National Defense University: Admissions, Rankings

National Defense University is a graduate-level military institution that provides advanced education for military personnel and naval forces. The university served as a consolidation of the intellectual resources and joint higher education of the national defense community following the joining of the following colleges: Armed Forces Staff College, the National War College, and the Army Industrial College. From its inception, the university grew to include other defense colleges, with the College of International Security Affairs as its newest addition in 2002.

National Defense University Overview

National Defense University Rankings

SAA Best University Rankings 2025

Category	Rankings	Percentage Rankings
World Rankings	# 1950	23 %
North America Rankings	# 649	36 %
United States Rankings	# 575	—

SAA Best Value University Rankings 2025

Category	Rankings	Percentage Rankings
World Rankings	# 2005	24 %
North America Rankings	# 670	37 %
United States Rankings	# 596	—

Tuition Fees at National Defense University

National Defense University tuition fees for master's students are discussed in this section.

Master's Tuition Fees

Student Type	Annual Tuition Fees in USD
Domestic Students	0 USD - 26,400 USD
International Students	26,400 USD

Although this range provide a good estimate of tuition costs at National Defense University, the actual fees depend on your chosen program. Thus, for more exact figures, you may refer to National Defense University tuition fee pages.

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Admissions At National Defense University

If you wish to study at National Defense University, you’ll need to know the admission process, requirements, and other relevant information. Those may vary based on the program you’re applying to National Defense University.

Moreover, the process and requirements for National Defense University international admission may differ from domestic admission. Thus, if you’re an international student, check what additional requirements you need to submit and how you can validate your academic credentials.

To help you find all the admission-related information, we’ve compiled the master's admission pages of National Defense University. Make sure to take note of the process and requirements.

Degree	Admission Pages
Master's	Domestic and International Admissions Page

Planning to study in United States?

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Degree Programs offered at National Defense University

There are several National Defense University majors or degree programs for master’s level that you can pursue. Here are some of them:

If you want to know what other academic programs National Defense University offers, please visit the master’s course pages. These pages will give you detailed information of the programs they offer.