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Associate Degree
Admissions

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Apply to an NU Associate Degree Program – We’ll Be with You Every Step of the Way!

If you’re thinking about advancing your education by pursuing an industry-current Associate degree, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re a high school grad who’s ready to take the next step or a working adult ready for a career change, National University is here to support your hopes, goals, and dreams.

At many institutions of higher education, the application and admission processes can be daunting, but at National University, we believe in a streamlined, stress-free process that helps you cross all the T’s, dot all the I’s, and be ready to start the journey of a lifetime.

If at any point during the application process you have questions or need help, just contact our admissions team at (855) 355-6288 or via email at [email protected]. Here’s what we need to do to get started.


STEP 1: Complete Your Online Application

Once you’ve determined the associate degree that’s right for you, our streamlined, online application process will help you get enrolled and on your way to achieving your goals. Because NU accepts and reviews applications year-round, you can begin class as soon as next month, depending on your program of study and location of choice.

One more thing – there’s no application fee to take this first step on your journey towards personal, professional, and academic achievement at NU!

STEP 2: Submit Your Transcripts and Other Required Documents

Admission to undergraduate programs at NU is based on valid submission of documentation, including a student’s academic record at other institutions, test scores, interviews, professional experience, motivation, and educational objectives.

You can send your official transcripts from other schools you attended by using our transcript request form. Please provide all transcripts promptly to avoid admission delays. Your application is valid for one year.

STEP 3: Discuss Your Plans With Your NU Enrollment Advisor

At NU, we support you every step of the way with an ecosystem of resources to help you succeed. Whether you’re a working parent or busy professional, you will never feel like you’re going it alone.

This team effort begins with a conversation you’ll have with your NU Enrollment Advisor, during which we’ll start by discussing your current situation and what you hope to achieve by earning your associate degree. Your advisor will then look for ways NU can provide financial, academic, social and emotional, family and community, and career support to help ensure your success. We believe in your potential and want you to succeed like over 230,000 alumni already have. 

Have a question now? Just ask!

STEP 4: Determine the Best Way to Pay for Your Education

Education is an investment in yourself and the future. Earning your associate degree can increase your earning potential, improve your job prospects, and set you up for a more secure future.

At National University, we strive to make higher education accessible to all adult learners, and we’re committed to helping you find the resources you need to pay for college and achieve your goals. To help reduce the cost of education, we accept all federally funded financial aid programs, including grants, loans, and scholarships. We also award tuition scholarships and grants to those who qualify.

Most college students pay for their education with grants, scholarships, loans, or a combination of the three. It can seem like a daunting process, but at NU you won’t have to go it alone. Between your admissions advisor and our experienced team of financial aid experts, we’ll review the results of your student aid report and help determine the best options available to you.

First things first – Visit fafsa.ed.gov to fill out the FAFSA application for federal student aid, including federal student loans. Then, contact our financial aid team at [email protected] or (800) 628-8647, ext. 8500.

STEP 5: Start Earning Your Associate Degree!

Here’s the good news and the even better news. At NU, you can earn your associate degree in less than two years. Our unique course structure is built to make earning your degree accessible and achievable, one month at a time, so you can start sooner and finish faster.

Best of all, we’ve simplified and streamlined our application process so you can get enrolled in your chosen associate degree right away. And because we accept and review applications year-round, you can start learning as soon as next month, depending on your program of study and location of choice.

Ready to get started? Let’s take your current situation and turn it up a degree!

Frequently Asked Questions

Applying to college is a big decision, and you’ll surely have questions. If yours isn’t answered here, just give us a call at (855) 355-6288 or email us at [email protected].

There are a few important details for you to know, but the most important thing is that our admissions team is really good at supporting you through the entire process if you get stuck. Please take a few minutes to review this checklist for undergraduate admissions requirements before submitting your application:

  • All entering undergraduate students without prior college-level English and/or Math courses must take the ACCUPLACER mathematics and English evaluation as part of the admissions process. The results of the evaluation are printed immediately, and a copy is provided to the student. Read more about Placement by Evaluation. The ACCUPLACER may be taken once at no charge. Subsequent examinations can be repeated after 14 days for a $5 fee. Applicants who have not earned an associate degree from a regionally accredited institution, or who have completed fewer than 90 quarter (60 semester) units of transferable college credit must have graduated from high school, passed a high school level proficiency test or received a Certificate of Proficiency from a State Department of Education.
  • Applicants who are considered first-time students based on the criteria below must attend an orientation course through WES Training and Development prior to enrolling:
    • Never attended a college or university
    • Education experience is limited to:
      • Competency-based education
      • College level courses completed during high school
      • Advanced Placement (AP) credit
      • Military service or training
      • Prior learning credit (CLEP, Dantes, Excelsior, portfolio assessment, etc.)
  • High school graduates transferring from regionally accredited colleges and universities are admitted as degree students if their cumulative GPA is 2.0 or higher. Applicants with a GPA below 2.0 may be admitted on probationary admission if the Committee on the Application of Standards (Committee) judges that there is sufficient evidence of potential to complete college studies. Applicants below a 2.0 may submit a petition letter to their advisor for review by the Committee.
  • Individual degree programs may have additional admission requirements.
  • Complete an application for admission and enrollment agreement.

For further information, please contact an admissions advisor at (855) 355-6288, or via e-mail at [email protected].

At NU, you can earn your Associate degree in less than two years. Our unique course structure is built to make earning your degree accessible and achievable, one month at a time, so you can start sooner and finish faster.

Yes, we know your life may not be on a regular schedule, so we offer courses online or on-site for most of our associate degree programs. Courses are taught by experienced faculty and are delivered using the latest technology to provide dynamic, interactive online learning environments. Designed for busy adult learners, our associate degree programs include four-week course formats enabling you to balance work and family obligations while earning your degree.

We’re a Veteran-founded, San Diego-based nonprofit. Since 1971, our mission has been to provide accessible, achievable higher education to adult learners. Today, we educate students from across the U.S. and around the globe, with over 230,000 alumni worldwide.

The value of a college education is undeniable. Think of education as an investment in your future.

At National University, we strive to make higher education accessible and achievable by helping you find financial aid, including grants, loans, and scholarships, that will help defer or delay tuition costs and related expenses. Our financial aid representatives are happy to help you. Please call 1-800-NAT-UNIV or e-mail us for assistance.

Yes! In honor of our students and in celebration of our 50th anniversary, National University has invested $50 million in new student scholarships. To learn more about the Opportunity Scholarship, how you can apply, and how much you can save, inquire today. 

Associate Programs:


Program Disclosure

Successful completion and attainment of National University degrees do not lead to automatic or immediate licensure, employment, or certification in any state/country. The University cannot guarantee that any professional organization or business will accept a graduate’s application to sit for any certification, licensure, or related exam for the purpose of professional certification.

Program availability varies by state. Many disciplines, professions, and jobs require disclosure of an individual’s criminal history, and a variety of states require background checks to apply to, or be eligible for, certain certificates, registrations, and licenses. Existence of a criminal history may also subject an individual to denial of an initial application for a certificate, registration, or license and/or result in the revocation or suspension of an existing certificate, registration, or license. Requirements can vary by state, occupation, and/or licensing authority.

NU graduates will be subject to additional requirements in a program, certification/licensure, employment, and state-by-state basis that can include one or more of the following items: internships, practicum experience, additional coursework, exams, tests, drug testing, earning an additional degree, and/or other training/education requirements.

All prospective students are advised to review employment, certification, and/or licensure requirements in their state, and to contact the certification/licensing body of the state and/or country where they intend to obtain certification/licensure to verify that these courses/programs qualify in that state/country, prior to enrolling. Prospective students are also advised to regularly review the state’s/country’s policies and procedures relating to certification/licensure, as those policies are subject to change.

*Positions may require additional experience, training, and other factors beyond successfully completing this degree program. Depending on where you reside, many positions may also require state licensure, and it is the responsibility of the student to ensure that all licensure requirements are met. We encourage you to also review program-specific requirements. Any data provided on this page is for informational purposes only and does not guarantee that completion of any degree program will achieve the underlying occupation or commensurate salary.

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