
American University of Health Sciences (AUHS) is a private health-professions institution in Signal Hill, California. Founded in 1994, it developed around education for healthcare careers rather than a broad liberal-arts curriculum.
Its present academic identity centers on nursing and pharmacy. That specialization matters when comparing AUHS with a larger university: applicants should evaluate the history and requirements of the particular program they want, not assume that every university-wide milestone applies equally to every degree.
AUHS organizes its principal degree offerings through its School of Nursing and School of Pharmacy. Representative programs include the Bachelor of Science in Nursing and the Doctor of Pharmacy; nursing study is also offered at the graduate level.
These are professionally oriented programs with requirements that extend beyond classroom coursework. Depending on the degree, students may need clinical placements, laboratory work, background checks, immunizations, or other clearances. Applicants should use the current catalog for their intended program to check its curriculum, prerequisites, clinical requirements, and expected time to completion. A requirement for nursing applicants should not be assumed to apply to pharmacy applicants, or vice versa.
AUHS is located in Signal Hill, a small city surrounded by Long Beach in Southern California. Its setting is part of the Los Angeles-Long Beach metropolitan area, rather than a residential college town.
Students considering a commute should account for Southern California travel times as well as trips to any assigned clinical or experiential site; those sites may not be next to the campus. First-year students are permitted to register or park a car on campus, but permission to park does not establish that parking is free or that a space is guaranteed. Applicants who expect to use public transportation should compare routes with their class and placement schedules before enrolling.
AUHS describes its educational purpose in terms of preparing healthcare professionals for service. Its institutional identity also reflects a Christian foundation, which is relevant to students assessing the environment in which they will study.
A stated mission expresses the university's priorities; it is not, by itself, evidence of graduate outcomes. Prospective students can evaluate how those priorities appear in the curriculum, clinical education, student support, and any participation expectations described in the current catalog. They should distinguish an institution's religious identity from the admission and professional requirements of an individual degree program.
Name of the institution
American University of Health SciencesLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
Suburb: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
Under 1,000School type
UniversityMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
QuartersFoundation year
1994American University of Health Sciences is institutionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University 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 at least 1 year, but less than 2 years
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
Post-master's certificate
Doctor's degree - professional practiceData 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.