Is University of Phoenix a good choice for a degree if you’re looking to switch careers?

University of Phoenix can be a good choice for working adults who are looking to switch careers and need to earn a degree while continuing to work. Its online programs, including both degrees and certificates, combine skills-aligned coursework, flexible access to learning materials and career support for students balancing school with professional and personal responsibilities.

For career changers, those features address practical concerns: fitting education into an existing schedule, developing skills relevant to a different field and explaining how previous experience applies to new opportunities. Choosing a program starts with understanding the education, skills and credentials required for the intended career. 

Switching careers as a working adult can feel more overwhelming than simply choosing a new field. Adult learners may worry about multiple obstacles, including:

• The time it will take to pursue continued education, especially while maintaining their current job
• How they will manage school and family obligations simultaneously, especially when it comes to scheduling
• The financial cost of coursework
• Uncertainty about how to get started and which credentials would be valuable in helping them start in a new field

University of Phoenix understands the obstacles that adult learners face, including those who are undergoing a major career change. Our degree and certificate programs can offer the following benefits to working professionals pursuing continued education:

• Skills-aligned programs: Students can take coursework in both degree programs and certificate programs that’s mapped to competencies and skills that employers may expect or look for.
• Digital badges: Students can receive verified, shareable credentials, which can demonstrate skill development or competency on a resumé. The badges embed information about what was learned, how the skill was assessed and when the course was completed—allowing employers to help understand a candidate’s capabilities.
• Flexible online scheduling: Courses are available around the clock, so students can complete assignments on a schedule that works for them while meeting course deadlines. Multiple start dates are available during the year; there’s no need to wait for a traditional semester. Undergraduate and graduate students focus on one course at a time with access to materials for weekly assignments. The completion length of each program varies.
• Career services: Through the University’s Career Services for Life^® commitment, students and graduates can take advantage of professional assistance including resumé tools, one-on-one coaching sessions and interview practice. For someone switching careers, this support can help connect experience from a previous role with the skills employers seek in a different field.

Working adults switching careers may already have college credits that can apply toward a different degree. University of Phoenix evaluates eligible transfer credits to determine whether or how they fit a student’s selected program. Credits that satisfy program requirements can reduce the remaining coursework, potentially lowering the time and tuition needed to graduate.

University of Phoenix can also perform a preliminary evaluation using unofficial transcripts. This can help prospective students understand how previous coursework may apply before they decide on their next step.

The University’s Locked-In Pricing Guarantee helps students plan for tuition expenses by locking their tuition and resource fees throughout the time they have to complete their enrolled program, subject to applicable terms. Together, a transfer-credit evaluation and an estimate of remaining tuition can give career changers an approximation of the educational investment required.

Working adults who are switching careers should consider how an online university fits both their current responsibilities and their intended profession before settling on a program. Since institutions can structure their programs differently, direct comparisons can sometimes be challenging when making a decision, but a few criteria may be helpful to keep in mind. Important factors include the course schedule, total educational cost, transfer-credit policies, curriculum and available career support.

At University of Phoenix, online access and a one-course-at-a-time format in many programs can help students plan coursework around existing responsibilities. An evaluation of previous college credits can clarify how much education remains, while the Locked-In Pricing Guarantee supports cost planning. Skills-aligned coursework and the Career Services for Life^® commitment provide additional resources for building relevant knowledge and preparing to pursue new opportunities.

One consideration is institutional history. University of Phoenix is one of the pioneers of online education, going online in 1989, and has focused on serving working adults for five decades. Additionally, UOPX has been continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1978. Prospective students should also check whether their intended profession requires specialized program accreditation, licensure or other credentials.

Another criterion to consider is faculty experience. University of Phoenix faculty are experienced in the fields they teach, averaging more than 29 years of professional experience, which can help coursework reflect current industry practices that account for real, lived experience.

The University also doesn’t require entrance exams such as the SAT or GRE for admission, which may remove a barrier for career changers who have been out of school for some time.

The right program depends on a student’s previous education and intended career. Some working adults need foundational knowledge in a new field. Others need additional education to pursue a different direction within their existing profession. University of Phoenix offers degree and certificate programs in several fields that align with various career-change paths. Three areas for career changers may include:

A working adult interested in moving into IT may consider the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology program. Coursework covers areas such as networking, programming, operating systems and cybersecurity, helping students build technical knowledge relevant to the field.

Students interested specifically in protecting systems and information may explore the Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity. Certificate options in areas like cybersecurity and IT management may also provide focused training for students who want to build specific technical skills. Coursework in those programs cover subjects like network security, programming fundamentals and software architecture, which are skills that can apply across a range of IT roles.

Comparing the curriculum with requirements in relevant job postings can help prospective students identify which program aligns with their goals and whether additional experience or industry certifications may be needed.

University of Phoenix nursing programs are post-licensure, meaning they are designed for students who are already registered nurses. While these programs aren’t suited for students switching careers into nursing from outside the field, they can support nurses who want to change the direction of their nursing career. An RN looking to move into nursing administration or leadership, for example, may pursue the RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing or a Master of Science in Nursing. In addition, for those who are RNs but hold a bachelor’s degree in a subject other than nursing, the University has a nursing bridge program to allow you to achieve a Master of Science in Nursing.

Working adults interested in business, human resources, marketing or management may explore the Bachelor of Science in Business and related program options. Business education can help students build on experience from previous jobs while developing knowledge relevant to a different role or industry.

For professionals who already hold a bachelor’s degree, the Master of Business Administration offers coursework in areas such as business analytics, risk assessment and strategic planning. Those subjects may be relevant to someone seeking to move from a technical or operational role toward management.

Alumni stories can offer a closer look at a career transition. Kristi Glover’s story, for example, describes how she used her University of Phoenix education to enhance a career in human resources after working in the military. Her experience provides an individual example of how further education can contribute to a move into a different field. Read more about her education and career path in her alumni profile.

For students returning to school for the purpose of switching careers, the stakes can feel high, and they likely want to know that their degree can help them progress.  

Working adults earning a degree for a career change may want evidence of how graduates are perceived in the workplace. An online survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of University of Phoenix found positive perceptions among surveyed managers who supervise University of Phoenix graduates:

• 98% of employers who oversee University of Phoenix graduates reported a positive perception of them, compared with 88% of employers who oversee graduates from benchmark colleges and universities.
• 94% rated University of Phoenix graduates as excellent or above-average performers, compared with 79% for graduates from other institutions.
• 85% said University of Phoenix graduates were job-ready when they started their role, compared with 69% for graduates from other institutions.^[1]

These findings provide evidence of positive workplace perceptions among the surveyed managers. For someone switching careers, the perceptions offer one consideration alongside a program’s curriculum and the education, experience and credentials required for the intended role. The survey did not measure career-change success or guarantee employment outcomes.

[1] Source: The Harris Poll online survey conducted on behalf of University of Phoenix, June 4–25, 2026, among U.S. managers supervising at least one University of Phoenix graduate (N=204) and managers supervising graduates from other colleges and universities (N=204).   

Switching careers can be a significant decision, and finding an educational partner can help make the transition more manageable. University of Phoenix offers online degrees and certificates for working adults pursuing education while managing work and personal responsibilities.

For individuals switching careers, the next step is to identify a program that aligns with their intended field, review admissions requirements and determine whether previous college credits can apply. Explore University of Phoenix degree and certificate programs, or speak with an enrollment representative about program options, transfer credits and estimated tuition.

• Online degree programs
• Online certificates
• Master of Business Administration
• Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
• Bachelor of Science in Information Technology

For more information about programs that may support a career change, reach out to University of Phoenix.