Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
San Diego, California
National University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
$37,116Annual Cost
$67,548Grad Salary
25.5%Pell Grant
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Need-Based Aid
25.5% receive Pell
National University provides accelerated degree programs for working professionals. Founded in 1971, NU features monthly course starts.
The university excels in education and healthcare administration programs. NU's 'Military Division' serves over 25,000 service members annually.
National University Acceptance Rate
National University runs an open-access admission policy. With a 100% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in. They are worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Open Enrollment
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Slightly below-average GPA? A strong test score or clear leadership track record can still keep you competitive.
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
National University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
National University follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline, though the priority deadline of March 16 is recommended for the best chances of admission and financial aid.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 215 days left — Scholarship Priority
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
National University reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Scholarship Priority
March 16
💡 The scholarship deadline (March 31, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Check Your Admission Chances at National University
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on National University's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
National University Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if National University is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into National University Without SAT or ACT?
National University's test-score policy isn't published. As a default, submit your score only if it's at or above the state/national average — a below-average score can work against you.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for National University
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Getting into National University is the easy part. What matters next is using placement testing, advising, and available resources to set up a strong first year.
Use the one-course-per-month structure deliberately - it suits a specific learning style, not every working adult
National University's signature format has students complete a single course at a time in a compressed, accelerated monthly cycle rather than juggling several concurrent classes across a traditional semester - genuinely different from typical online program structures, including National's own peer for-profit/nonprofit competitors. A prospective student should honestly assess whether intensive, single-subject focus (high short-term workload, narrow time window per course) fits their learning style better than a lighter concurrent-course load spread across more weeks, since the format itself - not just the online delivery - is the defining structural choice here.
Confirm National's nonprofit, WSCUC-accredited status directly - it changes the institutional-risk conversation relative to for-profit competitors
National University is a private nonprofit institution accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) - the same regional accreditor overseeing Stanford and UCLA - and has held continuous accreditation since 1977, a materially different regulatory profile than for-profit competitors facing federal scrutiny. A family comparing National University against for-profit alternatives in the same accelerated-online space should verify this nonprofit/WSCUC status directly with National and treat it as a genuine differentiator in the risk conversation, not just marketing language.
For military-affiliated students, use National's no-additional-cost monthly start dates and GI Bill structure as a real scheduling advantage
National's Military Division serves over 25,000 service members annually with one-month classes specifically designed for service members' deployment and duty-station schedules, accepts Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, and holds a Military Friendly School Gold-level designation - though as a private institution, it does not offer Army or Navy ROTC. An active-duty or veteran student should ask specifically about the military-tailored monthly course calendar (rather than the general civilian calendar) since National structures this scheduling specifically around military life rather than treating service members as a subset of the general adult-learner population.
For credit-heavy adult learners, confirm exactly which prior-learning credits transfer before enrolling - National accepts an unusually broad mix
National accepts transfer credit from regionally accredited institutions, military training programs, Excelsior College exams, DSST/Dantes, CLEP general and subject exams, and ACE recommendations - a notably broad acceptance policy compared to many peer institutions that limit prior-learning credit to one or two of these categories. A student with military training, professional certifications, or standardized-exam credit (CLEP, DSST) should request a formal transfer-credit evaluation specifically itemizing each source before enrolling, since National's breadth here is a real, usable advantage for compressing time-to-degree.
Expert Insight:
National University's reported acceptance-rate figures are wildly inconsistent across sources - ranging from 24% to 50-59% to 100% depending on the aggregator, reflecting confusion between National's open-admission undergraduate policy (any student meeting basic high school completion requirements is admitted) and more selective program-specific or graduate-level criteria. A family should disregard any single quoted acceptance-rate figure and instead confirm directly with National which programs use open admission versus competitive review, since the number varies enormously depending on which program is being described.
National University Profile
Full Name
National University
City
San Diego
State
California
ZIP Code
92123
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission (WASCSR)
Is a National University Degree Worth It?
At $37,116/year against a $67,548 median graduate salary, National University is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation. The numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
The average household income among admitted students is $64,800, with a graduate unemployment rate of 4.41%.
How much does a degree from National University Cost?
The sticker price is $37,116/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is typically much lower.
25.5% of students receive a Pell Grant and 22.8% take federal loans at National University. File your FAFSA early and list National University as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a National University Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $67,548. That's about 66% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Degree Programs at National University
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About National University Admissions
Median graduate earnings at National University run about $67,548 a year.
National University costs roughly $37,116 a year, and most students combine this with scholarships or aid.
About 25.5% receive a Pell Grant at National University. The odds are moderate and largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
The application deadline for National University is March 16. Rolling Admissions is also offered, so applying early improves your chances.
The application fee is 60. Fee waivers may be available. Check with admissions.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is March 31, 2026. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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