National University

Private nonprofit four-year university in San Diego, CA that costs an average of $24,008 a year after financial aid and graduates 43% of full-time students.

Net price / year
$24,008
Acceptance rate
Open
Graduation rate
43%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$73,988

Private nonprofitLarge city10,794 undergraduates

Cost of National University

Total cost of attendance (per year)$31,068
Tuition and fees, in-state$13,284
Books and supplies$936
Average net price after aid$24,008

Net price by family income

Family incomeAverage net price / year
$0–30,000$22,968
$30,001–48,000$23,736
$48,001–75,000$31,068

Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships. Get your own estimate with National University's net price calculator ↗.

Admissions

Acceptance rateOpen admission (everyone admitted)

Graduation, earnings and debt

Graduation rate43%
First-year retention53%
Median earnings 6 years after enrolling$69,601
Median earnings 10 years after enrolling$73,988
Rank in California (earnings)50th of 129 similar colleges
Median debt of graduates$25,000
Typical monthly loan payment$284 (10-year plan)
Students with Pell grants34%
Students with federal loans24%

Majors and programs at National University

Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.

Bachelor's degree programs (51)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing505$108,706$25,604
Computer Science73$98,371$37,738
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering21$91,106—
Construction Engineering3$82,479—
Homeland Security97$75,991$25,000
Security Science and Technology123$74,992$23,218
Management Information Systems and Services74$74,383$28,125
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management42$73,991—
Business Administration, Management and Operations453$68,087$28,125
Criminal Justice and Corrections208$66,056$25,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas12$61,772—
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences48$60,135$23,437
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities62$59,026$28,906
Accounting and Related Services90$58,036$31,250
Public Health94$56,313$35,969
Health and Medical Administrative Services83$53,743$35,937
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions74$53,588$25,000
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication31$51,723—
Sociology77$51,370$25,000
Psychology344$50,504$26,334
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods167$48,306$32,812
Business/Corporate Communications23$48,011—
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions15——
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management29——
Biology25——
Communication and Media Studies———
Construction Management35——
Education———
Engineering-Related Fields———
English Language and Literature45—$25,000
Film/Video and Photographic Arts———
Finance and Financial Management Services27——
History40—$20,000
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services———
Human Resources Management and Services5——
International/Globalization Studies4——
Legal Professions and Studies, Other———
Legal Support Services12——
Manufacturing Engineering20——
Mathematics3——
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies46—$26,843
Non-Professional Legal Studies33—$29,687
Political Science and Government6——
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants———
Psychology, Other27——
Public Administration27——
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication———
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics7——
Social Sciences14——
Special Education and Teaching1——
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness30——

Certificate programs (7)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services———
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions41——
Business Administration, Management and Operations———
Criminal Justice and Corrections4——
Human Resources Management and Services———
Legal Support Services33——
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians———

Associate's degree programs (9)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities247$53,556$10,500
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences—$42,417$10,500
Business Administration, Management and Operations42——
Engineering Technologies/Technicians———
Human Biology149——
Legal Support Services21——
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions1——
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants———
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies———

Post-baccalaureate certificate programs (2)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing———
Security Science and Technology———

Master's degree programs (44)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing49$139,947$41,000
Engineering-Related Fields49$105,249—
Statistics48$105,040$31,361
Computer Science33$102,147—
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management139$101,391$38,616
Educational Administration and Supervision211$99,154$24,859
Educational/Instructional Media Design40$86,362$20,500
English Language and Literature153$85,835$28,655
Medical Illustration and Informatics39$85,508$35,567
Business Administration, Management and Operations592$81,774$30,750
Criminal Justice and Corrections75$79,838$32,491
Public Administration145$78,390$32,054
Special Education and Teaching640$76,119$41,000
Human Resources Management and Services138$74,516$34,019
Accounting and Related Services103$71,718$21,197
Student Counseling and Personnel Services367$71,197$41,000
Health and Medical Administrative Services61$70,662$52,111
Homeland Security78$69,579—
Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research269$68,515$20,500
Education1,432$66,997$35,541
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods98$66,926$20,500
Public Health162$63,634$49,240
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology2,191$61,834$29,078
Communication and Media Studies49$61,543$20,500
Psychology160$61,132$33,405
Security Science and Technology164$58,782$34,082
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness100$54,811$41,000
Film/Video and Photographic Arts2$48,733—
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies16$44,497—
Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems———
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education5——
Biology———
Design and Applied Arts———
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft9——
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians———
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences———
History———
International Business———
Management Information Systems and Services2——
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods———
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other17——
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication———
Sustainability Studies———
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas———

Doctoral degree programs (3)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology—$89,962$82,739
Business Administration, Management and Operations20——
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing——$209,647

Professional degree programs (2)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology30——
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing34——

Graduate certificate programs (10)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing108$151,215—
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology2——
Computer and Information Sciences1——
Finance and Financial Management Services———
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods———
Medical Illustration and Informatics4——
Security Science and Technology8——
Special Education and Teaching———
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness1——
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods———

Similar colleges in California

CollegeCityNet price / yrAcceptanceEarnings
California Baptist UniversityRiverside$24,13885%$67,633
Stanford UniversityStanford$12,3073.6%$125,340
Chapman UniversityOrange$46,70865%$80,694
Loyola Marymount UniversityLos Angeles$50,51845%$86,034
Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara$36,11648%$117,193
University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles$33,0569.8%$103,420
University of San DiegoSan Diego$29,53952%$93,069
University of San FranciscoSan Francisco$30,49662%$94,613

All colleges in California →

About National University

TypePrivate nonprofit four-year university
LocationSan Diego, CA
SettingLarge city
Undergraduates10,794
Student-to-faculty ratio16 to 1
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Websitenu.edu ↗

Frequently asked questions

How much does National University cost per year?

The full cost of attendance is $31,068 a year (tuition and fees: $13,284). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $24,008 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $22,968.

How much do National University graduates earn?

Former students earn a median of $73,988 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 50th of 129 similar colleges in California. The best-paid bachelor's program is registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing ($108,706 a year after graduation).

What is National University's graduation rate?

43% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 53% of first-year students return for a second year.