
West Coast University-Orange County is the Anaheim campus of West Coast University, a private institution focused on health-professions education. Its history is best understood as part of the university's development across multiple Southern California campuses, rather than as the history of a separate Anaheim university.
West Coast University traces its origins to Los Angeles in 1909. Its present-day emphasis on nursing and other health programs developed later. Applicants comparing historical claims or graduation outcomes should check whether a figure refers to the Anaheim campus, another campus, or the university as a whole; those are not interchangeable.
West Coast University-Orange County concentrates on health-related education, rather than offering the broad range of departments found at a comprehensive university. Nursing and dental hygiene are particularly relevant programs for applicants evaluating the Anaheim campus.
Program listings also encompass fields such as health administration, public health, and business, but a listing in institutional data does not establish that every degree is taught in person in Anaheim. Prospective students should confirm the current campus, credential level, delivery format, and required clinical or laboratory location for the particular program they want. Those distinctions affect commuting, scheduling, licensure planning, and the total time needed to graduate.
West Coast University-Orange County is in Anaheim, California, in the Orange County portion of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Its setting is an important practical consideration for students balancing classes with clinical placements, work, or family responsibilities.
Students should plan for travel not only to campus but potentially to assigned clinical or fieldwork sites. A program's placement location and schedule may differ from its classroom schedule, so a convenient campus commute does not necessarily mean every required activity will be nearby. Anaheim's regional road and transit networks provide commuting options, but the usefulness of a particular route depends on class times and placement assignments.
West Coast University describes its educational purpose in terms of preparing students for health-related careers through applied learning and professional development. That stated purpose fits the Anaheim campus's concentration in fields with laboratory, clinical, or other hands-on requirements.
A mission statement expresses institutional priorities; it is not evidence that every student will complete a program, pass a licensing examination, or find employment. Applicants can assess how the stated approach works in practice by examining the curriculum, supervised-experience requirements, student support, and outcomes for their specific program.
Name of the institution
West Coast University-Orange CountyLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
City: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
1,000 - 4,999School type
UniversityMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
2007West Coast University-Orange County 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.
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.