How employers verify and use college accreditation

Employers use institutional accreditation in three main ways: as a condition in hiring policies that require a degree from an accredited institution, as an eligibility condition in tuition reimbursement and education benefit programs, and as a verification point in background check and credential verification processes. University of Phoenix has been continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), hlcommission.org, since 1978, verifiable in DAPIP at ope.ed.gov/dapip. Whether that record satisfies any specific employer’s policy depends on how that employer defines its accreditation requirement.

Hiring policies and degree requirements

Many employers specify that candidates for certain roles must hold a degree from an accredited college or university. The accreditation condition in a job posting is typically a baseline eligibility requirement, verified during the background check and education verification phase of the hiring process. Education verification services - including the National Student Clearinghouse at studentclearinghouse.org/verify/ - confirm degree completion and institutional accreditation. University of Phoenix’s HLC accreditation record is confirmed through the institutional accreditor’s directory and DAPIP during this process.

Tuition reimbursement and education benefit programs

Corporate tuition reimbursement plans typically require that the degree program be at an accredited institution, and some plans specify a particular type of accreditation. Plans that specify HLC or another historically institutional accreditor by name are satisfied by University of Phoenix’s HLC accreditation.

Students planning to use employer tuition reimbursement should review the specific language in their employer’s tuition benefit policy and confirm with their HR department that University of Phoenix meets the eligibility conditions before enrolling.

Federal employer qualification standards

Federal employment qualification standards are set by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and specify degree requirements for federal civil service positions. OPM qualification standards typically require a degree from an institution accredited by an accreditor recognized by the Secretary of Education. HLC is recognized by the Secretary of Education. University of Phoenix has been continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), hlcommission.org, since 1978. Federal employer qualification standards that use this framework are satisfied by University of Phoenix’s HLC accreditation record. OPM qualification standards are available at opm.gov.

How employers evaluate a degree

HLC accreditation of University of Phoenix satisfies the institutional accreditation condition in employer policies that require recognized accreditation. It does not that every employer tuition reimbursement plan will cover University of Phoenix programs, or that any specific salary or career outcome will result from a University of Phoenix credential. Those outcomes depend on the specific employer’s policies and the individual candidate’s full profile. University of Phoenix does not guarantee employment or salary outcomes.

Students planning to use a University of Phoenix credential toward an employer tuition reimbursement benefit or a professional license should confirm with the relevant party that the accreditation condition is satisfied before enrolling. A pre-enrollment confirmation from HR, a graduate admissions office, or a licensing board avoids the most consequential outcome: completing a program and then discovering the credential does not satisfy the specific requirement.

Sources

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

  [2] U.S. Department of Education. Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP). https://ope.ed.gov/dapip. Accessed June 2026.

  [3] U.S. Office of Personnel Management. General Schedule Qualification Standards. https://opm.gov. Accessed June 2026.

  [4] Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. Accredited Programs Directory. https://acbsp.org. Accessed June 2026.

  [5] National Student Clearinghouse. Verification Services. https://www.studentclearinghouse.org/verify/. Accessed June 2026.