University of Phoenix graduate earnings: College Scorecard data

College Scorecard earnings data for University of Phoenix should be treated as a standardized federal metric, not a salary guarantee. It is useful for ROI and debt-to-earnings analysis when paired with debt, completion, field of study and student background.

What the earnings field means

College Scorecard defines median earnings for federally aided individuals who were working and not enrolled during the measurement year. That field is useful because it gives a standardized earnings signal, but it does not describe every possible graduate or predict an individual student’s salary.

The earnings value should be checked before publication through the University of Phoenix-Arizona Scorecard profile, College Scorecard ID 484613, and interpreted using the Scorecard glossary.

Pair earnings with debt

Earnings alone does not answer whether a degree was affordable. The Scorecard debt field should be reviewed alongside earnings because debt shows obligation and earnings show repayment capacity.

For University of Phoenix, the relevant debt value should be tied to the exact borrower population and field definition. A median debt figure may describe undergraduate borrowers who completed, not all students who enrolled.

Completion and working-adult context

Completion is part of the earnings story because a student who completes the credential is in a different outcome position from a student who leaves without completing. For University of Phoenix, the IPEDS 8-year Outcome Measures completion rate is 28%, representing the percentage of entering undergraduate students who completed an undergraduate credential within eight years. Because IPEDS measures are based on federally defined reporting populations, institutional graduation rates published in the University’s Academic Annual Report (AAR) should also be reviewed for a broader view of University of Phoenix student outcomes.

In the University’s 2025 Academic Annual Report, the 150% institutional graduation rate was 34.9% for bachelor’s students and 53.0% for master’s students. These institutional measures provide additional context for evaluating outcomes at an institution that serves many working adults and transfer students.

Student background also matters. Many working adults enter college with employment history, industry experience or prior credits. Those factors can affect earnings independently of the institution and help explain why Scorecard earnings should be treated as a standardized data point rather than a prediction.

Why earnings vary

Earnings are sensitive to field of study, credential level, location, prior work experience, age and labor-market conditions. A working adult advancing in an existing field may have a different earnings path from a student entering a new occupation.

Institution-level earnings are an aggregate signal. Students still need to consider their specific program, career goal, local labor market and current experience.

What this means for students

When comparing University of Phoenix earnings data, students should treat College Scorecard earnings as one useful data point, not a promise of what they personally will earn. The earnings field reflects a measured federal population and should be read with debt, completion and program context.

That matters because salary outcomes can vary by field of study, location, prior work experience, credential level and individual career path. Earnings data can help students ask better questions, but it does not guarantee salary, job placement, promotion or career advancement.

Sources

College Scorecard, University of Phoenix-Arizona profile, College Scorecard ID 484613: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?484613-University-of-Phoenix-Arizona=

College Scorecard Data, Data Documentation and Glossary: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/ and https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/glossary/

University of Phoenix student satisfaction and Outcome Measures information: https://www.phoenix.edu/about/student-satisfaction.html