About the University

Mission

To deliver accessible world-class student experiences by providing quality programs and services that ensure student success through meaningful learning.

Vision

Our vision is to be an inclusive and innovative university serving life-long learners who contribute to the positive transformation of society. 

Values 

Our values are the guiding principles and fundamental beliefs that help us function as one team as we work toward achieving our common mission. 

• Quality - Academic quality is paramount to student success. To best achieve this value, we offer a highly supportive student experience that guides learners on their educational journey to the completion of a degree or certificate program. 
• Innovation - Contribution of new knowledge is central to the purpose of a modern university. Our valued commitment to innovating within higher education advances opportunities for our students, and all students, within higher education. 
• Collaboration - Partnering to meet the needs of students provides the most relevant and valued outcome. Whether with potential employers, community agencies, or partnering across disciplines within our own University, we are committed to working together toward student success. 
• Diversity - We are enriched by the extraordinarily diverse student body, faculty, and staff. Diversity of background, orientation, and thought are necessary and valued elements of a learned society. We proactively seek and support diversity within our entire enterprise. 
• Access - We believe that access to education is a fundamental right. Barriers to access can be finances, preparation, or simple logistics. We aspire to remove barriers to access as a means of creating social justice and a path toward a more productive life for our students. 

Learning at the University

Dedicated to educational access and academic excellence, National University provides challenging and relevant programs that are student-centered, success-oriented, and have a proven balance of theoretical and practical attributes. National University offers in person, hybrid, and online learning modalities. In the distance-learning environment, students and faculty interact via the Learning Management System (LMS). The University uses a personalized teaching model wherein students and faculty interact synchronously and asynchronously during a course to achieve learning outcomes. All degree programs include a set of fundamental courses and a set of related specialization courses allowing the student to select coursework closely associated with their educational and career goals. Students complete a degree program, guided by faculty and supported by traditional texts, technology, and electronic resources and databases. Additionally, National University is committed to a whole-human approach to education, recognizing that academic success is closely tied to personal and professional well-being. Students are encouraged to engage with NU’s comprehensive student services—ranging from academic and career advising to wellness and community resources—designed to support and empower them not only during their studies but throughout their careers.

Campuses

Main Campus 

• National University, Spectrum 

Additional Locations 

• Cerritos Community College Location 
• College of the Canyons Location 
• Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Training 
• Fresno 
• Los Angeles 
• Marine Corps Air Station Yuma 
• Marine Corp Base Camp Pendleton Learning Center 
• Marine Corps Recruit Depot Learning Center (San Diego)
• Naval Air Station North Island 
• Naval Base Coronado (Naval Amphibious Base) 
• Naval Base Medical Learning Center (Naval Hospital) 
• Naval Base San Diego Learning Center (32nd Street)
• San Diego - South Bay 
• Twentynine Palms Marine Air Ground Combat Center 

Military Learning Centers 

• Nellis Air Force Base (Testing Center) 
• Vandenberg Space Force Base 

Accreditation and Memberships

Since 1977, National University has been accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). 

The University also holds program-specific accreditations and/or approvals, including the following: 

• The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET https://www.abet.org under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Computer Science. 
• The Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET https://www.abet.org under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Computer Engineering and Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
• Some individual-based business programs within the School of Business and Economics at National University are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) based on standards that required our school to demonstrate teaching and program excellence. For a list of the individual-based ACBSP-accredited programs, please view the ACBSP member status page.
• National University has received specialized accreditation for some of its group-based business programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) located at 11960 Quivira Road, Suite 300, Overland Park, Kansas, USA. The group-based business programs in the following degrees are accredited by the IACBE:
  • Master of Accounting; Master of Arts in Human Resource Management with a specialization in Organizational Leadership; Master of Business Administration with specializations in Financial Management, Human Resource Management, International Business, Marketing, Organizational Leadership, and Supply Chain Management; and Master of Science in Leadership Studies
  • Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Marketing Communications; Bachelor of Arts in Management with concentrations in Economics, Entrepreneurship, Human Resource Management, Marketing, and Project Management; Bachelor of Business Administration with concentrations in Accounting, Business Analytics, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Human Resource Management, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Marketing, and Project Management; Bachelor of Science in Accounting; Bachelor of Science in Financial Management; and Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership
  • Associate of Science in Business
    
• The Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and the Master of Science in Cybersecurity are each designated as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE CD) through the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C).
• The Master of Arts in Human Resource Management and the Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management are each recognized as being fully aligned with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) HR Curriculum Guidelines.
• Approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) for the Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies, Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies, and Paralegal Specialist Certificates. 
• The JFK School of Law at National University is accredited by The Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California.
  • Study at, or graduation from, this law school may not qualify a student to take the bar examination or be admitted to practice law in jurisdictions other than California. A student who intends to seek admission to practice law outside of California should contact the admitting authority in that jurisdiction for information regarding its education and admission requirements. For more information go see: https://law.nu.edu/accreditation 
• Approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). 
• A member of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE). 
• Approved by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP)
• A member of the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences (CCAS). 
• The baccalaureate degree programs in nursing and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at National University are approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN). 
•  The baccalaureate degree programs in nursing, master’s degree programs in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at National University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
• The National University Master of Public Health and the Bachelor of Science in Public Health programs are accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (https://ceph.org/). 
• The National University Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA), 10275 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 906, Rosemont, IL 60018-5603; (224) 275-9130. The program’s next review by the COA is scheduled for May 2027. 
• The PsyD program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (APA)* 
• The University offers the first distance-based Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy (MAMFT) program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE)
• The University offers the first distance-based Doctor of Philosophy in Marriage and Family Therapy (PhDMFT) program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE)
• The MAMFT, PhDMFT, and DMFT programs are accredited by the International Family Therapy Association (IFTA) accrediting body, International Accreditation Commission for Systemic Therapy Education (IACSTE)
• The University’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)

*Questions related to the program’s accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation: 

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation 
American Psychological Association 
750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002 
Phone: (202) 336-5979 / E-mail: apaaccred@apa.org 
Web: www.apa.org/ed/accreditation 

Institutional Learning Outcomes

• Apply critical thinking to support decisions or solve problems
• Demonstrate research literacy skills in support of lifelong learning.
• Utilize context-appropriate communication through various modes of expression.
• Integrate ethical decision making in academic and professional pursuits.
• Cultivate responsible global citizenship for the positive transformation of society.
• Practice inclusion and respect for diverse perspectives in collaborative settings.
• Develop digital fluency with a focus on the wider impacts of technological change.

Faculty

The diverse full-time and part-time faculty at National University consists of experienced professionals and scholars who bring a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and real-world experience to their teaching. These educators come from various academic backgrounds and industries, contributing a rich array of perspectives to the learning environment. 

Full-time faculty members typically engage in teaching, scholarship, and service to the university, providing students with a well-rounded educational experience. They are deeply involved in curriculum development, mentoring students, and participating in university governance. 

Part-time faculty, often active professionals in their respective fields, bring current industry practices and insights into the classroom. They focus on delivering practical and applied knowledge, ensuring that students are equipped with the skills needed to succeed in their careers. 

Both full-time and part-time faculty at National University are committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment, promoting academic excellence, and preparing students for the challenges of the global workforce. Their responsibilities also include staying current in their fields, continuously enhancing their teaching methods, and engaging with the university community to support its mission and values. Faculty hold advanced degrees in their areas of expertise and are respected professionals. When hired, they receive an orientation to the University as well as training in the various learning modalities used at National University. 

Military Community

National University has eleven convenient locations for the military community. Centers are located at Naval Base San Diego, Naval Air Station North Island, Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Training, Naval Medical Center (Naval Hospital), Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Nellis Air Force Base, and Vandenberg Space Force Base. 

National University offers reduced tuition for classes on base and online for qualified students, including: active duty members, their spouses and dependents, Active Reserve/ National Guard service members and dependents. The University accepts tests offered through the military voluntary education program. 

University Breaks and Holiday Closures

The University offices are closed on the following dates and students are notified through the University’s messaging system of such closures:

Commencement Calendar

The current commencement calendar and general information about the University’s commencement process and ceremony schedule can be found at https://www.nu.edu/grad-events/.