
American National University (ANU) traces its history to a business school founded in Roanoke, Virginia, in 1886. It later operated under the National College name before adopting its current university name. Its development from business training into health care, technology, and other career-oriented fields helps explain its present academic focus.
Prospective students reviewing older records should check which institutional name and campus a document covers. A historical reference to National College does not necessarily describe a program currently offered by American National University in Salem.
American National University offers career-focused study in areas including health care, business, and information technology. Its program offerings span different credential levels, so applicants should identify the exact degree or certificate - not just a subject area - before comparing requirements and costs.
Fields represented in the university's reported program data include health and medical administration, nursing, business administration, accounting, computer networking, and information technology administration. Availability, delivery format, and admission standards can differ by program. In particular, a nursing program's clinical and licensing requirements should not be assumed to apply to a health administration program, or vice versa.
Applicants should use the current academic catalog to confirm a program's official title, required credits, course sequence, and whether any in-person instruction or clinical placement is required near their home.
American National University is based in Salem, Virginia, in the Roanoke metropolitan area. Students considering an in-person component should confirm the address where their particular classes, labs, or required services take place; the institution's Salem location does not mean every course meets there.
Salem is part of a regional employment and health care market that also includes Roanoke. Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport serves the area. For students who live farther away, the more consequential transportation question may be whether their program requires occasional travel for exams, labs, clinical work, or other scheduled activities.
American National University presents its educational purpose in career-oriented terms, emphasizing preparation for work through accessible postsecondary study. That is an institutional aim, not evidence that a particular credential will lead to employment or licensure.
Students can test that stated purpose against concrete features of a program: its curriculum, opportunities to practice job-related skills, clinical or internship requirements where applicable, and the credentials employers or licensing boards actually require. They should also distinguish the university's institution-wide mission from the objectives published for an individual program.
Name of the institution
American National UniversityLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
Suburb: MidsizeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, not primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
Under 1,000School type
Comprehensive higher education institutionMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
QuartersFoundation year
1886American National University is institutionally accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Certificate of less than 1 year
Certificate of at least 1 year, but less than 2 years
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Master's degreeData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.