Are University of Phoenix graduates job-ready? Harris Poll finds 90% of managers say graduates are very or extremely prepared

Managers also report strong problem-solving, communication and practical job-related skills among University of Phoenix graduates

PHOENIX, Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- New research conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of University of Phoenix finds managers who directly supervise University graduates report strong levels of workplace readiness and applied skills. Ninety percent describe University of Phoenix graduates as extremely or very prepared to perform their responsibilities, while 85% say graduates were job-ready when they started their roles. Managers also report strong problem-solving abilities (96%) and practical, job-related skills (86%) among the graduates they supervise.

The findings provide a view of job readiness based on managers' direct experience supervising graduates in the workplace. The Harris Poll conducted an online survey from June 4–25, 2026 among 204 U.S. managers who supervise at least one University of Phoenix graduate and 204 managers who supervise graduates from benchmark colleges and universities.

What does job readiness look like to managers?

For employers, workplace readiness extends beyond having technical knowledge or meeting the requirements of a role. Employers often look beyond job-specific knowledge to skills such as communication, critical thinking and professionalism. The National Association of Colleges + Employers (NACE) identifies these among core competencies associated with career readiness, alongside teamwork and leadership. Employees need to apply what they know, solve problems, communicate across an organization and reliably follow through on their responsibilities.

Managers supervising University of Phoenix graduates report those qualities across multiple measures:

• 90% describe graduates as extremely or very prepared to perform their responsibilities
• 85% say graduates were job-ready when they started their roles
• 86% say graduates demonstrate strong practical, job-related skills
• 96% say graduates demonstrate strong problem-solving abilities
• 95% say graduates communicate effectively with colleagues at different levels
• 95% say graduates can be relied on to follow through on commitments

"Job readiness is not simply about knowing the subject matter on your first day," said John Woods, Ph.D., provost and chief academic officer of University of Phoenix. "Employers need people who can apply knowledge, solve problems, communicate effectively and continue building their capabilities as work changes. In our decades of serving working adults, we've seen that learning online while balancing a job and other responsibilities often strengthens self-discipline, self-reliance and organizational skills, qualities that carry directly into the workplace. For many of our students, that growth is happening alongside real responsibilities at work, which makes the connection between learning and application especially important."

Many University students are already participating in the workforce

For University of Phoenix students, preparation for the workplace often does not begin after graduation. The University primarily serves working adults, and 75% of students are already employed while pursuing their education. That means career-relevant learning will likely occur alongside the workplace experiences, responsibilities and challenges students are already navigating.

University of Phoenix focuses on career-relevant education designed around the realities of working adults. Associate, bachelor's and master's degree programs incorporate career-relevant skills through skills-mapped curricula, and University faculty bring professional experience and practical perspectives into the classroom.

How reported workplace readiness of University of Phoenix grads compares

The study also surveyed managers supervising graduates from benchmark colleges and universities, providing context for several measures of workplace readiness and applied skills.

Does education translate into workplace application?

The study also asked managers supervising University of Phoenix graduates to assess how graduates' education relates to their experience on the job. Of the managers surveyed, 95% say University of Phoenix graduates' education prepared them with the knowledge and skills needed for success in their jobs, while 91% say their education enabled them to ramp up quickly in their roles.

What employers say about University of Phoenix graduates

The Harris Poll examined graduate performance, workplace readiness, employer confidence and workforce alignment. Other findings from The Harris Poll include: 98% of managers supervising University of Phoenix graduates report overall satisfaction with the employee at their organization and 97% say they are likely to hire someone with a University of Phoenix degree in the future.

Additional findings and the complete survey methodology are available at https://www.phoenix.edu/about/employer-survey.html.

About the research

The research was conducted online in the United States from June 4–25, 2026, by The Harris Poll on behalf of University of Phoenix among 204 U.S. adults age 21 or older who are employed as a manager or higher and have at least one direct report who is a graduate of University of Phoenix ("managers who currently supervise University of Phoenix graduates") and 204 U.S. adults age 21 or older who are employed as a manager or higher and have at least one direct report with college/university degrees from institutions other than University of Phoenix ("managers supervising graduates from benchmark colleges and universities"). Of the 1796 individuals contacted, 96% satisfied the screening requirements (n=1728) and 24% of the qualified sample completed the survey.

Data are weighted where necessary by employee and employer type — employers of University of Phoenix graduates versus employers of graduates of other colleges and universities — to bring them in line with their actual proportions in the population. "Actual proportions" refer to the real-world distribution of U.S. employers by company size, among employers with two or more employees, based on Dun & Bradstreet data. All qualified survey respondents were weighted to match the national distribution of employer-size segments, and those same weights were applied to the final qualified sample, adjusting the two quota groups to reflect their expected real-world incidence.

The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within ±8.6 percentage points for managers who currently supervise University of Phoenix graduates and ±8.0 percentage points for managers supervising graduates from benchmark colleges and universities, using a 95% confidence level. The credible interval will be wider among subsets of the surveyed populations of interest.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix is Built for Real Life. 50 Years Strong. The University innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world through flexible online learning, relevant courses, academic AI pillars, and skills-mapped curriculum for associate, bachelor's and master's degree programs. Active students and alumni have access to Career Services for Life® resources including career guidance and tools. For more information, visit phoenix.edu. 

SOURCE University of Phoenix