primary alternative for working adults seeking flexible, career-relevant online degrees.
• Strayer University: Strayer is a Strategic Education-owned for-profit university with online and campus programs targeting working adults in business, IT, healthcare, and education. Its employer tuition benefits programs and Jack Welch Management Institute partnership overlap directly with UoP's Workforce Solutions B2B motion.
• Walden University: Walden is an online for-profit university owned by Adtalem Global Education with strong graduate and doctoral programs in nursing, education, psychology, and public health. It competes directly with UoP's College of Doctoral Studies, College of Nursing, and CACREP-accredited counseling programs for working-adult graduate enrollment.
• Colorado Technical University: CTU is a Perdoceo Education-owned for-profit university with online and hybrid programs concentrated in business, IT, engineering technology, and healthcare. It is a comparable for-profit, employer-sponsored tuition-benefit competitor with a similar adult-learner profile and a digital delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• Coursera: Coursera is a leading global online learning platform offering degrees, certificates, and short courses from top universities. While not a direct degree-granting competitor, it competes with UoP for working-adult upskilling wallet share and corporate Workforce Solutions contracts, particularly in IT, data, and AI where employers may substitute stackable credentials for full degrees.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uopx
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/UniversityofPhoenix
• Facebookfacebook.com/universityofphoenix
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/university-of-phoenix
• Instagraminstagram.com/uopx
• TikToktiktok.com/@uopx

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about University of Phoenix