University of Phoenix is the largest university system in the nation, after the massive SUNY system; it boasts more than 420,000 undergraduate and almost 80,000 post-grad students annually and has a staff in excess of 12,000 members. This educational behemoth was founded in 1976 in Phoenix, Arizona, by John Sperling, a businessman who felt that working adults should be able to earn a degree with flexibility as well as educational integrity. What started out as one class of eight students expanded hugely, becoming a multi-campus college in 1980, and then the institution really shot up when it ventured into the online and distance learning arena in 1989. Now, UoP is the largest online university in the world.
This premiere online learning institution offers classes in a traditional setting at its Phoenix campus, as well as at 204+ learning centers in various other cities and countries, but the bulk of its students take online classes. The enrollment profile of University of Phoenix is incredibly diverse, but the average student is an adult in their mid-thirties who is seeking to advance their career through more certification and/or higher-level degrees. The staff at UoP is extremely friendly and the admissions policies are open, meaning incoming students need only a GED to study there, although transfer, AP, CLEP and other credits can apply. Achieving a certification, degree or simply taking a class that interests you is simple at University of Phoenix, through its award-winning and easy-to-use online portal. The classes are challenging and the course content is up-to-date and prepares students for the future.