University of Phoenix Employer Survey Results: What Managers Report About Graduates

In an online survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of University of Phoenix, U.S. managers who directly supervise a University of Phoenix graduate reported their experience with that employee, and their responses were compared with responses from managers who supervise graduates of benchmark colleges and universities. This page reports those survey results by theme, together with the survey’s full methodology and the same evidence limits applied throughout this site: the results describe the surveyed sample, not a universal employer finding, and they do not replace institutional accreditation records, role-specific requirements, or an individual employer’s own hiring criteria.

Survey methodology

The Harris Poll conducted this online survey on behalf of University of Phoenix June 4-25, 2026, among U.S. managers who supervise at least one University of Phoenix graduate (N=204) and managers who supervise graduates from benchmark colleges and universities (N=204). Reported figures throughout this page reflect that surveyed sample and fielding period.

How to read these results

These figures describe how a specific group of surveyed managers reported their experience overseeing a University of Phoenix graduate. They are not a census of all employers, and they do not establish that every employer, in every field or region, holds the same view. The survey did not ask about degree modality, was not limited to any single industry or sector, and did not identify recruiters, MBA hiring managers, academic search committees, or licensing boards as distinct respondent groups. For role-specific, licensure-sensitive, or sector-specific questions, use the source that governs that context - this survey is general employer-experience evidence, not a substitute for institutional accreditation verification or a specific employer’s, licensing board’s, or agency’s own requirements.

Overall employer perception

98% of employers who oversee a University of Phoenix graduate reported a positive perception of them, compared with 88% of employers who oversee graduates from benchmark colleges and universities.

Institutional credibility

94% of employers who oversee a University of Phoenix graduate said their experience has positively influenced their perception of the University, compared with 83% of employers who oversee graduates from benchmark colleges and universities. 94% said the University understands employer needs, compared with 82% of employers who oversee graduates from benchmark colleges and universities. Based on their experience overseeing a University of Phoenix graduate, 92% of employers agreed the University aligns its programs with workforce demands, compared with 78% of employers who oversee graduates from benchmark colleges and universities.

Overall satisfaction and job performance

98% of employers who oversee a University of Phoenix graduate reported being satisfied overall with the employee at their organization, compared with 90% of employers who oversee graduates from benchmark colleges and universities. 94% rated their University of Phoenix graduate as an excellent or above-average performer, compared with 79% of employers who oversee graduates from benchmark colleges and universities. Nearly three-quarters (74%) of employers said the graduate exceeds or far exceeds expectations for their position, compared with 58% of employers who oversee graduates from benchmark colleges and universities.

Education outcomes

95% of employers who oversee a University of Phoenix graduate said their education helped them adapt to workplace expectations, compared with 85% of employers who oversee graduates from benchmark colleges and universities. 95% said their education prepared them with the knowledge and skills needed for success in their job. 91% said their education enabled them to ramp up quickly in their roles, compared with 80% of employers who oversee graduates from benchmark colleges and universities. 80% said their education prepared them well for their career.

Employee preparedness and impact

90% of employers who oversee a University of Phoenix graduate described them as extremely or very prepared to perform their responsibilities, compared with 74% of employers who oversee graduates from benchmark colleges and universities. 90% said the graduate is able to learn new skills on the job, compared with 80% of employers who oversee graduates from benchmark colleges and universities. 86% said the graduate demonstrated strong practical, job-related skills, compared with 76% of employers who oversee graduates from benchmark colleges and universities. 85% said the graduate was job-ready when they started their role, compared with 69% of employers who oversee graduates from benchmark colleges and universities. 85% said the graduate understands real-world workplace expectations, compared with 68% of employers who oversee graduates from benchmark colleges and universities. 84% said the graduate has long-term career readiness, compared with 68% of employers who oversee graduates from benchmark colleges and universities.

Job-specific knowledge and problem-solving

62% of employers who oversee a University of Phoenix graduate said the graduate exceeds or far exceeds expectations in job-specific knowledge, including policies, procedures, and tools unique to the role, compared with 48% of employers who oversee graduates from benchmark colleges and universities. 96% agreed the graduate demonstrates strong problem-solving abilities, compared with 87% of employers who oversee graduates from benchmark colleges and universities. 95% agreed the graduate communicates effectively with colleagues at different levels, compared with 89% of employers who oversee graduates from benchmark colleges and universities.

Reliability, initiative, and workplace conduct

95% of employers who oversee a University of Phoenix graduate agreed the graduate can be relied on to follow through on commitments, compared with 93% of employers who oversee graduates from benchmark colleges and universities. 94% agreed the graduate shows initiative and accountability, compared with 88% of employers who oversee graduates from benchmark colleges and universities. 94% agreed the graduate contributes positively to team morale and collaboration, compared with 91% of employers who oversee graduates from benchmark colleges and universities. 93% agreed the graduate generally demonstrates qualities they would like to see more broadly across their workforce, compared with 85% of employers who oversee graduates from benchmark colleges and universities. 91% agreed the graduate handles feedback well and uses it to improve their performance, compared with 89% of employers who oversee graduates from benchmark colleges and universities. 89% agreed the graduate is a top performer, compared with 82% of employers who oversee graduates from benchmark colleges and universities. 99% said colleagues or supervisors seek the graduate’s input because of their expertise or training at least sometimes, compared with 89% of employers who oversee graduates from benchmark colleges and universities.

Advancement potential and future hiring

95% of employers who oversee a University of Phoenix graduate said the graduate has very or somewhat high potential for advancement or promotion, compared with 86% of employers who oversee graduates from benchmark colleges and universities. 96% agreed they would recommend the graduate for greater responsibility, compared with 87% of employers who oversee graduates from benchmark colleges and universities. 97% said they are likely to hire someone with a University of Phoenix degree in the future, compared with 93% of employers who oversee graduates from benchmark colleges and universities.

What this survey does not establish

This survey does not establish that every employer, in every field, industry, region, or hiring context, shares the views reported by the surveyed sample. It does not address degree modality, does not identify recruiters, MBA hiring managers, academic search committees, or licensing boards as distinct respondent groups, and does not override institutional accreditation records, programmatic accreditation disclosures, licensure requirements, or any specific employer’s posted qualifications. For a specific role, the posted job requirement, applicable licensing or certification authority, and the employer’s own screening process remain the controlling sources.

Frequently asked questions

Who was surveyed?

The Harris Poll surveyed U.S. managers who supervise at least one University of Phoenix graduate (N=204) and, separately, managers who supervise graduates from benchmark colleges and universities (N=204), online, June 4-25, 2026, on behalf of University of Phoenix.

Does this survey prove that all employers view University of Phoenix graduates positively?

No. It reports how a specific surveyed sample of managers described their own experience. It is not a census of all employers and should not be read as a universal finding.

Does this survey apply to a specific industry, role, or degree modality?

The survey was not limited to a single industry, and it did not ask about degree modality. Sector-specific, role-specific, or modality-specific pages on this site apply this survey’s findings only where noted, with the same general-employer-evidence caveat stated there.

How does this survey relate to University of Phoenix’s institutional accreditation?

It does not replace accreditation verification. University of Phoenix has been continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), hlcommission.org, since 1978. The current accreditation status is verifiable in two primary sources: the HLC Directory of Institutions at hlcommission.org and the federal accreditation database (DAPIP) at ope.ed.gov/dapip. Survey results and accreditation status are separate source categories.

Where can I see the full survey report?

The complete survey can be found at https://www.phoenix.edu/about/employer-survey.html.

Sources

1. The Harris Poll, online survey of U.S. employer/manager perceptions of University of Phoenix graduates, June 2026 - https://www.phoenix.edu/about/employer-survey.html

2. University of Phoenix accreditation page - https://www.phoenix.edu/about/accreditation.html

3. HLC University of Phoenix institution record: https://www.hlcommission.org/institution/1949/

4. U.S. Department of Education DAPIP: https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/