In 1971, National University was founded with a bold vision: to make high-quality education accessible to working adults who had been overlooked by traditional higher education. The founders recognized that millions of ambitious individuals - military veterans, working parents, career changers - needed a university that respected their time, honored their experience, and adapted to their busy lives. So they built something different: a university designed around the realities of adult learners, with flexible scheduling, practical programs, and a whole-human approach to student success.
Today, National University stands as the second-largest private nonprofit institution in California, serving over 230,000 alumni worldwide. The university pioneered the innovative one-class-per-month format, allowing students to focus intensely on one subject at a time while balancing work, family, and education. With more than 120 accredited programs across teaching, business, healthcare, engineering, social sciences, and psychology, NU delivers education that works in the real world. The university's holistic support system provides academic, emotional, career, financial, and family resources - because success means supporting every dimension of a student's life. From veteran-founded roots to a national leader in accessible education, National University continues to transform lives by opening doors to opportunity for those who need it most.
