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University of Phoenix is a Top 100 Degree Producer for minority students in 2024 rankings by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education

A hand positioned in the center of a teal circle holding a megaphone.

By Sharla Hooper

Rankings identify institutions that confer the most undergraduate and graduate degrees to minority students 

University of Phoenix is a Top 100 Degree Producer in the latest annual rankings released by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education identifying the institutions that confer the most undergraduate and graduate degrees to minority students, a ranking in which the University has been included since report launched in 2017. The Top 100 Degree Producers rankings is based on analysis of the preliminary public release of 2022-23 data by Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Statistics. University of Phoenix is #23 in the 2024 rankings of Top 100 Degree Producers for conferring bachelor’s degrees to minority students from a total data sample of 2,555 institutions.

“Many of our students are working adult learners from diverse life experiences tackling multiple life challenges and forging new paths for themselves and their families,” states John Woods, Ph.D., provost and Chief Academic Officer. “We strive to create opportunity for their success through our methods of serving students, informed by decades of delivering on our mission. Our virtual learning environment and student supports as well as our skills and career focused ecosystem help create an equitable education pathway.”

According to the Top 100 Degree Producers report, University of Phoenix is #12 in conferring bachelor’s degrees for Native American students, and #1 in conferring bachelor’s degrees in business administration, management and operations for Native American students. The contributions of the University’s Tribal Operations team approach to support of Native American students were also highlighted in a Top 100 profile article.

“Our team focuses on building and maintaining relationships to identify needs of tribal community members before they even enroll,” shares Patrick Horning, National Tribal Strategic Alliance Executive at University of Phoenix. “This approach means that we tailor our assistance to individual experiences and navigate any initial challenges.”

University of Phoenix ranks number #2 in conferring bachelor’s degrees for African American students. In conferring graduate degrees, University of Phoenix is #13 for master’s degrees, inclusive of all minorities; #8 for African American students, #9 for Native American students, and #22 for Hispanic students. University of Phoenix is #40 in conferring doctoral degrees inclusive of all minorities and #12 for African American doctoral students. 

More than 60 percent of University of Phoenix students report as ethnic minorities, with 60 percent also reporting as first generation college attendees, and seven in 10 are women. About 64 percent of students have dependents, and 78 percent are employed while in school. 

The University continuously strives to advance in its progress to grow an equitable, inclusive and accessible learning environment for student success. As an open access institution serving working adult students, University of Phoenix was an early adopter in creating an equitable learning environment with its innovative approach to flexible, adaptable online learning. The University’s practitioner faculty are working professionals who bridge the gap between theory and practice and can contribute to students’ understanding and access of the social workforce environment. 

University of Phoenix supports students as working adults with diverse experiences and backgrounds through a career-focused and skills-aligned ecosystem of education and services including its Career Services for Life® commitment. Students can also benefit from generous transfer policies and a supportive transfer pathway to all students, the opportunity for students to earn college credit for prior learning through life and work experiences, and the University’s tuition guarantee, delivering affordable and competitive tuition costs that are transparent and predictable.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and a Career Services for Life® commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit  phoenix.edu/blog.html.