City: Phoenix, AZ

Category: Education

Description: The Arizona-based University of Phoenix is the nation’s largest accredited for-profit university. University of Phoenix classes are offered at more than 200 campuses and learning centers across the US, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada, and around the world via the Internet and currently enroll more than 470,000 students. The faculty roster is 32,000 strong. The University of Phoenix bills itself as the nation’s leading university for working adults, with degree programs in areas such as business, information systems, counseling, nursing, and education. An important note, though: The university accepts only gainfully employed students age 21 and older. A recent study indicated that nearly half of all higher-education students are in this age group. Flexible scheduling of classes allows working professionals to earn degrees or certifications without interrupting their careers. This means weekend and evening classes, usually lasting for compressed amounts of time compared with similar classes at traditional universities.