University of Phoenix predicts all but one in-person location will close by 2024 | EdScoop (2024)

The University of Phoenix is on track to operate only one physical location sometime in 2024, as the private, for-profit college shifts to an almost exclusively online format.

Whether all the campuses close by then will depend on how many students choose to finish their courses in-person, university spokesperson Andrea Smiley told EdScoop.

Smiley said the private, for-profit school has phased out six campuses since last June, when its leadership decided to go nearly all-virtual. Campuses halt operations once all students have moved online or completed the necessary in-person coursework to finish their degrees.

The timeline for finishing the “teach out” by 2024 depends on how many students need to be physically present, Smiley said. About 97% of University of Phoenix students choose to take courses online, she said, so the action is “driven by the preference of our students.”

“It’s not super-surprising considering that we predominantly serve adults 35 and older,” Smiley said. “They’re working full-time, they tend to have dependents— we predominantly serve women. And so online learning, it’s just more convenient.”

The process of “teaching out” some physical locations began as early as 2016, Smiley said. The university’s owner, the Apollo Education Group, shuttered more than 100 locations in 2012.

There are 15 in-person locations left, in California, Nevada and Arizona, Smiley said. The university plans to keep its Phoenix location open for students who need to complete residencies or in-person components of doctoral programs. The Phoenix location also serves as a meeting space for its otherwise remote workforce.

“We have always had a very strong and large online presence, even when we had many more physical campuses,” Smiley said. “It’s going to not be much of a change in [the student] experience. We have a very robust online suite of support services for our students — they’re available 24/7.”

The University of Phoenix most recently reported 83,800 enrolled students for 2020, down from 87,400 reported for 2019. The university has not yet released its 2021 academic year report. For-profit institutions in general saw enrollment drop in fall 2021, after seeing a 5% increase for Fall 2020, according to the National Student Clearinghouse.

University of Phoenix predicts all but one in-person location will close by 2024 | EdScoop (2024)

FAQs

University of Phoenix predicts all but one in-person location will close by 2024 | EdScoop? ›

The for-profit school is on track to close all but one physical campus by 2024, as its 84,000 students overwhelmingly prefer learning online. The University of Phoenix is on track to operate only one physical location sometime in 2024, as the private, for-profit college shifts to an almost exclusively online format.

Is the University of Phoenix closing down? ›

UoPX also received $3.4 million in aid through the American Rescue Plan. In 2021, UoPX continued to close campuses, including Atlanta and Salt Lake City. The Phoenix, Arizona campus was the only location accepting new in-person students. UoPX would later announce that only one campus would remain open in 2025.

What did University of Phoenix misrepresent? ›

According to the FTC, the University of Phoenix relied on deceptive advertising to attract students, falsely claiming to work with employers such as Microsoft, Twitter, Adobe, and Yahoo to create job opportunities for University of Phoenix students and tailoring its curriculum for the job needs of such companies.

Who bought out University of Phoenix? ›

From a legal standpoint, the University of Phoenix will be acquired by a new non-profit tax-exempt organization named Four Three Education, Inc. and will continue to operate under the name University of Phoenix.

Does the University of Phoenix do in-person classes? ›

At our local campus in Phoenix, we take pride in providing enriching, in-person educational experiences for our students.

What is the controversy with the University of Phoenix? ›

In 2019, the University of Phoenix reached a record $191 million settlement to resolve Federal Trade Commission charges that the institution used deceptive advertisem*nts that falsely touted its relationships and job opportunities with companies such as AT&T, Microsoft and the American Red Cross.

What is the issue with the University of Phoenix? ›

The University of Phoenix was among the worst actors in the industry in this regard. In 2019, Phoenix settled a massive fraud case with President Donald Trump's Federal Trade Commission and agreed to pay $191 million for deceptive practices.

How prestigious is University of Phoenix? ›

The institute is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), a regional accrediting agency. The University of Phoenix has been ranked by US News & World Report Best Colleges in National Universities 2024 in the 331- 440 range.

Is University of Phoenix being bought out? ›

The University of Idaho's complicated acquisition of the for-profit University of Phoenix hit another roadblock last week when lawmakers voted to slow the sale, citing financial risks and concerns about how the deal has been handled.

Can I get my student loans forgiven if I went to the University of Phoenix? ›

If You Went to University of Phoenix, You May Be Eligible for Loan Forgiveness. If you used federal student loans to pay for your education at the University of Phoenix a few years ago, you may be eligible for full loan forgiveness.

What celebrities graduated from University of Phoenix? ›

44 Notable alumni of University of Phoenix - Arizona
  • Shaquille O'Neal. Born in United States 1972-.. ( ...
  • Lil Wayne. Born in United States 1982-.. ( ...
  • Lisa Leslie. Born in United States 1972-.. ( ...
  • Paul Goldschmidt. Born in United States 1987-.. ( ...
  • Kate Voegele. Born in United States 1986-.. ( ...
  • Lisa Franchetti. ...
  • Neal E. ...
  • Kaleth O.
Feb 29, 2024

Why is the University of Phoenix closing? ›

University of Phoenix is not closing but will phase out all physical campuses after all students currently enrolled in those campuses complete their programs. The University of Phoenix isn't “closing” — it's just moving to a strictly digital model.

Does the University of Idaho own the University of Phoenix? ›

Initially, University of Phoenix will operate separately from U of I, in a 501(c)(3) that is affiliated with the University of Idaho. University of Phoenix will remain an independent educational institution operated by its own president and leadership team.

Why do people go to the University of Phoenix? ›

Founded in 1976, University of Phoenix became one of the first online universities designed for working adults. We offer a powerful combination of career guidance, personal support and flexible learning opportunities — all with options to help save time and money on your degree.

Where is University of Phoenix graduation 2024? ›

University of Phoenix held its Spring 2024 commencement ceremonies on Saturday, March 2, at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, with more than 2,500 graduating students from five different countries and 48 U.S. states registered to attend.

Is the University of Phoenix expensive? ›

It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 66,901, and admissions are selective. The university offers 37 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 14%, and a student-faculty ratio of 92:1. Tuition and fees for students are $9,552.

Can University of Phoenix loans be forgiven? ›

Former students at the University of Phoenix may be eligible for part of $37 million in student loan forgiveness. The debt cancellation covers more than 1,200 borrowers who were “deceived,” by the for-profit university, President Joe Biden said in a statement.

Is the University of Phoenix being bought out? ›

The University of Idaho's complicated acquisition of the for-profit University of Phoenix hit another roadblock last week when lawmakers voted to slow the sale, citing financial risks and concerns about how the deal has been handled.

Are University of Phoenix loans being cancelled? ›

The Biden administration is canceling nearly $37 million of federal student loan debt for more than 1,200 borrowers who attended the University of Phoenix because it found that the for-profit school misled students about job prospects.

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