National University (NU) vs Excelsior

National University and Excelsior College, both accredited online universities, offer flexible and accessible higher education opportunities to students across the country. However, there are some key differences between the two institutions that prospective students should consider when making their college choice. National University boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for students with diverse academic backgrounds. Excelsior College, on the other hand, has a slightly higher graduation rate, indicating a strong commitment to student success. While National University offers a wider range of undergraduate and graduate programs, Excelsior College specializes in online learning and offers a more streamlined selection of majors, including popular choices like nursing, business, and technology. Explore the detailed comparison table below to delve into further distinctions between these two online universities and make an informed decision that aligns with your academic goals and preferences.
Excelsior College logo

Excelsior College

National University logo

National University

Overview

Location Albany, New York La Jolla, California
Campus setting City: Small City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Non Traditional Non Traditional
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 100.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate Open Admission 54.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 154
Total number of admissions given out 84
Admitted students who chose to enroll 38
Yield rate 45.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A
High school GPA N/A Required
Recommendation letters N/A Not required
High school transcript N/A Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) N/A Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $36,459
Average net price $9,966
Tuition $13,320
Room & board
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $8,610
Students receiving federal student loan
Students taking out private loans

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 15,260
Men 52.4% Women 47.6%
7,648
Men 47.1% Women 52.9%
Graduate students 1,906
Men 55.2% Women 44.8%
9,487
Men 28.7% Women 71.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 1.1% 0.6%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Large
Dormitory capacity N/A N/A
First year students are required to live on campus? N/A N/A
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Liberal Arts
  • Business
  • Engineering Technologies
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Psychology
  • Business
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
Students to faculty ratio 19:1 16:1
Institutional accreditation Middle States Commission on Higher Education Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate N/A 46.7%
Dropout rate N/A N/A
Transferred out N/A 43.3%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Nuclear Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $84,153
  • Year 2: $94,408
  • Year 3: $107,804
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $86,537
  • Year 2: $97,959
  • Year 3: $102,156
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,370
  • Year 2: $83,768
  • Year 3: $89,231
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $77,505
  • Year 2: $74,747
  • Year 3: $77,427
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,613
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $61,889
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,382
  • Year 2: $49,631
  • Year 3: $61,881
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,784
  • Year 2: $53,358
  • Year 3: $53,546
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,508
  • Year 2: $49,660
  • Year 3: $51,791
Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,863
  • Year 2: $45,696
  • Year 3: $49,707
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,725
  • Year 2: $45,696
  • Year 3: $49,225
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $94,452
  • Year 2: $81,333
  • Year 3: $97,514
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $77,429
  • Year 2: $84,653
  • Year 3: $94,326
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $85,563
  • Year 2: $84,367
  • Year 3: $90,127
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $84,898
  • Year 2: $83,505
  • Year 3: $87,794
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $80,729
  • Year 2: $71,575
  • Year 3: $82,008
Educational/Instructional Media Design (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,709
  • Year 2: $66,821
  • Year 3: $81,966
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,545
  • Year 2: $75,989
  • Year 3: $77,049
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,576
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $76,724
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,716
  • Year 2: $65,238
  • Year 3: $74,055
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,949
  • Year 2: $65,657
  • Year 3: $73,109

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