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Admission Requirements

Whether you’ve made a commitment to yourself, your family or your colleagues, going to college is a personal decision. So, when you officially enroll at University of Phoenix, we make a commitment to you. We’ll provide quality—from our challenging curriculum to unparalleled support. Meanwhile, you’ll provide determination and drive.

Take a moment to review the admission requirements for the University. Here, you’ll find requirements for the programs you are interested in. Just click on a tab below. Once you’re ready to enroll, click the ‘Enroll Now’ tab to fill out the questionnaire. An enrollment advisor will contact you and answer your questions.

  • Associate and Bachelor Admission Requirements

    General Requirements

    To enter an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program you must:  

    • have earned a high school diploma, GED, California High School Proficiency Examination certificate or foreign secondary school equivalent. If you currently don’t meet this requirement, you can arrange to take the GED through your state’s GED administrator’s office or search for the nearest GED testing center.
    • depending on your degree program, have current employment in order to successfully complete program objectives and apply concepts you learn in our courses. Please contact an enrollment advisor to learn if your program has such a requirement.
    • be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or hold an approved, valid visa if attending a campus located in the United States. 
    • complete all required forms for admission as well as submit official test scores and official transcripts from all colleges and universities you’ve attended. 

    State-Specific Requirements

    In addition to meeting the requirements above, residents of:

    • Nevada and South Carolina must submit high school graduation documentation.  
    • Oklahoma and Tennessee must submit immunization documentation if you’re enrolling in a campus-based program.

    International Applicants

    • Non-native speakers of English must pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the Test of English as an International Communication (TOEIC), the Berlitz® Online English Proficiency Exam or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
  • LPN or LVN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing Requirements

    To enter the Licensed Practical Nurse or Licensed Vocational Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program, you must:

    • have earned a high school diploma, GED, California High School Proficiency Examination certificate, or foreign secondary school equivalent. Students who do not currently meet this requirement can arrange to take the GED through their state GED administrator's office or search for the nearest GED testing center. 
    • have completed an LPN or LVN nursing program. have a valid, unrestricted, unencumbered LPN or LVN license from the United States. 
    • have six months of full-time, post- LPN or LVN work experience in the health care industry within the last three years. 
    • have current employment or have access to a health care organizational environment that allows you to apply the concepts you learn in our courses if you are not employed. 
    • be a legal and permanent resident of the United States or hold an approved, valid visa. 
    • complete all required forms for admission, submit high school graduation documentation if you are a resident of Nevada or South Carolina, and submit official test scores and official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended. 
    • have a signed Criminal Background Check Disclosure. 
    • pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the Test of English as an International Communication (TOEIC), the Berlitz® Online English Proficiency Exam or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) if a non-native speaker of English. 

    As part of your admission, and depending upon your grades and/or scores, prior coursework from regionally accredited or nationally accredited degree-granting institutions, or the credit earned through a national testing program such as CLEP, DANTES or Advanced Placement may be evaluated and considered for academic credit. If you have had professional training or served in the military, you may be able to convert your training into academic credits.

    TOEFL is a registered trademark of Educational Testing Services. Berlitz is a registered trademark of Berlitz International Inc.
  • RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing Admission Requirements

    To enter the RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program, you must:

    • have earned a high school diploma, GED, California High School Proficiency Examination certificate, or foreign secondary school equivalent. Students who do not currently meet this requirement can arrange to take the GED through their state GED administrator's office or search for the nearest GED testing center. 
    • have earned an associate's degree in nursing from a regionally or nationally accredited institution or diploma in nursing from a hospital school of nursing. 
    • have a valid, unrestricted, unencumbered RN license from the United States. 
    • have one year of full-time, post-high school work experience in the health care industry. 
    • have current employment as an RN or have access to a health care organizational environment that allows you to apply the concepts you learn in our courses if you are not employed. 
    • be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or hold an approved, valid visa if attending a campus located in the United States. 
    • complete all required forms for admission, and submit official test scores and official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended. 
    • pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC), the Berlitz® Online English Proficiency Exam or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) if a non-native speaker of English. 
    As part of your admission, and depending upon your grades and/or scores, prior coursework from regionally accredited or nationally accredited degree-granting institutions, or the credit earned through a national testing program such as CLEP, DANTES or Advanced Placement may be evaluated and considered for academic credit. If you have had professional training or served in the military, you may be able to convert your training into academic credits.

    TOEFL is a registered trademark of Educational Testing Services. Berlitz is a registered trademark of Berlitz International Inc.
  • Graduate Admission Requirements

    To enter a graduate degree program, you must:  

    • have an undergraduate degree from an approved regionally-accredited or nationally-accredited college or university, or a comparable degree from a recognized institution outside the United States.  
    • have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) as shown on the undergraduate degree posted transcript.
    • provide verification of a minimum of three years of significant full-time, post-high school work experience. However, certain graduate programs have program-specific requirements.  
    • be currently employed. If you’re not currently working, you must have access to an organizational environment that allows you to apply the concepts you learn in our courses. Select undergraduate degree programs require applicants who have less than 24 transferable credits to hold a job or have one year of full-time work experience.  
    • be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or hold an approved, valid visa if attending a campus located in the United States. 
    • complete all required forms for admission and submit an official undergraduate degree posted transcript. 

    State-Specific Requirements

    In addition to meeting the requirements above, residents of:  

    • Oklahoma and Tennessee must submit immunization documentation if enrolling in a campus-based program. 

    International Applicants  

    • Non-native speakers of English must pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the Test of English as an International Communication (TOEIC), the Berlitz® Online English Proficiency Exam or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
  • Master of Arts in Education Admission Requirements

    To enter a Master of Arts in Education program, you must:

    • have an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited, or candidate for accreditation, college or university, or a comparable degree from a recognized institution outside the United States, and a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) as shown on the undergraduate degree posted transcript. The following programs will accept an undergraduate degree from a nationally accredited college or university: Master of Arts in Education/Adult Education and Training.
    • provide verification of a minimum of three years of significant full-time, post-high school work experience.
    • be currently employed. If you are not currently employed, you must have access to an organizational environment that allows you to apply the concepts you learn in our courses. The Master of Arts in Education/Administration and Supervision and Master of Arts in Education/Curriculum and Instruction - Reading programs require that work experience includes 18 months of instructional experience in a P-12 setting (California residents require 3 years of instructional experience plus a current California credential). No previous instructional experience is required for Master of Arts in Education programs in Adult Education and Training, Elementary Teacher Education, Secondary Teacher Education, Early Childhood, and Special Education.
    • be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or hold an approved, valid visa if attending a campus located in the United States.
    • complete all required forms for admission and submit an official undergraduate degree posted transcript.
    • pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC), the Berlitz® Online English Proficiency Exam or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) if a non-native speaker of English.

    TOEFL is a registered trademark of Educational Testing Services. Berlitz is a registered trademark of Berlitz International Inc.

  • Master of Science in Nursing Admission Requirements

    To enter a Master of Science in Nursing degree program, you must:

    • have earned an undergraduate degree in a nursing program with an upper division major in nursing from a regionally accredited, or candidate for accreditation, college or university or a comparable degree from a recognized institution outside the United States. Nurses who hold baccalaureate degrees in non-nursing programs from a regionally accredited college or university must meet the BSN equivalency by successfully completing the University of Phoenix MSN Bridge Program. This program enables nurses with bachelor's degrees in areas other than nursing to complete three courses at the BSN level, then move directly into the MSN curriculum. 
    • complete all required forms for admission and submit an official undergraduate degree posted transcript. have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) as shown on the undergraduate degree posted transcript. 
    • provide verification of a minimum of three years of significant full-time, post-high school work experience within the past 10 years, of which one year must be as a practicing RN (one year as a practicing NP for applicants of the Master of Science in Nursing/Nurse Practitioner program, a graduate degree completion option for nurse practitioners), and one year must be of other health care experience. 
    • be currently employed. If you are not currently employed, you must have access to an organizational environment that allows you to apply the concepts you learn in our courses. 
    • be able to meet minimal mental and physical qualifications to complete clinical course requirements. 
    • have a valid, unrestricted, unencumbered RN license (a valid, unrestricted, unencumbered NP license for applicants of the Master of Science in Nursing/Nurse Practitioner program, a graduate degree completion option for nurse practitioners) from the United States. 
    • be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or hold an approved, valid visa if attending a campus located in the United States. 
    • pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC), the Berlitz® Online English Proficiency Exam or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) if a non-native speaker of English. 

    Additional admission requirements for the Master of Science in Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner program:

    • have a signed Professional Non-Academic Disclosure Agreement. 
    • complete an Advanced Practice Role Essay. Criteria are provided to guide applicants in completing this requirement. 
    • have a signed Criminal Background Check Disclosure. 
    • have a 3.0 GPA. provide verification of a minimum of three years of significant full-time, post-high school work experience within the past 10 years, of which two years must be as a practicing RN, and one year must be of other health care experience. 
    TOEFL is a registered trademark of Educational Testing Services. Berlitz is a registered trademark of Berlitz International Inc.
  • Doctoral Admission Requirements

    To enter a doctoral degree program, you must have:  

    • a master’s degree from an approved college or university that’s regionally or nationally accredited, or a comparable degree from a recognized institution outside the United States. A master’s degree is not required for the Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial/Organizational Psychology program.  
    • a minimum 3.0 GPA on graduate degree posted transcripts.  
    • three years of professional work experience in a leadership position. However, certain doctoral degree programs have program-specific requirements.  
    • a laptop computer with Internet access. Laptops must be brought to your residencies. 
    • a membership in a research library.  
    • a signed University hardware/software agreement. 

    International Applicants to Doctoral Programs

    In addition to the above requirements, international applicants must have:  

    • a comparable graduate degree earned at a recognized foreign institution that’s regionally or nationally accredited or at an equivalent institution.  
    • copies of official transcripts from the university attended as well as translations if the transcripts are not in English.  
    • a minimum score (only if your native language is not English) of a 213 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL®) or a minimum Berlitz® test score of 550. 
    • You may also opt to have the registrar from your graduate institution send a letter directly to us stating that English is the institution’s sole instructional language. The letter must be written on the institution’s official letterhead.
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial/Organizational Psychology

    Specific educational requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial/Organizational Psychology degree program include:

    • A bachelor’s degree with a cumulative total of nine credit hours in any of the following disciplines: statistics, social science, and/or psychology. Credits must be from a regionally or approved nationally accredited, or candidate for accreditation, college or university. 
    • A cumulative grade point average (GPA) or 3.0 posted on the bachelor’s degree, or one of the following: 
      • 3.5 GPA for the last two years of coursework posted on the official bachelor’s transcript. 
      • A combined minimum score of 1100 for the verbal and quantitative sections and a 4.5 on the analytical section of the GRE is required for the Master of Science in Industrial/Organizational Psychology degree program.  
    TOEFL is a registered trademark of Educational Testing Services. Berlitz is a registered trademark of Berlitz International Inc.
  • Doctor of Business Administration

    Additional admission requirements for the Doctor of Business Administration program include:

    • Students who do not have a graduate degree in business, management, or administration may be admitted if they meet all requirements, and have completed at least three credit hours in each of the following subjects: Finance for Managerial Decision Making, Human Relations and Organizational Behavior, Marketing Management, Strategy Formulation and Implementation, and Statistics and Research Methods for Managerial Decisions. 
    • Credits must be from a regionally or approved nationally accredited, or candidate for accreditation, college or university or equivalent recognized foreign institution.

  • International Applicants to Doctoral Programs

    Additional admission requirements for international applicants to doctoral programs:

    • have a comparable graduate degree earned at a recognized foreign institution that is regionally or nationally accredited, or a candidate for accreditation, or an equivalent institution. Copies of official transcripts from the university will be required, as well as translations if the transcripts are not in English. 
    • have a minimum Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL®) test score of 213 or minimum Berlitz® score of 550 if your native language is not English. Either of these tests must have been taken within two years of applying to University of Phoenix. 
    • Alternatively, you may have a letter from the issuing institution's registrar or equivalent school official sent directly to University of Phoenix stating that English is the sole instructional language used in the foreign institution from which you received or plan to receive your degree. The letter must be on the institution's letterhead. 

     

    TOEFL is a registered trademark of Educational Testing Services. Berlitz is a registered trademark of Berlitz International Inc.
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing

    Additional admission requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing include:

    • Master’s degree in Nursing from a regionally or approved nationally accredited, or candidate for accreditation, college or university or equivalent graduate degree earned at a recognized foreign institution. 
    • A minimum of three years of full-time, post high school work experience within the past 10 years, of which one (1) must be RN experience, and the remaining two years can be fulfilled with health care experience.
    • Current employment in a nursing or health care role or access to an appropriate health care organization environment in which to complete the work-related course assignments.
    • Applicants residing in the continental United States or in one of the U.S. Territories must provide documentation of a valid, unrestricted, unencumbered RN license. Applicants from the following territories must also hold a RN license obtained by taking the NCLEX-RN exam: Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, and U.S. Virgin Islands. 
      • All Canadian students must complete the Canadian License Verification Form and submit documentation of a valid, unrestricted, unencumbered RN license.
      • All students are required to maintain an unrestricted, valid, and unencumbered RN licensure throughout the duration of his/her program.

What to expect

Before attending your first class, we want to make sure that you’re completely informed about the time and financial commitments that you’re taking on. View our walk-through and learn exactly what it takes to earn your college degree.

  • What to expect transcript

    University of Phoenix
    What to expect video

    In school, as in life, clarity is good...Confusion isn't.

    No one GETS THAT more than the faculty and staff at University of Phoenix.

    That's why we thought it would be helpful to walk you through what to expect...

    ...and what not to expect...when you attend our University...

    ...and enroll for course work towards a diploma.

    Before you enroll in our University, we must politely ask...

    ...are you truly willing to make the commitment?

    Education requires hard work and dedication.

    It demands time...energy...and financial resources.

    You'll need to study. You'll need to spend fifteen to twenty hours per week.

    You'll need to login to our student website at least four times per week for active class discussion.
    Are you willing and able to do that? Are you sure?

    VO:
    Thomas Edison defined genius as "one percent inspiration...ninety nine percent perspiration."

    The same is true of education. To succeed at University of Phoenix...

    ...you'll need to apply yourself and be willing to work hard.

    To say the least, we want all of our students to succeed...but you'll need to do your part.

    Of course, every job requires proper tools. Education is no different.

    Students enrolled in our online programs or in our local campuses...

    ...must have access to a computer or a laptop.

    To do the work assigned, you'll need the necessary supplies and software.

    The better equipped you are, the more empowered you'll feel to perform.

    Now a brief word about financing.

    As you probably know, education isn't free. And money doesn't grow on trees.

    Like checkout at any store, paying for tuition is a requirement.

    We recommend you plan your financing in advance.

    You may qualify for a loan. You may qualify for a grant.

    But ALL students are responsible for meeting their financial commitments...

    ...and all loans need to be repaid when you successfully complete your degree program or if you withdraw from the University for any reason.

    Before you make your final decision, we encourage you to thoughtfully consider whether these are commitments you are able and ready to fulfill.

    We know you have a choice in schools and you'll need to weigh your options.

    Other schools may offer similar programs at a lower cost. Only you can decide which school is the best fit for you.

    But if your choice is University of Phoenix, we welcome you....and we'll look forward to helping you unlock your fullest potential.

    ----

    To learn more about financing options, visit www.direct.ed.gov/applying.html.

Funding your education

We know that making the most responsible financial decisions when paying for college can often be difficult. That’s why we made this video that describes the different types of loans and grants that might be available to you.

  • Funding your education transcript

    University of Phoenix
    Funding your education Video

    At University of Phoenix, we view every student as unique.

    And we know that every student's financial situation is different.

    As you probably know, all students are responsible for paying their tuition.

    That said...we understand that different students come from different backgrounds...with different financial needs.

    What's important to know is that funding options are often available...

    ...and that's what this short video is about.

    So...what exactly is financial aid? And where does it come from?

    Financial aid is ...funding assistance that comes from a source outside of a student's ways and means...

    ...including scholarships, state grants and employer programs.

    Federal financial assistance comes in the form of either loans...

    ...or grants.

    Let us break that down for you.

    A loan is borrowed money. As such, a loan needs to be paid back...with interest. Good reason to borrow only as much as you actually need.

    University of Phoenix participates in the Federal Direct Loan Program which includes two basic kinds of loans...subsidized and unsubsidized.

    Subsidized loans...are for students with financial need as determined by federal regulations.

    The student pays no interest while either in school or during grace or deferment periods...

    Unsubsidized loans...are not based on financial need...interest starts to accrue while you're in school.

    You might wonder: "Do I really have to re-pay my loan?"

    The short answer is: Yes...You really do...eventually.

    All loans need to be repaid when you successfully complete your degree program or if you withdraw from the University for any reason.

    The good news is federal loans do NOT need to be repaid while you're in school.

    FRAME WITH SCROLLING LEGAL DISCLAIMER: Interest will increase the total amount you'll need to repay unless the loan is repaid in full before interest begins to accrue. Interest rates vary from year to year. If you prefer, you may choose to pay interest on your loan while still in school. Lean more about repayment options from your Financial Services Representative.

    LEGAL TYPE SCROLLS UP AND OUT, CLEARING FRAME.

    All clear on loans?

    Okay, moving on. Financial aid also comes in the form of grants.

    STUDENT HOLDING A CARD WITH THE WORD "Pell Grants"

    Students are not required to repay their grants, providing they keep up their attendance and grades.

    Anyone can apply for a grant, but not all are eligible.

    Once your application is complete...processing typically takes six to eight weeks before funds are awarded...

    We ask that you provide all requested information at one time so we can process your application as quickly as possible.

    Remember that a lack of attendance or failure to start a course as scheduled may delay, cancel or interrupt funding altogether.

    We recommend that you borrow wisely. Assess your educational expenses and other requirements so you borrow only what you actually need. The less you borrow, the less you'll need to pay back.

    We wish you every success as you pursue your educational opportunities at...University of Phoenix.

    To learn more about federal financing options, visit www.direct.ed.gov/applying.html.

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