A Whole NU You

National University’s new brand takes a holistic approach to student well-being — one we’re excited to share with you!

Discover Our Brand Revolution

Earning a quality college education comes with barriers, but that shouldn’t stop you from getting your degree. Through our whole-human approach, we’ll ensure you feel uplifted, supported, and confident enough to achieve your personal and professional goals.

The Research

We conducted 20+ stakeholder interviews with our faculty, students, alums, and senior leadership to help identify key themes around the audience, brand purpose, and positioning. We also reviewed the competitive landscape to understand the context through which others perceive NU’s message and brand identity.

The Insight

We learned today’s working adults are overwhelmed by the investment it takes to go back to school to earn a degree – and the lack of resources to support them. The cultural myth of self-reliance doesn’t work in education because the playing field isn’t even. When it comes to going back to school, support is vital to our learner’s success, so National University is committed to providing it in a variety of meaningful forms. We’re purposeful and proactive in offering programs and services designed to help break the barriers they face as they strive toward higher education.

The Positioning

NU’s new Whole Human Education™ delivers a holistic approach to student well-being through a supportive ecosystem that measures success financially, academically, socially and emotionally, as well as through family life and career.

The Evolution of Our Logo

NU has been dedicated to meeting the needs of hard-working adults since 1971. Founded by retired U.S. Navy Capt. David Chigos, we now educate students across the U.S. and around the globe as the largest private, nonprofit university in San Diego.

With the merger of NCU and NU into one national brand, we wanted to maintain our legacy while updating our logo to signal a new vitality within the university. The refreshed logo helps us differentiate in our category, gives us immediate brand recognition, evokes our positioning, and elicits pride and loyalty.

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Our Supportive Ecosystem

NU’s holistic approach encompasses five aspects of well-being that create a supportive ecosystem.

Financial

We save students time and tuition with millions in scholarships, free e-books to military students, flexible payment options, general transfer credits, and more.

Academic

We support students every step of the way in their educational journey, providing academic resources to help them excel in their studies. This includes help with study skills, time management, and free tutoring.

We provide students with social and emotional resources and support to foster mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. Student case managers help students with resources for things like housing, food insecurity, and mental health.

Family Life & Community

NU understands the challenges faced by students who are working parents. We offer support through flexible courses, student clubs, and a virtual Veterans center to help them balance school, family, and work.

Career

Our degrees align with real-world careers, and our guidance is designed to launch each student toward their occupational goals – from career counseling, to resume and cover letter review, to interview preparation.

There’s a lot more to unpack. Ready for a deep dive into the new NU?

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How can YOU Be On-Brand at NU?

Just like it takes a village to support a student, it takes a village to support a brand. Staying top-of-mind with our prospects, students, faculty and staff requires a collective commitment to represent a cohesive look and feel across the University.

On this page, you’ll find downloadable assets to help you do just that – logos, letterhead, email signatures, a brand guide, and more. Feel free to use them, making sure to follow the directives for doing so in the brand guide below.