University of Phoenix Survey Finds Majority of Americans Believe Professional Athletes Should Earn a College
Degree
NFL star and University of Phoenix alumnus Larry Fitzgerald featured in new brand campaign highlighting his
personal reason for earning a Bachelor of Science in Communication degree
New data from University of Phoenix and Morning Consult shows that a majority (57 percent) of Americans believe professional
athletes should earn a college degree.1 Because the National Football League (NFL) requires players to be out of high
school for at least three years in order to be eligible for the NFL draft,2 collegiate athletes every year must make the
choice between leaving college early or staying and earning their degree before declaring their intent to go pro. But some
athletes, like Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, have found a way to earn their college degree while playing in the
NFL.
In 2016, more than 10 years after going pro, Fitzgerald earned his Bachelor of Science in Communication3 degree from
University of Phoenix. On Sunday, Sept. 11, University of Phoenix launched a brand campaign to showcase his achievements off the
field and inspire others to achieve their higher education dreams. The commercial shows Fitzgerald leaving a voicemail to his late
mother. In it, he thanks her for pushing him and providing him with the love and support that he needed to pursue both his athletic
and education ambitions. He says that he could not have done it without her and will make sure to instill those same values in his
two sons.
“Fifteen years ago I made a promise to my mother: that I would graduate from college,” said Fitzgerald, 2016 University of
Phoenix graduate. “But that one promise has now become so much more than just a commitment to myself. I honestly believe in the
opportunities professional athletes have to inspire younger generations to pursue both their athletic and academic dreams. It’s not
only about planning for a life after sports; it’s about opening yourself up to an entire new world of possibility.”
Among respondents who said professional athletes should earn a college degree, 78 percent of survey respondents said it is
because a degree will prepare them for life after their athletic career ends. Additionally, 55 percent of Americans surveyed
believe professional sports teams should incentivize their players without degrees as encouragement to earn their degrees while
playing. The most popular incentives were teams paying for the players’ education (40 percent) or teams providing players with
tutors (25 percent).
University of Phoenix has a long history of partnerships with professional athletes who know that an education is invaluable and
who actively work to help others achieve their goals both in and out of the classroom. University of Phoenix’s athletic partners
have a deep, personal commitment to education—often exemplified by the time and effort required to achieve their own college
degrees—and they want to share this passion with others. Despite the income they receive from professional sports contracts and
commercial endorsements, the University’s athletic partners recognize that they cannot put a price on knowledge and believe an
education will serve them beyond their playing days, especially considering the average NFL career only lasts around six
years.4
“University of Phoenix believes in the power of a higher education and works tirelessly to make the benefits that come from
receiving an advanced education available to every adult, regardless of their stage in life,” said Timothy P. Slottow, president of
University of Phoenix. “Many of our students share a common link with professional athletes—oftentimes their life path has
prevented them from focusing full-time on their pursuit of higher education. We believe these athletes stand as fantastic role
models of their commitment to pursuing their higher education goals despite the challenges and opportunities that may have stood in
their way of receiving a degree.”
“We are proud that the University of Phoenix’s communications program has such talented and accomplished alumni, many of whom
share Larry Fitzgerald’s commitment and passion for education,” said Dr. Constance St. Germain, executive dean, Colleges of
Humanities and Science and Social Science, University of Phoenix. “The communications program is designed to build the necessary
skill set to proficiently function in professional scenarios. Curriculum develops the core communication competencies for areas
such as leadership communications, journalism, marketing and sales, ethics and law, business communications, diversity, conflict
resolution and other emerging fields related to technology."
For more information about Fitzgerald’s story visit http://www.phoenix.edu/partners/larry-fitzgerald.html.
For more information about University of Phoenix programs, including on-time completion rates, the median debt incurred by
students who completed the program and other important information, please visit: phoenix.edu/programs/gainful-employment.
About the University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help working adults move efficiently from education to careers in a rapidly
changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant and engaging courses, and interactive learning can help students more effectively
pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. As a subsidiary of Apollo Education Group, Inc.
(Nasdaq: APOL), University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering associate, bachelor’s,
master’s and doctoral degree programs from campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world.
For more information, visit www.phoenix.edu.
1 This poll was conducted from July 29 - August 14, 2016, among a national sample of 9,932 registered voters. The
interviews were conducted online and the data were weighted to approximate a target sample of registered voters based on age,
race/ethnicity, gender, educational attainment, region, annual household income, home ownership status and marital status. Results
from the full survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 1 percentage points.
2 http://operations.nfl.com/the-players/the-nfl-draft/the-rules-of-the-draft/
3 http://www.phoenix.edu/partners/larry-fitzgerald.html
4 https://nfllabor.wordpress.com/2011/04/18/what-is-average-nfl-player%E2%80%99s-career-length-longer-than-you-might-think-commissioner-goodell-says/
University of Phoenix
Heather McLaughlin, 714-338-6429
heather.mclaughlin@apollo.edu
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160920005573/en/