Human Resources Management and Services at University of Phoenix-Arizona

University of Phoenix's HR program presents a frustrating paradox: strong initial earnings paired with debt nearly double the national average and concerning salary declines. Graduates earn $58,000 in their first year—outpacing 85% of HR programs nationally and landing solidly at the 60th percentile among Arizona's five HR programs. That initial salary advantage looks promising until you factor in the $50,470 in median debt, which stands among the highest 5% of HR programs nationwide and exceeds Arizona's state median by $20,000.

The real warning sign is what happens after that first year. By year four, median earnings drop 10% to $52,000, erasing much of the initial advantage and falling below the program's own starting point. For a parent, this means your child would be managing substantial monthly loan payments on a declining salary trajectory—exactly the opposite of what you want to see. Compare this to University of Arizona's HR program, which charges less and produces similar outcomes, or consider that the national median debt for HR programs is half what Phoenix charges.

The bottom line: unless your child has already completed credits that transfer here or qualifies for substantial aid that brings debt below $35,000, this program's premium pricing doesn't deliver premium long-term value. The strong starting salary can't justify debt that will take years to pay down, especially as earnings trend downward rather than up.