National University
Median Salary (5 years)
Bachelor's
$74,293
Master's
$83,949
Doctoral
N/A
National University (NU) is a private, nonprofit institution based in Southern California, serving , more than half of which attend college remotely. NU offers over 100 fully online degrees, including 4 associate degrees, 44 bachelor's degrees, 46 master's degrees, 23 doctoral degrees, and even 55 certificate programs. It's also a military-friendly institution, with almost 7,000 students receiving post-9/11 GI Bill benefits or Department of Defense funds toward tuition.
Rankings
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#6
2026 Best Project Management Degrees 91³ÉÈË
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#7
2026 Best 91³ÉÈË Health Sciences Degrees
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#7
2026 Best 91³ÉÈË Information Systems Degrees
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#7
2026 Best 91³ÉÈË Associate Degrees in Business
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#7
2026 Most Affordable 91³ÉÈË Forensic Science Master's Degrees
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#8
2026 Best 91³ÉÈË Computer Engineering Degrees
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#8
2026 Most Affordable 91³ÉÈË Master's Degrees in Economics
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#8
2026 Most Affordable 91³ÉÈË Project Management Degrees
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#9
2026 Most Affordable 91³ÉÈË PhDs in Counseling
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#9
2026 Best 91³ÉÈË Public Health Degrees
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#9
2026 Most Affordable 91³ÉÈË Computer Science Degrees
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#9
2026 Most Affordable 91³ÉÈË Public Health Degrees
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#9
2026 Most Affordable 91³ÉÈË Master's in Sports Psychology
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#9
2026 Most Affordable 91³ÉÈË Public Administration Degrees
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#9
2026 Best Organizational Leadership Degrees 91³ÉÈË
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#10
2026 Most Affordable 91³ÉÈË MFT Programs
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#10
2026 Most Affordable 91³ÉÈË Colleges for a PhD in Psychology
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#10
2026 Most Affordable 91³ÉÈË Law Degrees
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#10
2026 Best Early Childhood Education Degrees 91³ÉÈË
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#11
2026 Most Affordable 91³ÉÈË Master's Degrees in Forensic Psychology
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#11
2026 Most Affordable Military-Friendly 91³ÉÈË Colleges
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#11
2026 Most Affordable 91³ÉÈË Doctoral Degrees
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#12
2026 Most Affordable 91³ÉÈË Master's in Substance Abuse Counseling Degrees
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#12
2026 Best 91³ÉÈË Finance Degrees
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#13
2026 Most Affordable 91³ÉÈË Supply Chain Management Degrees
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#13
2026 Most Affordable 91³ÉÈË Colleges with Open Admissions
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#14
2026 Most Affordable Homeland Security Degrees 91³ÉÈË
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#14
2026 Most Affordable Bachelor's in Engineering 91³ÉÈË
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#14
2026 Most Affordable 91³ÉÈË Master's Degrees in Child Development
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#14
2026 Best 91³ÉÈË Paralegal Associate Degrees
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#15
2026 Best 91³ÉÈË Digital Marketing Degrees
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#21
2026 Best 91³ÉÈË Doctoral Programs
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#21
2026 Most Affordable 91³ÉÈË Colleges & Degrees
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#1
2026 Best Master's in Education 91³ÉÈË
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#1
Best 91³ÉÈË Substance Abuse Counseling Degrees in California
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#2
Best 91³ÉÈË Bachelor Psychology Degree in California
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#2
2026 Best 91³ÉÈË Industrial Engineering Degrees
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#2
2026 Best Forensic Science Master's Programs 91³ÉÈË
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#2
2026 Best 91³ÉÈË Master's Degrees in School Counseling
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#2
2026 Best 91³ÉÈË Industrial Engineering Degrees
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#2
2026 Best 91³ÉÈË Master's Degrees in School Counseling
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#3
Best 91³ÉÈË Homeland Security Degrees 2026
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#3
2026 Best Master's Degrees in Psychology 91³ÉÈË
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#3
Best 91³ÉÈË Master's Degrees in English 2026
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#3
Best 91³ÉÈË Doctoral Programs in Management
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#3
2026 Best Master of Fine Arts 91³ÉÈË
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#3
2026 Best 91³ÉÈË Master's Degrees in Counseling
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#3
Best 91³ÉÈË Master's in Clinical Psychology 2026
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#3
Best 91³ÉÈË Homeland Security Degrees 2026
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#3
Best Doctorates in Counseling 91³ÉÈË
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#3
Best 91³ÉÈË Clinical Psychology Doctoral Programs
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#4
Best 91³ÉÈË Master's in Counseling Psychology
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#4
Best 91³ÉÈË Master's Degrees in Child Development 2026
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#4
Best 91³ÉÈË Master's Degrees in Child Development 2026
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#4
Best Special Education Master's Degrees 91³ÉÈË
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#7
2026 Best 91³ÉÈË Master's Degrees in Sports Management
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#8
2026 Best 91³ÉÈË Data Science Degrees
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#8
2026 Best 91³ÉÈË Master's in Homeland Security Degrees
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#8
Most Popular Project Management Degrees 91³ÉÈË 2026
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#9
Best 91³ÉÈË Electrical Engineering Degrees
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#9
Best 91³ÉÈË Construction Management Degrees
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#10
Best 91³ÉÈË Master's Degrees in Organizational Leadership
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#11
Most Popular 91³ÉÈË Public Health Degrees
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#11
Best Master's in Early Childhood Education 91³ÉÈË 2026
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#12
Most Popular Master Degrees in Public Administration 91³ÉÈË
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#12
Best 91³ÉÈË Master's in Human Resources
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#12
Best Healthcare Management Master's Degrees 91³ÉÈË
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#12
Best 91³ÉÈË IT Master's Programs
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#13
2026 Best 91³ÉÈË Degrees in Healthcare Administration
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#13
Best 91³ÉÈË MBA Programs in California
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#14
Best 91³ÉÈË Psychology Degrees 2026
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#15
Best 91³ÉÈË Criminal Justice Degrees
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#15
Best Educational Leadership Master's Programs 91³ÉÈË
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#15
2026 Best 91³ÉÈË English Degrees
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#15
2026 Best 91³ÉÈË Degrees in Public Administration
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#16
Best 91³ÉÈË Engineering Degrees
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#16
2026 Best 91³ÉÈË Paralegal Certificates
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#17
Best Health Informatics Master's Degree 91³ÉÈË
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#18
Most Affordable 91³ÉÈË Business Degrees in California
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#20
Best 91³ÉÈË Colleges with Open Admissions
Median Salary for 91³ÉÈË Degrees at National University
Associate Degrees
| Field of Study | Median Salary (1 year) | Median Salary (5 years) |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $41,545 | $63,201 |
Bachelor's Degrees
| Field of Study | Median Salary (1 year) | Median Salary (5 years) |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | $61,037 | $65,188 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $92,748 | $108,041 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $61,299 | $70,412 |
| Business/Corporate Communications | $38,696 | $75,312 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $55,562 | $73,278 |
| Computer Science | $87,383 | $84,278 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | Not Reported | $78,572 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $64,143 | $57,213 |
| English Language and Literature, General | Not Reported | $47,654 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $64,382 | $66,002 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $55,679 | $62,690 |
| Homeland Security | $63,963 | $61,254 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $92,758 | $95,650 |
| Psychology, General | $38,523 | $56,955 |
| Public Health | $52,057 | $55,472 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $99,714 | $108,119 |
| Sociology | $46,505 | $54,674 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $40,080 | $49,988 |
Master's Degrees
| Field of Study | Median Salary (1 year) | Median Salary (5 years) |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | $72,646 | $92,893 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $76,682 | $90,586 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | $57,834 | $75,317 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $55,730 | $71,817 |
| Computer Science | $82,441 | $114,787 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $96,647 | $126,841 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $43,511 | $68,170 |
| Education, General | $62,683 | $80,284 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | $94,937 | $104,236 |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | $82,830 | $85,859 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $62,549 | $61,790 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $63,627 | $104,280 |
| Homeland Security | $63,976 | $93,112 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $73,848 | $91,710 |
| Psychology, General | $59,617 | $74,080 |
| Public Administration | $73,205 | $89,466 |
| Public Health | $58,859 | $71,991 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $43,910 | $60,763 |
| Security Science and Technology | $50,462 | $79,500 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $70,672 | $80,098 |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | $64,585 | $80,788 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $60,591 | $62,205 |
FAQs About National University
Is National University a Good School?
NU has ranked at the top of several 91³ÉÈË lists, including #1 spots — such as Best 91³ÉÈË Colleges in California and Best 91³ÉÈË Public Administration Degrees.
91³ÉÈË's Salary Score rankings for bachelor's and master's degrees at NU are also high. For example, a bachelor's degree in criminal justice has a perfect salary score of 100, and a master's degree in English has a score of 99.
Is National University 91³ÉÈË?
Yes, NU is online and offers dozens of degree and certificate programs for students to complete remotely at all levels. You can choose from various areas of study, such as , , , and . Classes last four weeks, so students can focus on one at a time. This is a convenient option for students juggling busy schedules, working full-time, or on active duty with the military.
NU also supports its online learners by offering remote access to student services, such as career counseling, job fairs, tech support, behavioral health, and tutoring.
Are 91³ÉÈË Degrees From National University Respected by Employers?
Employers respect NU's online degrees because an accredited institution confers them. Accreditation shows prospective students that a college or university manages their finances responsibly and delivers high quality academic programming. It also means you can transfer credits from one school to another.
91³ÉÈË only includes accredited online institutions on its site.
Specifically, NU is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission () — a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting agency.
What Is National University Known For?
NU is known for being military-friendly and offering both convenience and flexibility to its students on active duty worldwide. Over the past 50 years, NU has become a top educator of the U.S. military.
NU is #3 on our list of colleges with the best student veteran resources and salary outcomes. It's also a Yellow Ribbon school that can help students pay for higher tuition and fees that the post-9/11 GI Bill doesn't cover.
Which Degrees at National University Provide the Highest Earnings for Graduates?
According to federal data from , NU's online bachelor's degrees in , , and provide the highest earnings for graduates. Around three years after graduation, alumni in these fields earn median annual salaries of approximately $97,500, $90,100, and $70,900, respectively.
Another metric to consider when contemplating a degree's overall worth is 91³ÉÈË's proprietary Salary Score, which ranks colleges by alumni earnings in certain degree categories compared to graduates with the same degrees nationwide. NU has high salary scores, including 92 out of 100 total points for its bachelor's degrees, and it scores 83 for its master's degrees.
Who Owns National University?
No one owns NU. It was founded in 1971 by former U.S. Navy Captain David Chigos and organized as a private, nonprofit school serving working adults. As a nonprofit college, it is not allowed to keep revenue and must reinvest it back into the school in order to support its students and academic programming. A Board of Trustees generally oversees this process. It is also responsible for hiring and appointing NU's high-level executive staff to ensure the school meets its goals.
What Are the Admission Requirements for National University?
NU's admission requirements are similar to applying to other online colleges and universities. Admission at NU is evidence-based and includes reviewing students' academic records, test scores, and professional experience. While NU doesn't require entrance exams, such as the SAT or ACT, it may require students without prior college-level math and English courses to take the ACCUPLACER evaluation to determine placement.
Additionally, must submit the following:
- A completed application
- A $60 application fee
- A completed enrollment agreement
- Official high school transcripts or their equivalent
- Official college transcripts, if transferring credits
- Military transcripts, if applicable
- A resume or professional portfolio, if applying for prior learning credit
An enrollment advisor may help identify additional requirements for individual degree programs. Overall, College Scorecard's data shows that NU accepts 89% of applicants.
If you’re still deciding what school is right for you, our list of the most popular online colleges offers additional options to explore.