National University: Acceptance Rate & Tuition

National University offers a variety of on campus and online degrees from the associate to the doctoral levels. It has open admissions and affordable tuition costs.

National University is a private, nonprofit university based in San Diego, California. It offers degrees online and on-campus at multiple locations in cities like Los Angeles and La Jolla, California.

Students at National University can earn undergraduate and graduate degrees in a variety of fields.

These include:

The university's programs are primarily designed with adult students in mind. As a result, it has an open admission policy. We explain more below.

What Is the Acceptance Rate at National University?

National University has an open admissions policy. This means that any students who meet the basic admission requirements are accepted.

Current enrollment at National University is over 18,600 students, with about 8,500 of those being undergraduate students. Of those, 59% of undergraduates study exclusively online and 67% of graduates study exclusively online.

National University Admissions Requirements

Although National University has an open admission policy, it still has minimum requirements in place that students need to meet. These requirements vary depending on whether the student is a first-time or transfer student and whether they are an undergraduate or graduate student.

Undergraduate students who do not have any college-level English or math courses will need to take the ACCUPLACER exam as part of the admissions process. They will also need to attend an orientation course before they can enroll.

Undergraduate transfer students must have a GPA of 2.0 or above. However, those with lower GPAs may be admitted on probationary admission in certain cases. There is no minimum high school GPA for first-time students.

National University does not require students to submit their test scores or letters of recommendation, although certain programs may have additional requirements. However, students will need to submit their high school transcripts and any college transcripts they already have.

Graduate students will need to hold at least a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution. Their GPA should be at least 2.5 or an average of at least 2.75 in the last 90 quarter units.

If their GPA doesn't qualify, students can submit standardized test scores, like the GRE, and be approved for probationary admission. However, test scores are not required for students with a sufficient GPA.

Like with undergraduate programs, individual graduate programs may have unique requirements that students need to meet.

National University's Tuition and Cost Breakdown

Tuition costs at National University depend on what level of degree you're earning through the university. The university charges per quarter unit as follows:

Undergraduate - $370 per quarter unit
Graduate - $442 per quarter unit
Master of Science in Nursing - $450 per quarter unit
Doctor of Education - $650 per quarter unit
Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice - $798

For individual courses, the cost varies depending on what level of course you're taking and how many quarter credits that course is worth.

Specific programs may have additional costs, such as technology fees, nursing fees, or international student activity fees.

How To Apply to National University

To apply to National University, you'll start by creating an account on the university website, nu.edu. You'll complete the application by filling out things like your demographic information and what type of degree program you're interested in.

Once you've submitted your application, an enrollment advisor will reach out to help you make sure that you chose the right program and guide you through additional steps, like providing your high school or college transcripts.

Once everything is in place, your enrollment advisor will help you choose your classes and walk you through anything you need before starting, like scheduling the ACCUPLACER test.

National University has rolling admissions. This means that students can apply year-round and start when the next quarter begins, with no worrying about application deadlines or early decisions. There also is no application fee for undergraduate students.

FAQs About Acceptance Rates and Tuition at National University

There are a lot of things to consider before choosing a college or university. Below, we've addressed some frequently asked questions about acceptance rates and tuition at National University.

Is It Hard To Get Into National University? How Competitive Is It?

It is not hard to get into National University, nor is National University competitive. As long as students meet the minimum requirements, they will be accepted due to the open admissions policy.

Does National University Accept Financial Aid?

As a regionally accredited institution, National University accepts financial aid just like any other university. To find out what financial aid you qualify for, start by filling out your Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA).

The university itself also offers several scholarships to students. Some are general scholarships, while others are specific to certain demographics or degrees.

What Is the Graduation Rate at National University?

According to College Navigator, the graduation rate at National University for 2022 was 22%. Graduation rate calculates the number of first-time, full-time undergraduate students that graduate within six years for their bachelor's degree or three for their associate degree.

While this is a low graduation rate, there are a few things to consider. First, more than half of the university's students are graduate students, who are not counted in this metric.

Additionally, only about half of undergraduate students at National University study full-time, and 82% of students are over the age of 25. This greatly reduces the number of students who are eligible to be considered in the graduation rate.

A better metric to consider is the retention rate, which calculates how many first-time students return the following fall for their studies. College Navigator shows that 64% of full-time, first-time students return.

However, this metric isn't perfect either, as, again, the number of full-time, first-time students is relatively low at National University.

Is a Degree From National University Respected?

National University is a regionally accredited institution. This means that it has met the rigorous standards for education set by its accreditation agency.

Although it may not be as prestigious as an Ivy League institution, this accreditation means that degrees from National University should be perfectly respected and are completely valid.