Hope International University is a private Christian university identified with non-denominational Christian Churches/Churches of Christ and founded in 1928 as Pacific Bible Seminary. The school purchased campus property in Long Beach in 1936, and construction started in 1940. In 1962, the school achieved regional accreditation and changed its name to Pacific Christian College. When the Long Beach campus was no longer adequate to house the growth of the college, they relocated to Fullerton in 1973. In 1997 the institution achieved university status and took the name Hope International University.

Today, the University is composed of five Colleges including: 

• College of Arts & Sciences
• College of Business & Management
• College of Education
• Pacific Christian College of Ministry & Biblical Studies
• College of Psychology & Counseling

Within the Colleges are programs for traditional undergraduate students, online students, and graduate students.