National University

National University is a private, veteran-founded, non-profit university that is headquartered in San Diego, California, US. It was established in 1971 by Dr. David Chigos who was a U.S. Navy Captain. The university has since then focused for more than 50 years on designing higher education options that are flexible and directed towards adult learners, working professionals, and members of the US military. It is also the second-largest private non-profit educational institution in California.

Talking about the accreditations, NU holds institutional regional accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). This is the same body that oversees major West Coast institutions like Stanford and UCLA. It is also maintaining specialized programmatic accreditations for high-demand disciplines, as its business degrees are supported by ACBSP, while its nursing programs are running under the approval of the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

The academic structure at National University is built specifically to bridge the gap between higher education and immediate industry application. There are four professional schools and one foundational college delivering an executive suite of degrees that are career-oriented: 

• School of Business and Management: This department combines standard business theory with workforce-relevant applications. It features DBA, which is an accredited program designed for people who are looking for leadership roles in the corporate world.

• Sanford College of Education: It is recognized as an elite teacher-preparation engine. Also, it is one of California’s largest producers of credentialed educators and school administrators.

• School of Engineering, Technology, and Media: This school focuses on sectors that are trending and emerging. You can check various pathways including computer science, cybersecurity, and digital media design.

• School of Health and Human Services: It hosts high-impact medical and social services programs, including highly sought-after Registered Nursing (MSN/BSN) degrees. 

• College of Letters and Sciences: It operates as the foundational core, and manages general education curriculum alongside deep humanistic and quantitative studies.

In 2022, the National University merged with Northcentral University. This combination dramatically scaled the capabilities of National University with the infusion of NCU’s vast, established network of advanced master’s and online doctoral programs. 

National University has this unique “One-Class-Per-Month” delivery model. This framework is designed to help busy adult learners seamlessly balance education with life and jobs, thus providing flexibility. There is an Accelerated 4-Week Format, where students focus on one single class at a time for four weeks. The education model offers Hybrid & Online Delivery, where classes are delivered using asynchronous learning networks alongside real-time virtual classrooms. Moreover, instead of waiting for autumn or spring semesters, applications are processed year-round, allowing students to begin their program during any month of the year. 

NU is recognized as an official Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). It emphasizes keeping education accessible. The university operates on a test-blind admissions policy (no SAT or ACT required for general undergraduate admittance). It maintains a seamless transfer environment where it utilizes official transfer agreements with over 116 community colleges to reward students for prior credits earned.