New agreement expands pathways from community college coursework to bachelor’s degrees

PHOENIX, Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — University of Phoenix announces a new academic agreement with Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) to support transparent pathways from community college coursework to bachelor’s degrees at the University. The agreement, called a 3+1 Transfer Pathway Program, is designed to help eligible students save on the cost of their education by spending three years completing general course requirements at LACCD and as little as one year completing a bachelor’s degree at University of Phoenix. In addition, for every five University of Phoenix courses students complete under the agreement, the sixth course will be free.

University of Phoenix supports transfer students through a coordinated combination of policies, evaluation resources, transfer pathways and student support designed to simplify credit review and improve transparency. Together, the University’s policies, pathways and tools reflect its long-standing focus on credit mobility: helping adult learners preserve eligible prior credit, reduce friction in transfer and make faster progress toward degree completion.

“Community colleges play a vital role in expanding access to higher education and creating opportunities for learners to pursue their goals,” said University of Phoenix Provost and Chief Academic Officer John Woods, PhD. “Through this agreement with Los Angeles Community College District, we are strengthening a pathway that helps students build on their educational achievements, transfer eligible credits efficiently, and continue their progress toward a bachelor’s degree.” University of Phoenix has established articulation agreements across the United States highlighting the scale of its transfer credit model for working adult learners. Over the past eight years, the University has applied more than 7 million transfer credits, helping students save an estimated $3 billion in tuition and fees by avoiding repeated coursework.

“The Los Angeles Community College District is proud to collaborate with University of Phoenix to expand opportunities for our students seeking to earn a bachelor’s degree,” said Dr. Jim Lancaster, LACCD Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic and Student Affairs Officer. “As an institution committed to increasing educational access and supporting regional workforce needs, we recognize that many of our learners are the first in their families to pursue higher education. Creating accelerated pathways that support seamless degree completion is essential to helping students achieve their academic goals, advance their careers and realize their full potential.”

LACCD is the largest community college district in California and among the largest in the nation. Currently, LACCD enrolls more than 270,000 full- and part-time students across its nine colleges, which include Los Angeles City College, East Los Angeles College, Los Angeles Harbor College, Los Angeles Mission College, Los Angeles Pierce College, Los Angeles Southwest College, Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, Los Angeles Valley College, and West Los Angeles College.

Learn more about transfer credit opportunities at University of Phoenix here.

About Los Angeles Community College District

The Los Angeles Community College District delivers accessible and student-centered education across its nine colleges, empowering students to achieve their educational, career, and personal goals. We create inclusive and supportive learning environments that foster academic achievement, personal development, and workforce readiness. The District was organized in 1969 and is governed by an elected Board of Trustees and is part of the statewide California Community Colleges system. LACCD serves a highly diverse, multi-racial, and multi-lingual geopolitical area of approximately five million people across roughly 900 square miles of the County of Los Angeles, encompassing 36 cities and unincorporated communities, including the City of Los Angeles.

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