Alliant was formed in 2001 by the combination of two older institutions: the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) and United States International University (USIU).

[3] USIU is the descendant of the original Balboa School of Law founded by Leland Ghent Stanford as a private graduate institution in 1924.

[4] William C. Rust was the president of California Western University who ushered in the transformation to USIU and led the school for the next 37 years.

"[7] By 1971, Rust had transformed the former small liberal arts school of California Western University into what the San Diego Reader referred to as an "international phenomenon.

[9][10][11] In 1986, Rust was still breaking new ground for buildings and maintaining a focus on further expansion in Latin America, the Middle East, Europe, and Russia.

[6] But by 1990, after 37 years of leading the university and enduring several rocky financial episodes, Rust was removed of all governing power by the board of trustees.

"[32] However, in 1990 after 10 successful years and producing two NHL players, the program was dropped due to the rising cost of traveling to distant campuses to compete.