National University
Locations: La Jolla (CA)
Annual Tuition: $13,284
Programs with 5+ Reviews
Master's 4.6 Business
Master's 3.6 Business
Doctorate 2.7 Business Administration
Master's 3.9 Business Administration
Doctorate 3.4 Counseling
Master's 1.4
Doctorate 4.5 Education
Master's 3.2 Education
Doctorate 2.8 Educational Leadership
Doctorate 3.3 Information Technology
Bachelor's 3.0 Marriage & Family Therapy
Master's 2.6 MBA
Master's 4.0 Nursing
Bachelor's 1.4 Organizational Leadership
Doctorate 4.2 Psychology
Bachelor's 3.1 Psychology
Master's 2.4 Psychology
Doctorate 2.9 Special Education
Master's 2.0
Student Reviews
Chanel
Reviewed: 4/1/2026
Degree: Marriage & Family Therapy
Overall my experience has been positive, especially when it comes to the flexibility of the online format. Being able to manage my schedule around classes has been extremely helpful, and I appreciate how well-structured the courses are and it makes expectations clear and keeps me on track. I do feel like something is missing in terms of personal connection. In classes without lectures, it can be harder to feel engaged or connected to the material and the instructor. The internship process has been... Read More
B
Reviewed: 3/20/2026
Degree: English
National University offers a flexible and accessible path for students who need to balance education with work and personal responsibilities. The one-month course format allows you to focus on one subject at a time, which can be helpful for staying organized and making steady progress. This structure works especially well for adult learners and those returning to school.
The faculty are generally supportive and bring real-world experience into the classroom, which adds value to the learning experience.... Read More
Overall, National University is a solid option for motivated students looking for a flexible, career-focused education. It’s best suited for those who are proactive, organized, and comfortable with an accelerated learning environment.
Angelita S, Kisena
Reviewed: 3/20/2026
Degree: Forensic Science
National University genuinely prioritized my educational journey by offering a robust online program that was highly accessible and convenient for remote learning. The staff and administration demonstrated exceptional support throughout my enrollment, accommodating my military commitments and a single parent with flexible scheduling options. Their understanding allowed me to balance my duties and academic responsibilities effectively. The counselors consistently guided me from the start of my studies... Read More
Daijana
Reviewed: 3/18/2026
Degree: Counseling Psychology
The professors are competent and communicative with their students. They have experience with counseling in a variety of settings using multiple techniques (Psychodynamic, Cognitive-behavioral therapy, and Acceptance/Commitment therapy). There are plenty of educational resources and support.
Haley
Reviewed: 3/11/2026
Degree: Counseling
I appreciated being able to access my master’s program online and be able to complete the courses each month. It was a lot of material to cover in just four weeks but it was manageable. Occasionally, it would be difficult to receive responses from professors, but for the most part all were easy to communicate with and showed great insight to each topic.
Beth
Reviewed: 9/15/2025
Degree: Medical Assistant
There's never anyone to talk to everyone I've called I get transfered to just end up having to leave a voice message claiming they will call back to never receive any call back. There money hungry and the reason I claim that is because I specifically have identity theft problems and according to admissions they ran my background and said nothing was there to then graduate not fina job sense September 11,2024 still nothing so I decided to go find out why to discover my background being the reason... Read More
CS_Guy
Reviewed: 7/24/2025
Degree: Computer Science
I enrolled for their Ph.D. in Computer Science program. In my first course, I had a very active, kind, and knowledgeable professor. However, the course was designed with very low quality. This is not the professor's fault, as they do not allow the professor to design the course materials. The course consisted of writing one paper a week on quasi-computer science topics (more like information systems or business TBH). The prompts were fuzzy in clarity, and I felt like I was just guessing about what... Read More
I also watched some of the student oral dissertation defenses. I recall one where a lady was trying to earn her EDD, and she did not speak proper English. She was not professional and used words like "or whatever" in her defense. It was appalling how uneducated she sounded. There was zero pushback from her committee, and she was given nothing but praise and became a "doctor". It was embarrassing and cringe to watch.
Reading the written dissertations was not much better. I read about half a dozen student works, and most didn't follow their own rubric. The literature reviews were spotty with many less-than-scholarly sources. Much of the material was repeated over and over to pad the length requirement.
Worst of all is their alumni. They post on the student "commons" in the learning portal. They are essentially an echo chamber of industry and academia washouts who call each other "doctor" and smell each other's farts. They believe that they should be able to graduate, accomplish almost nothing in their field, and come back as "subject matter experts" who sit on the committees of future doctoral candidates. I expressed my opinion that academic inbreeding is not a good look, and I was disrespected for doing so. It wasn't until an actual faculty member posted the same thing with a link to a research paper that they turned around and thanked him for an enlightening conversation. There were no apologies to me or retractions.
If you care about being taken seriously in research or academia (higher ed) then don't waste your time here. None of those alums have tenure-track positions at reputable research institutions. Some adjunct at best, but I had a beefier, higher resume than most of the alums that I saw, and I only have an MS.
Heather Ayers
Reviewed: 6/26/2025
Degree: Paralegal
This school took my financial aid I had get materials out pocket. I call no one answer. Did a google with teacher because I was struggling with assignments she said just play around until I come up with something. I withdraw from college and won’t reimbursed me with financial aid this is unjustified
They owe me $9800 from financial aid that remians MIA
Reviewed: 5/12/2025
Degree: Legal Studies
Upon enrollment I was awarded and PELL grant and a scholarship that covered 100% of my tuition and books and because i had a zero student loan balance I borrowed $12,500 strictly for living expenses that they themselves estimated at three times the cost of my tuition and books to which the school said “no problem when it is released to the school then it will be released to you as a refund” to make this long story short of that $12,500 that the US Deptf Education shows as being paid to the school... Read More
Amber Bayton
Reviewed: 3/27/2025
Degree: Communications (Strategic & Organizational)
I am working in a development role with a nonprofit and I feel that every assignment I’ve had has tied directly into my profession. I have even used programs and events that I am in charge of to do assignments! I feel like this degree program has been extremely important in my growth professionally and am excited to see how my career flourishes as a result!
Stuart
Reviewed: 2/22/2025
Degree: Criminal Justice
Worked through the taught component of the course with A & B grades gained with relatively little difficulty. As soon as I began the dissertation though that changed to fails with very poor feedback from my supervisor and the need to repeat courses at $3K every 8 weeks. The course itself is already very expensive and having looked at other forums and reviews it appears NU is just there to fleece as much money from their students as they can.
Miguel
Reviewed: 1/22/2025
Degree: Construction Management
Hello, if you’re thinking about attending this school I’d reconsider immediately. Everyone that I have encountered, not EVERYONE at the school, just the ones I’ve interacted with or grossly incompetent. The advisors switch up on you almost every 2-3 weeks and there is no transfer of information between them. I had three different advisors in the 2 months I’ve been there and none of them have the same information as the last. Financial assistance? They could not care less if you receive any money... Read More
Mega
Reviewed: 11/24/2024
Degree: Psychology
The two times I did contact with this University to finish my PhD or change into different related program, the advisors or whatever enrollment people they have, were terrible negative. Every single question was a no as response. Looks they do not want to work too much, so they provide vague and incorrect answers related licensing options, etc. For this, and the lack of interest, I decided some where else. No welcomed, not recommended.
MFTmaybe
Reviewed: 11/16/2024
Degree: Marriage & Family Therapy
One would hope that a school wants to set students up for success and advising is provided from 101-done, meaning first class to graduation. Not, NU-they are genuinely in "it" for the money. Think of it as a corporation and not a school.
PROS: You can work and go to school, COAMFTE certified, and teachers are responsive.
CONS: Required readings/videos are outdated (in my opinion, this violates the Code of Ethics), Advisors do not always respond, professors do not create classes and are moderators more... Read More
Katsia
Reviewed: 8/1/2024
Degree: Psychology
Honestly the worst school ever! No support during school whatsoever. During classes you can never get ahold of any advisor or support. Anytime you call the school you are transferred a million times and no one works and they are money hungry. Don’t do it!
Jbrad
Reviewed: 6/10/2024
Degree: Data Science
Absolutely the WORST school i have ever attended. No support from the academics advisors or the teacher’s. The librarians are phenomenal but there’s only such much they can do! Please, take my advice and find a better school. Let this be your only option.
Juanyi
Reviewed: 6/10/2024
Degree: Psychology
NU is absolutely an uncoordinated, unprofessional, and disorganized organization. From the beginning, the enrollment specialists discredit your studies, and the transfer credits are laughable. An unpleasant experience that I do not recommend to anyone.
Hurt student
Reviewed: 3/7/2024
Degree:
I am in a doctoral program with his institution and I keep running into issues with them I have passed my section 1 now there's a problem with me going on to my section too they are not using the money they should be using towards my tuition they are trying to make me pay for additional classes when I'm filling out for resources only have three more classes to go in my dissertation I've had to reach out to the president to get back in school to be able to finish my section 1 this school is ridiculous... Read More
Gunni
Reviewed: 3/6/2024
Degree: Cybersecurity
Potential Students, I am writing to provide you with an honest and informative perspective on my experience as a student in National University's Cyber Security program. My journey began in 2020, and while I have encountered some excellent instructors and valuable learning opportunities, there are significant challenges within the program that warrant your consideration. First and foremost, I must address the issue of certain staff professors having excessive power and lacking accountability. Throughout... Read More
Jones
Reviewed: 3/5/2024
Degree:
DO NOT ATTEND THIS SCHOOL!!! Seriously the worst experience imaginable. I've been ABD for more than 2 years now (had a 3.9 GPA when I finished my coursework...got my MBA in only 16 months...) and haven't even gotten section 2 of my dissertation proposal approved. I'm on my second dissertation chair and ready to abandon ship because my work keeps getting rejected for "process" issues. I've even hired a dissertation coach and editor, and both of them as well as my SME (my second one!) approve of my... Read More