Behavioral Sciences at University of Phoenix-Arizona

This program costs more than twice the national average in debt ($27,515 vs. $11,371) while delivering earnings that rank in just the 5th percentile nationally. That's a serious red flag for a two-year degree, especially when graduates earn barely more than they owe in their first year out. The nearly flat earnings trajectory—just a 1% bump over four years—suggests limited career advancement potential.

The state context offers one sliver of nuance: this program sits at the 60th percentile among Arizona's four behavioral sciences associate programs. But that says more about Arizona's limited options than about this program's quality. Statewide, the median debt matches this school's exactly, suggesting expensive behavioral sciences credentials may be an Arizona-wide problem rather than a University of Phoenix-specific issue.

For a family considering this path, the math is sobering. Your child would graduate owing nearly a full year's salary, with little prospect of growing their income enough to comfortably manage that debt. Given that 45% of students here receive Pell grants, many families are financing this expensive credential with limited resources. Unless your child has specific transfer plans to a bachelor's program with proven outcomes, less expensive community college options would likely serve them better—even if they mean delaying entry into behavioral sciences coursework.