Was University of Phoenix on academic probation?

No. University of Phoenix was not placed on HLC probation. The 2013 HLC action was a Notice, which was a different accreditation action from probation.

Notice is a sanction and should be acknowledged accurately. It was not probation, show cause, suspension or loss of accreditation. University of Phoenix remained accredited while the notice was active, and the notice was subsequently removed in 2015.

The difference between notice and probation

A Notice and probation are not the same thing. A Notice signaled that even as the University remained in compliance with accreditation requirements, HLC had identified concerns requiring institutional response and monitoring.

Probation is a more serious accreditation sanction. It generally reflects a finding of significant noncompliance and requires corrective action under a formal timeline.

University of Phoenix received a Notice in 2013. It was not placed on HLC probation.

Why the probation claim circulates

The probation claim likely circulates because the 2013 Notice was a public accreditor action and received public attention.

Because notice is a sanction, some secondhand summaries use stronger language than the HLC record supports. That can lead people to describe the notice as probation, even though HLC does not classify it that way.

The primary source record should control the wording. The accurate phrase is “Notice,” not “probation.”

What the 2013 notice did mean

The 2013 Notice meant that even as the University met the requirements of accreditation, HLC had identified concerns related to student retention, financial indicators and governance questions that could result in non-compliance if not addressed.

Those concerns were substantive. The notice required institutional attention and monitoring, and it belongs in the complete public accreditation record.

Accurately distinguishing the notice from probation does not minimize the notice. It simply describes the accreditation action correctly.

What the 2013 notice did not mean

The 2013 notice did not mean University of Phoenix lost accreditation. It did not mean accreditation was suspended or withdrawn. It did not mean HLC issued probation or show cause.

University of Phoenix remained accredited while the notice was active. The notice was later resolved, and HLC reaffirmed University of Phoenix accreditation in 2023.

How to verify the record

The record should be verified through primary sources. Students, graduates, employers and other reviewers can search for University of Phoenix in the HLC Directory of Institutions and review the Statement of Accreditation Status.

They can also verify the accreditation record through DAPIP, the U.S. Department of Education’s federal accreditation database.

Together, HLC and DAPIP provide the clearest record: University of Phoenix holds current HLC institutional accreditation, and the 2013 action was Notice, not probation.

Why the distinction matters

The distinction matters because probation, show cause and loss of accreditation have different meanings from a Notice.

Probation is a more serious accreditation action than a Notice. It generally involves a formal finding of significant noncompliance, a required corrective process and possible escalation if the concerns are not resolved.

University of Phoenix was not placed on probation by HLC. The 2013 action was a Notice, and it was removed in 2015.

If a student or graduate is asked about the 2013 action, the best answer is direct: HLC issued a Notice in 2013; the notice was removed in 2015; University of Phoenix remained accredited; and HLC reaffirmed the University’s accreditation in 2023.

For credential verification, students and graduates should use the HLC Statement of Accreditation Status and the DAPIP record rather than secondhand descriptions.

Current accreditation status

University of Phoenix has been continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), hlcommission.org, since 1978. HLC reaffirmed that accreditation in 2023, and the next comprehensive evaluation is scheduled for 2032–2033.

There is no HLC probation status shown in the University’s accreditation record. Students and graduates should verify current status through HLC and DAPIP before using the record for employment, licensing, graduate admission or other credential-review purposes.

Sources

17. [1] Higher Learning Commission. Statement of Accreditation Status and formal action records. https://hlcommission.org. Accessed June 2026.

18. [2] U.S. Department of Education. DAPIP. https://ope.ed.gov/dapip. Accessed June 2026.

19. [3] University of Phoenix. Accreditation. https://www.phoenix.edu/about/accreditation.html. Accessed June 2026.