New pathway offers eligible students the opportunity to complete a Bachelor of Science in Business in as little as three years, potentially saving up to $14,000 in typical tuition and fees.

PHOENIX, Nov. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- University of Phoenix is introducing a new accelerated pathway for its online Bachelor of Science in Business (BSB) degree program through an educational alliance with Study.com, offering eligible students the opportunity to complete their bachelor's degree in as little as three years while potentially saving up to $14,000 in typical tuition and fees. The pathway allows qualifying students to take up to 10 designated Study.com elective courses at no additional cost, with eligible credits applied toward their University of Phoenix degree requirements. The accelerated pathway is available to eligible new and returning students who begin their first or next course between November 2, 2026, and April 30, 2027.

"For working adults considering a bachelor's degree, the time and cost involved can be significant factors in deciding whether to begin or return to school," said John Woods, Ph.D., provost and chief academic officer of University of Phoenix. "This accelerated pathway builds on University of Phoenix's commitment to helping working adults pursue career-relevant education through flexible learning, affordable tuition and opportunities to save time and money. By working with an alternative credit provider like Study.com, we are expanding how students can earn specific academic credits with them, while still maintaining the career-relevant learning and support we provide that is central to our approach."

How the accelerated business bachelor's degree pathway works

The pathway allows eligible students to take designated Study.com elective courses as they progress through their University of Phoenix coursework. Students become eligible for one Study.com course after successfully completing every three University of Phoenix courses, up to a maximum of 10 Study.com courses or the number needed to fulfill remaining eligible elective requirements, whichever is less.

The pathway includes the following features:

• Concurrent online learning opportunities: Study.com courses are completed concurrently with, and in addition to, students' regularly scheduled University of Phoenix courses. Each designated Study.com course must be successfully completed within 90 days of the eligibility notification.
    
• Applicable elective credits: Successfully completed, eligible Study.com credits may be applied toward remaining elective requirements in the Bachelor of Science in Business program, subject to the pathway's requirements.
    
• Maintain eligibility requirements: Students must maintain continuous enrollment and successfully complete their University of Phoenix coursework to remain eligible. The pathway's actual benefits and degree completion timeline depend on individual circumstances and applicable program requirements.

Participation in the pathway does not guarantee access to all 10 Study.com courses. Opportunities to take additional Study.com courses are subject to continued student eligibility, remaining applicable degree requirements, and the continued availability of the pathway. If the pathway is discontinued, students may complete Study.com courses already activated within their applicable 90-day completion periods, but no additional Study.com courses will be made available through the pathway.

The program course of study is highly individualized and will vary depending on each individual's transfer credit and electives selection. Below is an example of a beginning course sequence, demonstrating how, after successfully completing three University of Phoenix courses, a student then becomes eligible for one Study.com alternative credit course, which can be completed concurrently with their next University course, and applied as transfer credit once completed.

Study.com alliance provides additional opportunities to earn applicable college credit

The accelerated pathway enhances the ways University of Phoenix and Study.com work together to help students apply eligible alternative college credits toward degree completion. Through the pathway, students gain access to designated Study.com elective courses that may fulfill specific remaining degree requirements.

Krista Schaub, Senior Director of University Partnerships at Study.com, said, "Momentum and cost are extremely important for adult learners. This pathway turns milestones at University of Phoenix into an opportunity to earn additional credit at Study.com, at no added cost, so that students can move toward their degree faster and more affordably. This program aligns fully with Study.com's mission of 'opening the door to the life changing impact of education' and we're truly excited to expand our decade plus work with University of Phoenix and help more students cross the finish line."

Expanding affordability through tuition savings and pricing certainty

The accelerated pathway complements University of Phoenix's broader approach to making higher education more affordable through opportunities to reduce required coursework and improve tuition transparency.

The University's new Locked-In Pricing Guarantee, effective November 2, 2026, provides new students with one fixed per-course price that includes tuition and resource fees for the duration of their enrolled program. Together, predictable pricing and opportunities to earn applicable credits through the accelerated pathway can help eligible students better understand and plan for their education costs.

The affordability focus reflects ongoing challenges facing adults considering higher education. According to Gallup and Lumina Foundation's 2026 State of Higher Education report, financial pressures remain a significant barrier to enrollment and completion, while flexible learning opportunities and shorter completion timelines are important considerations for adults returning to college.

Career-relevant business education designed for working adults

University of Phoenix's online Bachelor of Science in Business is a 120-credit degree program designed to help students develop practical knowledge and skills in management, leadership, communications, finance, marketing and business operations. The program, offered through the University's College of Business and Information Technology, features skills-mapped curriculum informed by labor market insights, accreditation requirements and practitioner faculty, and is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

The program's emphasis on practical, career-relevant learning is reflected in student feedback. In an online Student End of Course Survey, 88.5% of University of Phoenix students surveyed in the Bachelor of Science in Business program agreed or strongly agreed they earned skills in their course they could put to work right away. The Student End-of-Course Survey data reflects responses to the item, "I earned skills I can put to work right away," from November 2025 through October 2026, in which the item received 3,758 degree program responses, out of a total of 121,128 survey responses with a 14.69% response rate.

More than 292,000 students have earned a Bachelor of Science in Business degree from University of Phoenix since the university began offering business degrees.

Who is eligible for the accelerated business bachelor's degree pathway?

The pathway is available to qualifying new University of Phoenix students, alumni, and returning students who have been out of attendance for more than 365 days. Participants must meet admissions requirements, enroll in the eligible Bachelor of Science in Business program and register for and post attendance in their first or next University of Phoenix course with a start date between November 2, 2026, and April 30, 2027.

Participation and continued eligibility are subject to additional conditions, including successful course completion, continuous enrollment and remaining eligible elective requirements. The pathway is not available to students who add a certificate or Associate of Arts degree. Individual degree completion times and savings will vary.

Learn more here about the accelerated Bachelor of Science in Business pathway, including eligible Study.com courses, enrollment requirements and complete terms and conditions.

About Study.com

Study.com opens the door to the life-changing impact of education for tens of millions of learners and educators each month. Study.com is the largest platform of online courses for college credit, certification preparation, and career-aligned degree pathways that help learners build the skills and credentials required to thrive in the workforce of the future. Study.com serves both individuals and institutions—working with over 11,000 U.S. school districts, colleges, and employers to support student success, degree completion, and career advancement. Recognized by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), honored as one of Fast Company's most innovative companies and as 2026 GSV 150 honoree, Study.com has launched multiple impact initiatives such as Keys to College, Working Scholars® and Keys to the Classroom. Learn more at www.study.com. 

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. 

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SOURCE University of Phoenix