The Alliant Legacy
How our history and identity light the way for our future
100+ years of impact
Alliant University is celebrating 100 years of making a powerful impact on the world. For the past century, through many iterations, name changes, and professional programs, we’ve consistently delivered excellence in education, fostered a diverse community, and trained exceptional students for careers of service.
Education Rooted in Access
Aliant’s roots date back to Balboa Law College, San Diego’s first law school, founded in 1924 by Leland Ghent Stanford when he began teaching evening bar prep classes at San Diego High School. By 1927, it was the only law school south of Los Angeles and welcomed students from all walks of life.i
Over the next several decades, Balboa Law College expanded to include undergraduate and graduate studies. In 1952, the school was renamed to California Western University (CWU) to better represent its suite of programs. In 1968, CWU moved to Scripps Ranch in San Diego (now Alliant’s home campus) and changed its name to United States International University (USIU) with a goal to focus on human excellence over intellectual excellence. (In 1973, CWU split from USIU to become an independent entity and moved to downtown San Diego, where it continues to operate today.)This mission to provide education for all continues today.
Theory Meets Practice
Soon after CWU’s move to Scripps Ranch, the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) was founded in 1969. CSPP was the first to take an innovative approach in psychology education by integrating classroom learning with the application of knowledge in a variety of field placements, a radical departure from the prevalent focus on theory and research at that time. In the ensuing decades, CSPP continued developing and evolving its programs to meet the field’s highest standards
Two Legacies, One Vision
In 2001, USIU and CSPP merged to form Alliant International University. According to school officials at that time, the merger grew from talks between the two institutions over a joint psychology program with a goal to create a new university built on the strengths of both institutions. The merger also helped jump-start efforts to create online programs.
The years following the merger transformed Alliant into what it is today with its flagship Scripps Ranch campus, five additional California campuses (San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Irvine, Sacramento, and Fresno), and one campus in Phoenix, Arizona. Our program offerings include a variety of degrees and certificates in psychology, education, business, forensics, and nursing and health sciences.
The Torch Burns Brighter
Entering 2026, we simplified our name to Alliant University to tell a clearer, more unified story about who we are and the impact our community makes. It starts with our torch logo, which serves as a guiding light that leads students toward their purpose while igniting their potential.
Removing “International” from our name allows us to present a focused identity as we seek to serve more states. Nevertheless, Alliant’s commitment to global education and global engagement remains as strong as ever. We continue to welcome and support students, faculty, and alumni from all over the globe.
This evolution strengthens how we represent ourselves, how we communicate our purpose, and how the world sees the work our students are preparing to do. It reflects clarity, confidence, and a renewed expression of the values that define the Alliant experience.
Alliant’s mission, vision, and IMPACT values
Alliant University’s mission is to prepare students for professional careers in service and leadership and promote the discovery and application of knowledge to improve the lives of people in diverse cultures and communities worldwide.
Our vision is an inclusive world empowered by Alliant alumni. To us, this means preparing purpose-led professionals who are ready for when it’s real. They do work that’s not about attention. It’s about intention. And they’re ready because they’ve been taught for more than tests. They’ve been taught for life. For when it’s uncertain, unscripted, and profoundly human.
The IMPACT acronym represents our six core values
Theory and practice
Alliant’s model of theory paired with practice helps you enter your profession with confidence. Each of our programs is designed to train you to do meaningful work that makes a lasting impact and provide you with the necessary knowledge, skills, and ethical values to serve and lead effectively in a variety of professional settings. We offer a professional school environment where you learn from seasoned working professionals and gain practical training while still in school through a combination of internships, practicums, consulting, and community service projects.
Purpose and impact
At Alliant, we measure success not only by the number of degrees awarded and the quantity of academic papers published, but also by our positive impact in the communities we serve. That’s why Alliant students contribute thousands of hours of community service each year as part of their professional education. Field placements, practicums, and internships engage students in projects that address real-time needs and issues that benefit their communities.
Diversity and alliance
Alliant students come from all walks of life, from the first in their families to pursue higher education, to military veterans completing or restarting their education, to working professionals, to graduates of community colleges and the Ivy League. That includes a continuous commitment to welcoming students from around the globe and preparing professionals to work effectively across cultural and national boundaries. We believe a diversity of views creates a better environment for solving collective problems and inspires bigger thinking to understand and respond to the needs of diverse communities.
FAQs: January 2026 Brand Updates
A global network of impact
“We teach programs that are must-haves, not nice-to-haves, with gainful employment in specific fields–most of which require a state license to practice–and we are laser-focused on that mission.”
Andy Vaughn, CEO and President
Alliant University
Check out impactful stories from our community—and learn how you can share your own.
“One of the greatest things taught to me throughout my journey at Alliant was not from a textbook, or even from a lecture from the professors—it was the ability to understand by experience. This gift allows me to understand how impactful I can be both within my professional life and within my community.”
Jessie Ramirez | ALLIANT ALUMNA, MA in SCHOOL COUNSELING
i Staff. “A Living Law School Turns 100”. October 18, 2024. California Western School of Law. Accessed December 9, 2024. https://www.cwsl.edu/news/campus/living_law_school.html