National University is a private nonprofit 4-year college in San Diego, California with 10,794 undergraduates. It has open admission, costs an average of $24,008 a year after grants and graduates 43% of its students.
Figures from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, released October 15, 2026. What each number covers.
National University acceptance rate and admissions
National University has open admission: it admits students with a high school diploma or equivalent. Some programs, such as nursing or other health fields, can have their own entry requirements.
National University tuition, cost and net price
| Tuition and fees (2025-26) | $13,284 |
|---|---|
| Total cost of attendance (2024-25) | $31,068 |
| Average net price after grants (2024-25) | $24,008 |
Students who get federal aid pay an average of $24,008 a year after grants and scholarships, $7,060 less than the full cost of attendance.
What families pay, by income
Average yearly cost after grants for aided first-time students, by family income (2024-25):
Your own price depends on your family's full situation. Run National University's net price calculator for a personal estimate, or make a "what it costs us" card.
National University graduation rate, earnings and debt
- 43% of first-time, full-time students finished within six years (students who started in 2019).
- Former students earned a median of $73,988 a year, 10 years after they started (students who received federal aid and were working).
- Students who completed left with a median of $25,000 in federal student loans.
Earnings compared
Debt compared
Median debt is 34% of median earnings 10 years after entry. Many advisers suggest keeping total student debt below one year of expected pay. See the monthly payment.
National University majors and what graduates earn
National University awarded bachelor's degrees in 43 fields recently. The best-paid graduates four years out came from allied health (PA, radiography, therapy and more) ($121,408).
All 43 majors at National University
Four-year earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Fields with few graduates have no published earnings.
Graduate programs at National University
36 graduate programs awarded degrees recently. Largest first.
Show 36 graduate programs
| Program | Degree | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical and counseling psychology | Master's | 1,098 | $61,834 | $29,078 |
| Education | Master's | 779 | $66,997 | $35,541 |
| Special education | Master's | 352 | $76,119 | $41,000 |
| Business administration | Master's | 298 | $81,774 | $30,750 |
| School counseling and student services | Master's | 138 | $71,197 | $41,000 |
| Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | Master's | 119 | $68,515 | $20,500 |
| Education leadership | Master's | 103 | $99,154 | $24,859 |
| Psychology | Master's | 89 | $61,132 | $33,405 |
| Security Science and Technology | Master's | 87 | $58,782 | $34,082 |
| English | Master's | 82 | $85,835 | $28,655 |
| Public health | Master's | 79 | $63,634 | $49,240 |
| IT and network administration | Master's | 75 | $101,391 | $38,616 |
| Public administration | Master's | 68 | $78,390 | $32,054 |
| Human resources | Master's | 67 | $74,516 | $34,019 |
| Teacher education by grade level | Master's | 61 | $66,926 | $20,500 |
| Accounting | Master's | 59 | $71,718 | $21,197 |
| Health administration | Master's | 41 | $70,662 | $52,111 |
| Kinesiology and exercise science | Master's | 37 | $54,811 | $41,000 |
| Nursing | Master's | 37 | $139,947 | $41,000 |
| Homeland security | Master's | 35 | $69,579 | n/a |
| Criminal justice | Master's | 33 | $79,838 | $32,491 |
| Communication | Master's | 26 | $61,543 | $20,500 |
| Engineering-Related Fields | Master's | 24 | $105,249 | n/a |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | Master's | 21 | $86,362 | $20,500 |
| Statistics | Master's | 21 | $105,040 | $31,361 |
| Computer science | Master's | 18 | $102,147 | n/a |
| Nursing | Professional doctorate | 18 | n/a | n/a |
| Interdisciplinary studies, other | Master's | 15 | n/a | n/a |
| Medical Illustration and Informatics | Master's | 15 | $85,508 | $35,567 |
| Business administration | Doctoral | 14 | n/a | n/a |
| Clinical and counseling psychology | Professional doctorate | 13 | n/a | n/a |
| Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education | Master's | 3 | n/a | n/a |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | Master's | 2 | $44,497 | n/a |
| Theater | Master's | 1 | n/a | n/a |
| Management information systems | Master's | 1 | n/a | n/a |
| Film and photography | Master's | 0 | $48,733 | n/a |
Trade and career programs at National University
Certificate and associate programs in the trades we track. One-year earnings are for graduates of 2020-21 and 2021-22, four-year earnings for graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, both in 2024 dollars.
| Program | Credential | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EMT, surgical tech and imaging | Certificate | 41 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Paralegal | Certificate | 19 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Paralegal | Associate degree | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Students and location
- 10,794 degree-seeking undergraduates (fall 2024)
- 53% women, 47% men
- 16 students for every faculty member
- Setting: large city
- Accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Frequently asked questions
Is it hard to get into National University?
No. National University has open admission for students with a high school diploma or equivalent. Some programs may have extra requirements.
How much does National University cost?
Tuition and fees for 2025-26 are $13,284. After grants and scholarships, aided students paid an average net price of $24,008 a year in 2024-25.
What is the graduation rate at National University?
43% of first-time, full-time students finished within six years.
How much do National University graduates make?
Former students who received federal aid earned a median of $73,988 a year 10 years after they started, in 2024 dollars.
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More: all colleges in California · colleges in San Diego · National University on the College Scorecard
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, data release of October 15, 2026. What each figure means and the year it covers.