University of Phoenix degrees can cost over $10,000 a year. And they have many different degree programs you can enroll in — with pretty much anyone with a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent accepted. From their website:
- No application fee — apply for free
- No essay needed
- No SAT, ACT, GMAT or GRE required
But do employers take a degree from University of Phoenix seriously? Does it have any value for the considerable amount of money you spend on a diploma from them?
So what exactly is the value?
If you think I’m going to tell you that University of Phoenix degrees are totally worthless, I am not saying that. But as someone who helped hire many people, I can tell you that when I saw that on a resume, as a rule it wasn’t a great credential. But with the right experience, it wouldn’t be a dealbreaker either.
Hiring managers know that not everyone has the time or money when young to go to a top school. So if someone manages to work their way up with strong real-life job credentials, then a University of Phoenix degree earned later on may be viewed in its simplest form: meeting education requirements for promotion. Or enhancing a candidate’s skills base.
But if you’re thinking of this degree as an entry-level job ticket, then you’d be smart to think again. Is there a state school with lower tuition or some more respected school you can get into?
If so, your time and money might be better spent going that route. Even starting at a cost-friendly community college and then transferring to a full-time college could be a better choice.
Unless…
University of Phoenix open enrollment
Open enrollment, which the University of Phoenix offers, means that pretty much everyone can get accepted. Even if you’re bad at standardized tests such as the SATs. As long as you have a high school diploma or equivalent and can get the tuition money, the likelihood of you being accepted is strong.
From their website, with some additional program-specific requirements also mentioned:
To be eligible for a bachelor’s degree program, you must meet the following criteria:
- You are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, or have a valid visa if you’re living in the U.S.
- You have an acceptable official high school diploma, state-sanctioned high school equivalency diploma, or foreign secondary school equivalent.
- You have not previously been expelled from a higher education institution.
- You will complete all required forms for admission, as well as submit official test scores and transcripts from all colleges and universities you’ve attended.”
So for some people this may be a choice that fits your needs, especially when pursuing a degree while already pretty far along in your career. Or later in life just for the personal satisfaction.
University of Phoenix degree caveats
Although they are great at marketing and it’s easy to overlook some of the less positive press, if you’re considering enrolling there at least do sone through online snooping. Some areas to look at carefully may include:
- Marketing practices
- Job placement claims
- Loan practices that involved false claims
- Targeted recruitment with unrealistic outcome promises
My disclaimer is that I have no personal experience with these practices and am only reporting what I find online from government and other sources. University of Phoenix degrees may have value to you if you go in with eyes wide open and are not overloading yourself with loans since no job offer after graduation is for sure guaranteed.
And I would say the same thing about any school you might choose to enroll in. Do your research. Think through your needs carefully. And take any marketing promises with a few grains of salt and some handy-dandy skepticism of outcome claims.
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