
Signal Hill, CAprivate forprofitauhs.edu
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
American University of Health Sciences (AUHS) is a small, specialized institution in Signal Hill, California, laser-focused on nursing and pharmaceutical sciences. With a strikingly intimate academic environment—evidenced by its 50% acceptance rate and a single major (Registered Nursing)—AUHS delivers hands-on training and boasts a 100% first-time NCLEX pass rate. While its ACICS accreditation raises eyebrows among regional accreditation purists, its graduates’ outcomes and tight-knit campus life suggest a pragmatic alternative for aspiring healthcare professionals.
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Outcomes & value
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
AUHS is selective yet accessible, with an Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. hovering around 50%—lower than California’s state average of 81%. The admissions process is straightforward but competitive, with standardized test scores considered (though exact SAT/ACT ranges aren’t publicly specified). Notably, sources conflict on selectivity: some report a 100% acceptance rate, while others cite 50%, likely reflecting fluctuating applicant pools or reporting methodologies. The $80 application fee is standard for niche health sciences programs.
AUHS is hyper-specialized, offering just one major: Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. The program emphasizes small class sizes, hands-on learning, and clinical rotations, with faculty praised as 'knowledgeable and supportive' (Niche). The School of Pharmacy also provides a Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Science, though nursing dominates enrollment (72 degrees typically awarded annually).
Critically, AUHS holds ACICS accreditation—a national rather than regional credential, which some view as less rigorous (per AllNurses forum discussions). However, its 100% first-time NCLEX pass rate for nursing students suggests effective preparation despite accreditation debates.
Campus life at AUHS revolves around its health sciences focus. The Signal Hill campus features modern labs (including simulation and skills labs), a student lounge, and landscaped grounds designed to foster concentration. Described as a 'vibrant community' by the university, it attracts mostly local students from Orange County and greater California. There’s no mention of Greek life or athletics—instead, the vibe is decidedly professional, with clubs likely tied to healthcare fields (though specifics aren’t detailed in sources).
AUHS shines where it matters most for career-focused students: 100% of first-time nursing graduates passed the NCLEX in 2024 (a key licensure exam). Six-year graduation rates hit 99.1%—far above the national average—though this likely reflects the program’s small, motivated cohort. The College Scorecard notes strong earnings potential, with most aid-receiving students surpassing typical high school graduate wages.
With an average net price of $25,913 after aid, AUHS sits at the mid-to-high range for specialized health sciences programs. Notably, 91% of incoming freshmen receive scholarships, averaging $10,849 each. Federal and state grants contribute significantly, with average total aid packages around $19,723/year. The Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. Calculator on AUHS’s site helps prospective students estimate costs, though exact tuition figures aren’t publicly broken down.
AUHS is a unicorn in vocational health education: tiny, hyper-focused, and unapologetically pragmatic. Its 100% NCLEX pass rate and near-perfect graduation metrics defy its ACICS accreditation skeptics, proving that small-scale, hands-on training can deliver results. The trade-off? Limited academic breadth (just one major) and a no-frills campus life. For students seeking a direct path into nursing or pharmaceutical careers—without the distractions of a traditional university—AUHS offers a compelling, if narrowly tailored, alternative.