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RALEIGH -- The University of Phoenix opened a new location in Brier Creek Thursday.

The university has locations across the state in Asheville, Charlotte, Greensboro, Fayetteville and Raleigh.

But with 16 schools in the UNC System, 60 community colleges and dozens more private institutions, many say they wonder if there's room for more higher education in North Carolina – especially for-profit institutions

Vitalie Korjan enrolled as soon as the new University of Phoenix location.

"I have to work. I have family. I have to take care of them. So I'm thinking, let's take a step forward and do my degree," Korjan said.

The University of Phoenix focuses its curriculum on adults like Korjan who are looking to further their education.

"Not everyone can fit into that traditional model," David Fitzgerald, director of the Raleigh campus, said. "The schedules may not be as convenient as they need. They may not be able to get the classes they need."

But Sal Elehmeada, an accounting student at Wake Tech, said there's really no need for facilities like the University of Phoenix.

"We have enough institutions around us to really do whatever we need as high as you go in education," Elehmeada said.

Nonprofit organization College Foundation of North Carolina, which helps students pay for college, says for-profit schools like the University of Phoenix may thrive.

"There's definitely an increase in the number of people who want to go back to college," Ben Kittner, with the College Foundation, said. "People are changing careers because of the economy. All of these schools see the opportunity."

Korjan said he just wants to further his education for the future.

"Let's do it for a better life, for future," said Korjan.

The University of Phoenix enrolls 385,000 students in North America.

The school says it has financial aid options available. But the College Foundation of North Carolina has loans, not grants and scholarships, for students at for-profit schools like the University of Phoenix.