Please save yourself the money, time and hassle. As kiddo says, the university of phoenix is basically a company (it's a shame to call it a university) selling certificates for money with minimum to no regulation or supervision. No degree from such companies is worth any of the hassle, time, or money. Do yourself a favor and don't bother about it. Nobody who knows anything about the US higher education will respect such a degree. Community colleges or small liberal arts colleges (and some are cheaper than the others) are often under-appreciated but really good.