National University
National University at a Glance
Reviewed by James A. Barham, PhD, Vice President and Academic Editor. Influence ranks come from our InfluenceRanking™ methodology; other figures come from federal data, with the year shown under each section. Report an error
National University Featured Rankings
- #1 Online Bachelor's in Strategic Communications
- #3 Fastest Accelerated Online Doctorate of Cybersecurity
- #3 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in California
- #4 Online Bachelor's in Construction Management
- #6 10 Fastest Accelerated Online PhD in Criminal Justice Doctorate Programs 2026
- #6 Online Master’s in Forensics
- #8 Fastest Accelerated Online Master’s in Forensic Psychology
- #9 Best Online Master's of Psychology
- #9 College Majors with Accelerated Programs
- #10 Online Bachelor’s in Electrical and Computer Engineering
- #10 Accelerated Online Master's of Psychology
- #10 Online Associate in Business Administration
- #10 Most Affordable Early Childhood Education Bachelor's Programs
- #11 Online Bachelor’s in Cybersecurity
- #11 Fastest Accelerated Online Master’s of Computer Science
- #12 Online Master's in Behavior Analysis
- #14 Online Bachelor’s in Math
- #16 Online Doctorate in Organizational Leadership
- #17 Best Online MBAs California
- #19 20 Most Affordable Online Bachelor's of Cybersecurity
- #20 Online Master’s in English
- #20 Best Online Associate Degree Programs in California
- #21 Online Bachelor’s in Public Administration
- #22 Online Master’s in Educational Administration
- #23 Online Master’s in Organizational Leadership
- #23 Online Bachelor’s in Law/Legal Studies
- #24 Online Bachelor’s in Elementary Education
- #24 Online Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education
- #24 Online Bachelor's in Accounting
- #24 Online Bachelor’s in Healthcare Administration
- #24 Online Bachelor’s in Marketing/Advertising
- #25 Online Master’s in Emergency Management
- #25 Online Bachelor’s in Homeland Security
- #25 Online Bachelor’s in Digital Media
- #25 Online Master’s in Cybersecurity
- #25 Online Master’s in Human Resources
- #30 Liberal Arts Colleges in California 2026
- #30 California's Best Online Master's Degrees
- #33 California's Best Online Colleges 2026
- #39 Online Bachelor's in Computer Science
- #49 Online Bachelor's in Interdisciplinary Studies
- #49 Online Bachelor’s in Education
- #81 Non-GMAT Online MBAs
About National University
According to Wikipedia, National University is a private university with its headquarters in San Diego, California. Founded in 1971, National University offers academic degree programs at campuses throughout California, a satellite campus in Nevada, and various programs online. Programs at National University are designed for adult learners. On-campus classes are typically blended learning courses, concentrated to four weeks or on weeknights with occasional Saturday classes. The university uses asynchronous learning and real-time virtual classrooms for its online programs.
National University 's Online Degrees
BA in Digital Media Design
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MFA in Creative Writing
- Required Credits: 45
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MFA in Digital Cinema Production
- Required Credits: 45
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MFA in Professional Screenwriting Program
- Required Credits: 45
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
AS in AS
Degree Concentrations
- Business
- Required Credits: 90
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
AA in Associate of Arts
Degree Concentrations
- Business Administration
- Required Credits: 90
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Accountancy
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BBA in Business Administration
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Construction Management
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Financial Management
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Integrated Marketing Communications
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Management
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Organizational Leadership
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Strategic Communications
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MS in Business Analytics
- Required Credits: 45
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MS in Data Science
- Required Credits: 45
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MA in Human Resource Management
- Required Credits: 45
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MBA in Business Administration
- Required Credits: 45
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MS in Organizational Leadership
- Required Credits: 45
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MA in Strategic Communication
- Required Credits: 45
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Computer Science
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Cybersecurity
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Information Systems
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Information Technology Management
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MS in Computer Science
- Required Credits: 45
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MS in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance
- Required Credits: 45
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MS in Management Information Systems
- Required Credits: 45
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Criminal Justice Administration
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Homeland Security and Emergency Management
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Pre-Law Studies
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MA in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 45
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MA in Forensic Sciences
- Required Credits: 45
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MS in Homeland Security and Emergency Management
- Required Credits: 45
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
AA in General Education
- Required Credits: 90
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Early Childhood Development
Degree Concentrations
- Inspired Teaching and Learning Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential California
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Early Childhood Education
Degree Concentrations
- BAECE
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Elementary Education
Degree Concentrations
- Nevada Elementary Licensure
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in English
Degree Concentrations
- Single Subject Matter Preparation and ITL Single Subject Credential California
- Single Subject Matter Preparation and ITL Single Subject Credential California
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in English Education
Degree Concentrations
- Nevada Secondary Licensure
- Nevada Secondary Licensure
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Mathematics Courses
Degree Concentrations
- Single Subject Credential
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Social Science
Degree Concentrations
- Inspired Teaching and Learning Preliminary Single Subject Credential California
- Preliminary Single Subject Teaching Credential California
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
EdD in Organizational Innovation
- Required Credits: 45
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MS in Educational Administration
Degree Concentrations
- Nevada Endorsement as Administrator of a School Option NEVADA ONLY
- Preliminary Administrative Services Credential Option CA Option
- Required Credits: 45
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MS in Educational and Instructional Technology
- Required Credits: 45
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MS in Higher Education Administration
- Required Credits: 45
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MEd in Nevada Elementary Licensure
- Required Credits: 45
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MEd in Secondary Education
Degree Concentrations
- Nevada Licensure Nevada Only
- Required Credits: 45
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MA in Special Education
- Required Credits: 45
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MS in Special Education
Degree Concentrations
- California Only
- Nevada Licensure and Endorsement for Generalist Resource Room Nevada Only
- Required Credits: 45
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
AS in General Education
- Required Credits: 90
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in General Studies
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Global Studies
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in History
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Interdisciplinary Studies
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BPA in Public Administration
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Sociology
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Spanish
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MA in English
- Required Credits: 45
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MA in Film Studies
- Required Credits: 45
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MPA in Public Administration
- Required Credits: 45
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Healthcare Administration
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Public Health
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MPH in Public Health
- Required Credits: 45
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MS in Applied Behavioral Analysis
- Required Credits: 45
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Construction Engineering Technology
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Manufacturing Design Engineering
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Mathematics
- Required Credits: 180
- Completion Time: 4.5-5.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MS in Engineering Management
- Required Credits: 45
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
National University Admissions, Retention, and Graduation Information
| Retention Rate | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| 53% | 43% |
Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); acceptance rate for fall 2024; test scores for fall 2024; applications and enrollment for fall 2023; retention for students who started in fall 2023; graduation rate within six years for students who started in 2019.
How Much Does National University Cost To Attend?
| Tuition and fees (in-state) |
|---|
| $13,284 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); tuition and fees for 2025–26; net price for 2024–25, for first-time, full-time students receiving financial aid.
How Much Do National University Graduates Make?
Ten years after starting college, former National University students who received federal financial aid earn a median of $73,988 a year, and 90% of those not still in school are working.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; students who started college in 2011–12 or 2012–13, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars.
National University 's Demographics
Students enrolled at any time during the 2023–24 school year, including part-time and online students.
| Student Body | Under-Grads | Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| 32,813 | 17,183 | 15,630 |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics; 12-month enrollment for 2023–24.
Where is National University ?
National University is located at 9388 Lightwave Ave, San Diego, CA 92123.
How Safe is National University ?
Relative to its enrollment, National University has a violent crime rate of less than 0.01% and a property crime rate of less than 0.01%. San Diego has a violent crime rate of 0.41% and a property crime rate of 1.69%. Sources: campus: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety and Security data, on-campus offenses in 2024 (violent: murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault; property: burglary, motor vehicle theft and arson, which excludes ordinary theft); city: FBI Crime Data Explorer, offenses reported to the city police in 2024.
What Is National University Known For?
National University is known for its academic work in the following disciplines:
- Computer Science
- Criminal Justice
- Psychology
- Business
- Political Science
- Biology
- Law
- Engineering
- Education
- History
- Medical
- Social Work
- Communications
- Literature
- Mathematics
- Sociology
- Nursing
National University 's Top Areas of Influence With Degrees Offered
Each rank compares how much National University 's faculty and alumni have shaped a field with other schools, using Wikipedia, Wikidata and scholarly citation databases such as Crossref and Semantic Scholar. World and U.S. ranks reflect modern influence; the historical rank counts influence across all time. How we rank influence
National University ranks #309 in the U.S. and #1324 worldwide for influence in Computer Science.
computer-science DegreesNational University ranks #362 in the U.S. and #656 worldwide for influence in Criminal Justice.
criminal-justice DegreesNational University ranks #471 in the U.S. and #1200 worldwide for influence in Psychology.
psychology DegreesNational University ranks #474 in the U.S. and #1701 worldwide for influence in Business.
business DegreesNational University ranks #482 in the U.S. and #1985 worldwide for influence in Political Science.
political-science DegreesNational University ranks #500 in the U.S. and #2132 worldwide for influence in Biology.
biology DegreesNational University ranks #535 in the U.S. and #1831 worldwide for influence in Law.
National University ranks #605 in the U.S. and #3492 worldwide for influence in Engineering.
engineering DegreesNational University ranks #637 in the U.S. and #2758 worldwide for influence in Education.
education DegreesNational University ranks #665 in the U.S. and #1954 worldwide for influence in History.
history DegreesNational University ranks #731 in the U.S. and #2605 worldwide for influence in Medical.
medicine DegreesNational University ranks #764 in the U.S. and #1854 worldwide for influence in Social Work.
social-work DegreesNational University ranks #795 in the U.S. and #2979 worldwide for influence in Communications.
communications DegreesNational University ranks #1251 in the U.S. and #3797 worldwide for influence in Literature.
literature DegreesNational University ranks #1272 in the U.S. and #4892 worldwide for influence in Mathematics.
math DegreesNational University ranks #1299 in the U.S. and #4141 worldwide for influence in Sociology.
sociology DegreesNational University ranks #1620 in the U.S. and #4070 worldwide for influence in Nursing.
nursing DegreesWho Are National University 's Most Influential Alumni?
National University 's most influential alumni include professors and professionals in the fields of Criminal Justice, Psychology, and Computer Science. Here are some of National University 's most famous alumni:
- Weston Ochse
- An Author.
- Lloyd Bryan Molander Adams
- A Director, Producer and Adjunct Professor.
- Ocky Clark
- An American middle-distance runner.
- Quyet Van Le
- A Researcher.
- Piu Chan
- A Researcher .
- Hlaing Minn
- A Researcher.
- Ryan Zinke
- A 52nd United States Secretary of the Interior and former Congressman from Montana.
