12/01/2025
The University of Phoenix was founded in 1976 in Phoenix, Arizona, as a private, for-profit institution focused on working adults, making its origin a pioneering effort in online and flexible education for this demographic. Its legacy includes a history of adapting to distance learning, navigating scrutiny and change in the for-profit education sector, and a current status as primarily an online university with only a few physical campuses remaining in Arizona and other select states.
Origin
Founded: 1976, in Phoenix, Arizona.
Founder: John Sperling.
Initial focus: To serve working adults who wanted to finish their degrees.
Location strategy: Sperling initially chose to start the university in Arizona instead of California, where he faced more opposition from the higher education establishment.
Legacy
Pioneering online education: The university was one of the first to focus on online and distance education, developing models that helped shape policies for online learners today.
For-profit model: As a private, for-profit university, its revenue has historically been heavily dependent on federal student loan programs.
Scrutiny and change: The university has faced periods of controversy and scrutiny, particularly regarding student debt and graduation rates. This led to changes in ownership, campus closures, and a significant decrease in enrollment.
Industry influence: The University of Phoenix and its parent company, Apollo Group, have had significant political and corporate alliances throughout their history.
Location
Headquarters: Phoenix, Arizona.
Physical campuses: While it once had numerous campuses, most have been closed, and only a few physical locations are still accepting new on-ground students, primarily in Arizona.
Online focus: The university now primarily operates online, with its programs and services available to students across all 50 states and abroad.
Watch UOPX on The College Tour to hear how 10 UOPX alumni from across the country made their educational dreams a reality without putting their lives on hold. In this 30-minute episode, you'll learn how UOPX has designed an educational model built for working adults, from real-world faculty and comp...