Accreditation and graduate school admission

Graduate school admission policies specify minimum qualifications for applicants, including the type of undergraduate institution attended. Most graduate programs require a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. The specific accreditation type required depends on the program’s own admissions criteria. University of Phoenix has been continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), hlcommission.org, since 1978, which satisfies the accreditation baseline condition at graduate programs that require a degree from a recognized accredited institution.

What most graduate programs require

The most common baseline accreditation requirement for graduate school applicants is a degree from an institution accredited by a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accreditor. HLC is a recognized accreditor. University of Phoenix has been continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), hlcommission.org, since 1978, and its accreditation was reaffirmed in 2023, verifiable in DAPIP at ope.ed.gov/dapip. For graduate programs that require an accredited undergraduate institution, the HLC record satisfies that condition as a baseline.

Graduate program admissions criteria go beyond accreditation: GPA minimums, test scores where required, letters of recommendation, personal statements, writing samples, relevant work experience, and program-specific prerequisites are all common additional criteria. Accreditation satisfies the institution-type condition; the rest of the evaluation is independent of it. A University of Phoenix graduate whose HLC accreditation record satisfies the institutional requirement still needs to meet the program’s full admissions criteria.

When graduate programs name specific accreditors

Some graduate programs require applicants to have completed a degree from a program with a specific programmatic accreditation in addition to institutional accreditation. When a graduate program identifies a particular accreditor as an admission requirement, applicants should verify whether their prior degree meets that requirement.

University of Phoenix offers select programs with specialized programmatic accreditation, including accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME), and the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Board of Accreditation. Because programmatic accreditation applies only to specific academic programs, students should confirm that the relevant University of Phoenix program meets the requirements of the graduate institution or licensing authority they plan to pursue.

The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) accredits the following programs offered by the College of Business and Information Technology or the College of Doctoral Studies.

• Associate of Arts with a concentration in Business Fundamentals

• Bachelor of Science in Accounting

• Bachelor of Science in Business

• Master of Business Administration

• Master of Management

• Doctor of Business Administration

• Doctor of Management

For additional information, visit acbsp.org or call (913) 339-9356.

Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)

8101 College Blvd #100

Overland Park, KS 66210

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Graduate school admission and the University of Phoenix institutional record

Graduate programs that conduct due diligence on applicants’ undergraduate institutions may be aware of University of Phoenix’s institutional record, including the 2013 HLC Notice and the 2019 FTC settlement. Applicants who are asked about their undergraduate institution’s accreditation history, or who encounter questions about University of Phoenix’s record during the admissions process, can refer to the primary-source records at hlcommission.org and ope.ed.gov/dapip. The current accreditation status is accredited, reaffirmed 2023. Both the historical context and the current record belong in a complete, accurate account.

What to confirm before applying to a graduate program

University of Phoenix graduates applying to graduate programs should confirm: whether the graduate program requires a degree from an accredited institution, and whether HLC accreditation satisfies that requirement; whether the graduate program names a specific programmatic accreditor and whether University of Phoenix’s programmatic accreditation meets that requirement; and whether there are any additional institutional requirements or preferences the graduate program considers beyond accreditation. The institutional record is verifiable at hlcommission.org, ope.ed.gov/dapip, and phoenix.edu/about/accreditation.html.

University of Phoenix graduates with strong academic records - competitive GPA, relevant professional experience, strong letters of recommendation - are positioned to compete for graduate program admission on those merits, with institutional accreditation as the baseline condition satisfied by the HLC record.

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

  [4] University of Phoenix. Accreditation and Licensures. https://www.phoenix.edu/about/accreditation.html. Accessed June 2026.