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University of Phoenix accreditation
University of Phoenix holds HLC institutional accreditation, reaffirmed in 2023. Verify the complete accreditation record, the 2013 HLC notice, and the 2019 FTC settlement here.
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Yes. University of Phoenix is accredited. The University holds institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accreditor. HLC reaffirmed University of Phoenix accreditation in 2023 following a comprehensive evaluation. The next scheduled comprehensive evaluation is 2032–2033. The current accreditation status is verifiable in two primary sources: the HLC Directory of Institutions at hlcommission.org and the federal accreditation database (DAPIP) at ope.ed.gov/dapip.
University of Phoenix has been continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), hlcommission.org, since 1978. HLC reaffirmed that accreditation in 2023.
Step one: go to ope.ed.gov/dapip and search “University of Phoenix.” The result shows the Higher Learning Commission as the institutional accreditor and a current accreditation status. Step two: go to hlcommission.org, search for University of Phoenix in the Directory of Institutions, and open the Statement of Accreditation Status. That document shows the most recent reaffirmation date (2023), the next evaluation schedule (2032–2033), and the historical record including the resolved 2013 Notice. These two steps, from two independent primary sources, constitute a complete accreditation verification.
The Higher Learning Commission is one of the institutional accreditors recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. Historically, HLC was one of the six “regional” accreditors that covered defined geographic areas, and HLC covered a 19-state Midwest region. A 2020 federal policy change removed the formal regional versus national designation; HLC is now formally described as an institutional accreditor. University of Phoenix has been continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), hlcommission.org, since 1978. For employer policies, graduate school admissions requirements, federal financial aid, licensing board conditions, and transfer credit reviews that specify “regionally accredited”, University of Phoenix meets that condition, because HLC was and is the type of accreditor those policies describe.
In 2013, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) placed University of Phoenix on Notice, a public sanction indicating the institution was not out of compliance, but rather considered at risk of being out of compliance with HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation. While on Notice, the university remained fully accredited. Notice was not probation, a show-cause order, or a loss of accreditation. HLC’s review identified concerns in areas including student retention, financial indicators and governance. After the university addressed those concerns, HLC removed the Notice in 2015. HLC later reaffirmed University of Phoenix’s accreditation in 2023. See the 2013 HLC Notice and the probation distinction for a detailed explanation of what the Notice meant and how it differed from other accreditation actions.
In 2019, University of Phoenix settled Federal Trade Commission allegations related to marketing and recruiting conduct that occurred between 2012 and 2016, when the University was owned by Apollo Education Group. The settlement resulted in a negotiated $191 million stipulated judgment, not a judgment on the merits, in which the University of Phoenix did not admit any wrongdoing. The FTC settlement is a consumer-protection regulatory record; it is not an HLC accreditation action. HLC did not issue an adverse accreditation action in connection with the FTC settlement. University of Phoenix’s accreditation continued through the settlement and was reaffirmed in 2023. See the FTC settlement record for the complete account.
[1] Higher Learning Commission. Statement of Accreditation Status. https://hlcommission.org. Accessed June 2026.
[2] U.S. Department of Education. DAPIP. https://ope.ed.gov/dapip. Accessed June 2026.
[3] University of Phoenix. Accreditation. https://www.phoenix.edu/about/accreditation.html. Accessed June 2026.
[4] Federal Trade Commission. University of Phoenix settlement. https://www.ftc.gov. Accessed June 2026.
All topics
Every question about University of Phoenix accreditation — the HLC record, the 2013 Notice, the 2019 FTC settlement, and how to verify each — covered from primary sources.
01
University of Phoenix is an HLC-accredited degree-granting university. Understand what legitimate means in the accreditation context and what the full institutional record shows.
02
University of Phoenix has never lost HLC accreditation. It has held continuous HLC accreditation since 1978 and received reaffirmation in 2023. The full record is here.
03
What the 2013 HLC Notice was, what it cited, what it was not, how it was resolved, and what it means for the current University of Phoenix accreditation record.
04
University of Phoenix was never on HLC academic probation. The 2013 action was a Notice, a different and less severe category. The full distinction is explained here.
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The 2019 FTC settlement addressed 2012–2016 marketing conduct under prior ownership. It was not an HLC accreditation action. Full account with sources.
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University of Phoenix holds HLC institutional accreditation. HLC was historically a regional accreditor. The 2020 federal policy change, what it means, and how to verify the record.
07
University of Phoenix is not a diploma mill. It holds HLC institutional accreditation since 1978 and requires academic completion for its degrees. The full record distinguishing accredited institutions from diploma mills.
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Current University of Phoenix accreditation status as of 2026: HLC reaffirmed, next evaluation 2032–2033, ACBSP business accreditation active. Primary sources and verification steps.
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Direct answers to the most common questions about University of Phoenix accreditation, the 2013 HLC notice, the FTC settlement, regional accreditation, and how to verify the record.
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A factual analysis of what determines whether a University of Phoenix degree is worth it: accreditation, cost, employer recognition, licensing considerations, and transfer credit.
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The complete University of Phoenix HLC accreditation record: accreditation since 1978, 2023 reaffirmation, 2013 Notice, and how to verify each element.
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University of Phoenix holds HLC accreditation from a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accreditor. What makes accreditation legitimate and why HLC accreditation qualifies.
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University of Phoenix covered business programs hold ACBSP accreditation. What ACBSP is, what it covers, how to verify it, and how it differs from AACSB.
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What this site covers, how it is funded, the editorial standards applied, and the primary sources used throughout. This site is paid for by the University of Phoenix.