Choosing a degree program begins with understanding your strengths, interests and career aspirations. University of Phoenix helps prospective students, or anyone interested in answering these questions for themselves, with an online Career Interest Assessment tool. The tool walks users through 60 statements with answer selections to indicate how strongly they agree or disagree with the statements. At the end, the tool indicates a users’ leading strengths such as creative, social and investigative skills and indicates which career and degree programs are a strong fit for those traits.

Those interested in discovering more about the best degree program for their interests can also use University of Phoenix’s online Career Hub to look at the top 10 careers aligned to University of Phoenix degree programs. This also includes crucial information like salary range, projected growth and estimated job postings.

At University of Phoenix, prospective students can rest assured that they are learning career-relevant skills in every degree program. This way, they can turn their focus to exploring what they enjoy doing andthe type of role they see themselves in. Job Markets with the Best Growth and Earning Potential

Some of the top careers are in IT and healthcare based on growth and earning potential. A fact sheet from the Pew Research Center confirms that workers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) careers earn more than their counterparts in other industries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), “Employment in computer and information technology occupations is projected to grow 13 percent from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations.” Relevant jobs include information security analysts, software developers and web developers.

And the BLS has reported that jobs in the physical, engineering, and life sciences are projected to more than double from original projections, leading to 55,600 new jobs by 2029. They note that similar job growth is projected in the pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing industries to accommodate vaccine manufacture and production. With increased healthcare needs due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, retiring nurses and an aging population, the American Nurses Association reports that by 2022, there is projected to be more available registered nurse jobs available than any other occupation.

Skills-Aligned Degree Programs at University of Phoenix

Once prospective students have reached an understanding about their own strengths and the landscape of the current job market, they can begin an associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree program at University of Phoenix that best aligns with their goals. Those interested in a career as an Information Security Analyst, for example, can pursue one of several degree programs in Cybersecurity at the University. Those interested in nursing can pursue an RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing or Master of Science in Nursing, among other degree programs.

University of Phoenix offers both generous transfer credit options and Prior Learning Assessments (PLAs) that help reduce the time and cost of reaching a degree. With transfer credit options, students can cover up to 75 percent of the credits needed to complete their bachelor degree program. Using the University’s Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) credits, students can earn nontraditional credits for skills developed through professional roles such as IT certifications, military service, police academy training and real estate licenses. There are also options for students to receive PLA credits for life experiences, submitted via journal-style essays, for skills such as stress management, parenting and communicating in a virtual workplace. Some 65 percent of undergraduates at University of Phoenix are eligible for PLA credits, helping them to save on college costs and graduate faster.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix is committed to advancing the educational goals of adult and nontraditional learners and provides maximum support for transfer students to reach their goals affordably. The University makes transferring credits easy and offers Prior Learning Assessments (PLAs) to provide credit for a number of employer-based trainings and life skills including IT skills, police and military work, retail experience, parenting, horticulture, arts, sports and other non-traditional skill sets, helping to reduce time and money toward a degree program.

In addition, University of Phoenix supports working adults and nontraditional learners with numerous scholarship opportunities, flexible schedules, online learning, career-guided degree programs. The University’s Career Services for Life^® commitment to active students and graduates help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit www.phoenix.edu.