For-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Rapid City, South Dakota
National American University-Rapid City — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
3.1Avg GPA
$29,232Annual Cost
$37,325Grad Salary
57.1%Pell Grant
Avg GPA
3.1
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
For-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Need-Based Aid
57.1% receive Pell
National American University-Rapid City, founded in 1941 as a secretarial school, has evolved into a career-focused institution serving the northern plains. The Rapid City campus offers programs in business, healthcare, and legal studies, featuring mock courtroom, medical labs, and veteran services center. NAU specializes in flexible scheduling with 5-week courses, evening classes, and online options serving about 500 students.
NAU is unranked among national universities but holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission. The university serves a high percentage of military-affiliated students (35%) and working adults. Unique aspects include a Veterinary Technology program with onsite animal care facilities and partnerships with Ellsworth AFB. The Rapid City location provides access to the region's growing healthcare and professional services sectors.
National American University-Rapid City Acceptance Rate
National American University-Rapid City 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 — 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.
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.10 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.90 – 3.09
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.65
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
National American University-Rapid City Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
National American University-Rapid City follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
National American University-Rapid City 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.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
National American University-Rapid City GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at National American University-Rapid City is 3.1. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 2.80–3.1 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently — for an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.30–3.50.National American University-Rapid City GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Holistic review is critical for admission.
Recommended Strategy: Requires Contextual Factors (Leadership, hardship, or talent).
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.10 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.90 – 3.09
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.70 – 2.89
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.69
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Physical classroom instruction at the Rapid City site has ended; the location now serves as central administration and online support, with instruction delivered online by faculty nationwide
- NAU Holdings reported a severe cash shortfall in 2023 and was placed under Dept. of Education Heightened Cash Monitoring - verify current status before enrolling
- Open admission: high school diploma/GED and minimum age 17 (or parental consent); no undergraduate application fee
- Quarter academic calendar with monthly start dates; up to 75% of a degree can be satisfied through transfer credit
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at National American University-Rapid City
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on National American University-Rapid City'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 American University-Rapid City Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if National American University-Rapid City is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into National American University-Rapid City Without SAT or ACT?
National American University-Rapid City'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 American University-Rapid City
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
National American University-Rapid City provides an open gateway to higher education. Success here is about using available resources well and planning your longer-term academic or career path.
Verify current financial and accreditation standing directly with HLC before enrolling
National American University Holdings has a documented history of severe financial distress - as of a 2023 disclosure the company reported essentially no unrestricted cash and was placed under the U.S. Department of Education's Heightened Cash Monitoring - so before you sign an enrollment agreement, check the Higher Learning Commission's directory yourself for current accreditation status and ask admissions in writing whether a teach-out agreement exists for your specific program.
Understand that "Rapid City" is now a support hub, not a classroom campus
The university's leadership has confirmed that traditional, in-person classroom instruction is no longer offered at the Rapid City site - it now functions primarily as central administration and online student-support services, with instruction delivered by faculty across the country. If you're picturing a physical campus experience, this is not that; plan your enrollment as fully online and confirm this directly rather than relying on older marketing materials or the campus name.
Get a written transfer-credit evaluation before you enroll, since up to 75% of your degree can come from transfer
NAU advertises a generous transfer policy allowing up to 75% of a degree to be satisfied by prior credit, with tuition that decreases as you progress - request a formal, itemized evaluation of your prior coursework, military training, or certifications before committing, since this determines both your real cost and your actual time to completion, not the sticker-price program length.
Plan around the quarter calendar and monthly starts, not a fall/spring rhythm
NAU runs on an 11-week quarter system with monthly start dates rather than traditional semesters - align your FAFSA timing and any employer tuition-reimbursement deadlines to the specific quarter start you're targeting, since financial aid disbursement and add/drop windows follow the quarter calendar, not the academic-year calendar most other schools use.
Expert Insight:
This is a for-profit chain that has closed more than 30 campuses since 2015 and was reporting near-zero cash reserves as recently as 2023, with the Department of Education placing it under Heightened Cash Monitoring. Applicants should independently confirm the school is still operating and accredited at the time they enroll, and should not assume name recognition or a listed campus address means an active, financially stable in-person program.
National American University-Rapid City Profile
Full Name
National American University-Rapid City
City
Rapid City
State
South Dakota
ZIP Code
57702
Type
For-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a National American University-Rapid City Degree Worth It?
Whether National American University-Rapid City is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals — here's the data to weigh it against.
The average household income among admitted students is $60,300, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.16%.
How much does a degree from National American University-Rapid City Cost?
The sticker price is $29,232/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is typically much lower.
57.1% of students receive a Pell Grant and 43.7% take federal loans at National American University-Rapid City — file your FAFSA early and list National American University-Rapid City as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a National American University-Rapid City Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $37,325 — somewhat below the U.S. median graduate income of $40,595.
Degree Programs at National American University-Rapid City
Bachelor Degree Programs
Masters Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About National American University-Rapid City Admissions
Median earnings for National American University-Rapid City graduates sit around $37,325 a year.
At about $29,232 a year, National American University-Rapid City is on the more affordable end.
With 57.1% of National American University-Rapid City students on a Pell Grant, need-based aid odds here are strong — an early FAFSA filing naming National American University-Rapid City is the key move.
Admitted students at National American University-Rapid City average a 3.1 GPA.
National American University-Rapid City doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 2.8 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 2.7, National American University-Rapid City becomes a harder reach — though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
National American University-Rapid City follows Rolling Admissions — applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
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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