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National University

San Diego, CA

National University at a glance

National University is a private university in San Diego, California with 22,115 students (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). It has an open admission policy (IPEDS, admission policy reported in the 2024-25 IC collection). Its published tuition is $13,284 (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25); students who received federal aid paid an average net price of $22,878 a year after grants (College Scorecard, a prior cohort). 43% of students finish within the federal tracking window (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021); 25% of students take federal loans, and borrowers leave with a median $25,000 (College Scorecard). By program, the highest graduate earnings four years after finishing are in Computer Science, master's ($132,798) and Nursing (RN), master's ($127,649) (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates).

Tuition

$13,284

2024-25

Acceptance

Open admission

2024-25

Students

22,115

Fall 2024

Type

University

Setting

Urban

Cost & Financial Aid

In-State Tuition

$13,284

Out-of-State Tuition

$13,284

Avg On-Campus Living

Not available

Avg Off-Campus Living

$23,076

Financial Aid & Outcomes

College Scorecard

What will it actually cost?

Sticker price: $13,284
Net price (after aid): $22,878

Most students pay the net price after financial aid, not the sticker price.

Net price by family income

$0 – $30k: $21,554
$30k – $48k: $26,583 (above the federal borrowing ceiling)
$48k – $75k: $25,176
$110k+: $32,956 (above the federal borrowing ceiling)

Can federal loans cover it? (2026 limits)

For families earning $30k – $48k, $110k+, the average net price here is above the $25,500 a first-year dependent student and their parents can borrow federally from 1 July 2026, by up to $7,456. That part has to come from savings, income, work, or private loans.

The ceiling is $5,500 in the student’s own Direct Loan plus up to $20,000 in Parent PLUS, which requires that the parent has no adverse credit history. Net prices are averages for a prior cohort of aid recipients, not a quote. Source: Federal Student Aid loan limits. Where this gap is largest.

After graduation

Median earnings (10yr): $67,548
Median debt at graduation: $25,000
Est. monthly loan payment: $265

Earnings-to-debt ratio

Moderate · 2.7×

Graduates earn about 2.7× their median debt every year.

Financial access

Students on Pell Grants: 29%

Pell Grants are federal aid for students from low-income families.

Students with federal loans: 25%

Share of students who borrowed to pay for school.

Some fields may not be reported by this institution. Verify final details with the school directly.

How does cost line up with outcomes across colleges? See our analysis of college cost vs. graduation and earnings, an association shaped by selectivity and sector, not proof a pricier college pays off.

FAFSA earnings check

: Not flagged

National University does not trigger the FAFSA's "lower earnings" notice. Its graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $85,543, above the $34,635 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 nationally. The Department uses the national figure for a college that mostly enrolls out-of-state students or operates in several states.

This is one figure for the whole institution, not for any program: earnings differ by credential and field. It covers graduates who completed in 2017-18 and 2018-19, received federal aid, and were working and not enrolled when earnings were measured in 2022 and 2023, in January 2026 dollars. The Department says the notice is informational only: it does not change aid eligibility. Source: U.S. Department of Education, FSA Data Center, March 2026 release. Which colleges are flagged, and what changed.

Which California schools are flagged now

Student Outcomes

Graduation Rate

43%

Freshman Retention

53%

Source: IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25 (provisional release)

Final aid offers, scholarships, and net price vary per family. Always verify with the school's financial aid office.

Scholarships available

Decision support · Cost & value

Quick Decision Highlights

The strongest cost, aid, and value reasons to consider this school.

Outcomes

Strong post-grad earnings

Median earnings 10 yrs out are above the graduate average.

This school$67.5k
National avg$48k
Source: IPEDS 2024

Scholarships available

Aid signal

Open-access admissions

Most qualified applicants are admitted.

Affordability snapshot

Tuition

$13.3k

Net price

$22.9k

Pell

29%

Median debt

$25k

Earnings (10y)

$67.5k

above avg

“Avg” comparisons reference national IPEDS / College Scorecard averages (~2022–23); figures are directional and vary by school and year.

Admissions

Acceptance rate

Open admission

SAT range

Institution does not report this

Institution does not report this

ACT range

Institution does not report this

Institution does not report this

Source: IPEDS, open-admission policy reported for 2024-25 (final (revised) release)

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Location

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UniversitiesCommunity Colleges1 school

Institution does not report this

San Diego, CA 92123

Academics

Studying online: most students study entirely online

In Fall 2023, 16,569 of National University's 19,924 students (83%) were enrolled entirely at a distance. A further 633 (3%) took at least one distance course alongside in-person study.

Distance-education figures count STUDENTS enrolled in Fall 2023, not programs on offer. "Exclusively at a distance" means a student took only distance courses that term. A college with few or no such students may still run online courses or an online degree, so a low figure is not evidence that online study is unavailable, and a high one is not a judgement of quality either way.

U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Fall Enrollment (distance education status), Fall 2023

Fields of study

National University reported conferring credentials in 58 different fields to the federal government. See which ones, and at what credential level.

Campus & Student Life

Area Safety Rating

Decision support

Similar schools

Worth a closer look if National University caught your interest.

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Graduate earnings by program

What National University graduates earn, by program

National University's master's graduates in Clinical and Counseling Psychology earned a median $78,497 four years after graduating, 20% above the $65,184 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $57,834; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $28,854 in federal loans at this college (about $328 a month on a 10-year plan).

59 programs at National University have federal earnings or debt figures, largest graduating classes first. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Debt: graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20. The national median is the same measure for every program in that field and credential in the U.S.

Median earnings four years after graduating and median federal debt, by program and credential, for National University (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23).
ProgramMedian earnings, 4 yrs afterNational medianFederal debt borrowed at this college (median)Payment
Clinical and Counseling Psychology, Master's$78,497$65,184, +20%$28,854$328/mo
Education, Master's$77,748$65,824, +18%$41,000$466/mo
Special Education, Master's$85,908$64,397, +33%$53,471$608/mo
Business Administration, Master's$96,924$103,485, −6%$39,365$448/mo
Nursing (RN), Bachelor's$114,413$88,910, +29%$33,928$360/mo
Business Administration, Bachelor's$78,266$68,257, +15%$28,125$298/mo
Student Counseling, Master's$78,979$60,111, +31%$46,814$533/mo
Psychology, Bachelor's$66,849$50,706, +32%$28,062$298/mo
Educational Administration, Master's$110,083$71,685, +54%$23,388$266/mo
Liberal Arts and General Studies, Associate's$60,134$44,125, +36%$10,500$111/mo
Criminal Justice, Bachelor's$81,299$55,378, +47%$25,000$265/mo
Teacher Education (by grade level), Bachelor's$53,761$47,382, +13%$31,250$331/mo

What the job pays locally

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: everyone working in the job, every experience level, not only recent graduates.

Show 47 more programs
Median earnings four years after graduating and median federal debt, by program and credential, for National University (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23).
ProgramMedian earnings, 4 yrs afterNational medianFederal debt borrowed at this college (median)Payment
Public Health, Master's$73,936$82,751, −11%$49,563$564/mo
English, Master's$66,189$55,512, +19%$32,416$369/mo
Public Administration, Master's$88,988$81,408, +9%$33,712$383/mo
Human Resources, Master's$81,583$83,558, about the same$36,708$418/mo
Psychology, Master's$71,001$64,711, +10%$36,048$410/mo
IT Administration and Management, Master's$118,388$121,855, −3%$40,950$466/mo
Security Science and Technology, Master's$66,173$82,399, −20%$34,433$392/mo
Kinesiology and Exercise Science, Master's$47,529$62,033, −23%$41,000$466/mo
Public Health, Bachelor's$70,340$58,808, +20%$34,156$362/mo
Nursing (RN), Graduate certificate—$126,911——
Homeland Security, Bachelor's$80,134$70,193, +14%$23,437$248/mo
Accounting, Master's$93,465$95,833, about the same$41,000$466/mo
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Associate's$77,786$75,809, +3%$10,453$111/mo
Homeland Security, Master's$75,701$96,660, −22%——
Accounting, Bachelor's$79,696$76,194, +5%$31,249$331/mo
Sociology, Bachelor's$64,860$52,657, +23%$27,687$294/mo
Health and Medical Administration, Bachelor's$59,956$58,716, about the same$35,147$373/mo
IT Administration and Management, Bachelor's$94,203$85,063, +11%$32,813$348/mo
Teacher Education (by grade level), Master's$67,015$59,916, +12%$28,854$328/mo
Criminal Justice, Master's$65,405$66,714, about the same$35,759$407/mo
Clinical Laboratory Science, Bachelor's$79,900$75,975, +5%$27,906$296/mo
Computer Science, Bachelor's$95,555$107,009, −11%$31,812$337/mo
Educational/Instructional Media Design, Master's$93,547$70,644, +32%$23,284$265/mo
Communication, Master's$63,474$71,953, −12%$28,604$325/mo
English, Bachelor's$59,192$48,590, +22%$23,342$247/mo
Liberal Arts and General Studies, Bachelor's—$53,072$25,000$265/mo
Management Information Systems, Bachelor's$94,118$83,290, +13%$28,687$304/mo
Nursing (RN), Master's$127,649$120,193, +6%$99,114$1,127/mo
History, Bachelor's$59,645$50,680, +18%$29,687$315/mo
Medical Illustration and Informatics, Master's$88,945$101,441, −12%$36,894$420/mo
Engineering-Related Fields, Master's$108,725$125,651, −13%$31,734$361/mo
Health and Medical Administration, Master's$81,355$89,981, −10%$51,272$583/mo
Health Sciences, Bachelor's$76,305$61,296, +24%$28,334$300/mo
Writing and Rhetoric, Master's$54,662$55,035, about the same$40,760$464/mo
Computer Science, Master's$132,798$145,571, −9%$37,950$432/mo
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Bachelor's$58,727$50,532, +16%$31,250$331/mo
Public Administration, Bachelor's—$65,093$29,181$309/mo
Public Relations and Advertising, Bachelor's—$63,560$27,688$294/mo
Electrical Engineering, Bachelor's$100,721$100,647, about the same——
Kinesiology and Exercise Science, Bachelor's$62,748$54,562, +15%——
Manufacturing Engineering, Bachelor's$97,525$88,451, +10%——
Business/Corporate Communications, Bachelor's—$65,784——
Allied Health (diagnostic and treatment), Bachelor's$121,408$70,786, +72%——
Teacher Education (by subject), Bachelor's—$51,389$36,688$389/mo
Film and Photography, Master's—$51,486——
Management Information Systems, Master's$118,874$106,092, +12%$20,500$233/mo
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education, Master's—$71,241$29,725$338/mo

Median earnings of graduates who received federal student aid, worked, and were not enrolled in school; debt is the median federal loans borrowed at this college by graduates who borrowed (Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS; not Parent PLUS, private loans or interest). Programs with too few graduates are suppressed by the Department of Education. Monthly payment assumes a standard 10-year plan. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field-of-study data, 10 June 2026. Download every program (CSV). Same degree, different paycheck: what the national data show. Over the Cap: graduate programs where typical debt exceeds the federal loan limits in force since July 2026. Nursing graduates vs RN pay by state: the early-career benchmark.

Frequently asked questions

About National University

Built from CampusPin profile data. Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with the institution before applying. See our data methodology and data dictionary.

Where is National University located?
National University is located in San Diego, CA, in the United States.
What type of institution is National University?
National University is a private university based in CA. CampusPin classifies institutions as either four-year universities or two-year community colleges, with control labeled public or private.
Is National University open admission?
Yes. National University reports an open admission policy to the federal IPEDS survey (IPEDS, admission policy reported in the 2024-25 IC collection), which IPEDS defines as accepting any student who applies. Individual programs, often nursing and other health programs, can still set their own entry requirements, so check the program you want with the college.
What is the tuition at National University?
National University's published in-state tuition is approximately $13,284 per year (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25). This is the published price before financial aid; the net price most students actually pay is typically lower. Verify the current academic-year tuition with the institution before applying.
How many students attend National University?
National University reports total enrollment of approximately 22,115 students (undergraduate plus graduate) (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). Total enrollment is a useful sizing signal, see the institutional profile for additional breakdowns when available.
How much does National University actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at National University is approximately $22,878 per year. Net price is the total cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships that never have to be repaid, so it is what students actually paid rather than the published sticker price. What families pay varies with income: students from families earning under $30,000 paid about $21,554 on average, and those from families earning $110,000 or more about $32,956. These are averages for students who received federal aid in a prior cohort, not a quote for any individual family. Run the institution's own Net Price Calculator for a figure specific to you.
What is the graduation rate at National University?
National University reports a graduation rate of approximately 43% (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021). This measures the share of a prior entering cohort who completed their degree within the federal tracking window. It reflects who enrolls as much as what the institution does, so it is not on its own a measure of teaching quality, and it is not comparable across institutions serving very different students.
How much student debt do graduates of National University have?
Students who borrowed at National University left with a median of approximately $25,000 in federal loans, and about 25% of students took federal loans at all. Both numbers matter: a median describes only the students who borrowed, so it reads very differently at a school where most students borrow than at one where few do. Federal loans only, so private and parent borrowing are not included.
How much do graduates of National University earn?
Median earnings approximately ten years after entry are $67,548 for students who received federal financial aid at National University. This reflects the mix of programs the institution offers and the students who enroll, not the effect of attending, and it covers aid recipients rather than all graduates.
How should I verify final details about National University?
CampusPin compiles institutional data from public datasets like IPEDS and the College Scorecard, plus institutional websites and editorial review. Before applying, paying a deposit, or making a final decision, confirm admissions requirements, current tuition, financial aid, deadlines, and program details directly with National University.
How much do Clinical and Counseling Psychology graduates from National University earn?
National University's master's graduates in Clinical and Counseling Psychology earned a median $78,497 four years after graduating, 20% above the $65,184 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $57,834; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $28,854 in federal loans at this college (about $328 a month on a 10-year plan).
How much do Education graduates from National University earn?
National University's master's graduates in Education earned a median $77,748 four years after graduating, 18% above the $65,824 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $62,683; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $41,000 in federal loans at this college (about $466 a month on a 10-year plan).
Which programs at National University have the highest graduate earnings?
Among the 38 programs at National University with a federal earnings figure from at least 30 graduates, the highest medians four years after graduating were Computer Science, master's ($132,798); Nursing (RN), master's ($127,649); and IT Administration and Management, master's ($118,388) (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). That order is one federal measure, not a ranking of program quality: earnings reflect the field and where graduates go to work as well as the program.
Does National University get a "lower earnings" warning on the FAFSA?
No. In the Department of Education's March 2026 data, which the FAFSA uses now, National University's graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $85,543, above the $34,635 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 nationally, so first-year students who list it do not see the lower-earnings notice. The figure describes the whole institution, not any one program.

Fields this college awarded credentials in

The 14 largest of 58 fields National University reported, by credentials conferred in 2024-25, using the federal classification of each field. The level is the highest credential actually awarded, which is not always the one a field is best known for.

Fields National University reported conferring credentials in during 2024-25, with the number awarded and the highest credential level.
FieldAwardedLevel
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology1,247Graduate (1,241 graduate · 6 bachelor's)
Education, General1,131Graduate
Business Administration, Management and Operations650Graduate (326 graduate · 273 bachelor's · 51 associate)
Special Education and Teaching402Graduate
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing371Graduate (101 graduate · 270 bachelor's)
Student Counseling and Personnel Services349Graduate
Psychology, General341Graduate (88 graduate · 253 bachelor's)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods187Graduate (86 graduate · 101 bachelor's)
Criminal Justice and Corrections186Graduate (55 graduate · 131 bachelor's)
Security Science and Technology171Graduate (96 graduate · 75 bachelor's)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities168Bachelor's (34 bachelor's · 134 associate)
Educational Administration and Supervision146Graduate
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences130Associate's
Public Health124Graduate (86 graduate · 38 bachelor's)

Fields are as classified in the federal IPEDS completions collection, which records credentials already conferred. A field listed here was awarded in the reporting year; it does not confirm the program is currently admitting students, and a field CampusPin has no guide for is still shown under its official federal title. Confirm current offerings with the institution.

Data sources & methodology

Reporting period: 2024. Last verified: June 10, 2026.

Facts on this profile of National University are compiled from federal datasets and the institution's own published information.

Sources used across this page

Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.

Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.

Suggested citation

CampusPin. (2024). National University, college profile. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/schools/national-university

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