Private Nonprofit Graduate Fair 50/100

Naropa University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Boulder, Colorado

About Naropa University

Naropa University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Boulder, Colorado. It enrolls 339 students (a very small, intimate student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Acceptance
100%
Graduation
49.6%
Net Price
$29,179
Median Earnings (10yr)
$28,720
Enrollment
339
Student : Faculty
9:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Fair
50/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes 42
Value 6
Affordability 40
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 100%, Naropa University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate
100%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
Test Policy Test Optional Applicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Naropa University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Stable 4.5 pts since 2019
98.5%2019100%2020100%2021100%202294%2023

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Naropa University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $29,179 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$29,179
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
51%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
54%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees
$36,620
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,290
Room & Board (off-campus)
$16,785
Books & Supplies
$1,256
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,896
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,896
Total Cost of Attendance
$53,397

Application fee: $25 (one-time, due at submission)


Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

  • Under $30,000
    $21,457
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $33,397
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $21,817
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $45,897
  • Over $110,000
    $46,397

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$4,292
10% percentile
$5,500
25% percentile
$24,712
Median percentile
$25,000
75% percentile
$33,750
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,000 ↓ $5,712
No Pell $10,125 ↓ $14,587
Dependent students $12,000 ↓ $12,712
Independent students $23,000 ↓ $1,712
Female students $15,250 ↓ $9,462
Male students $14,500 ↓ $10,212
Pell recipients: 20.2% (5,002 students)No Pell: 10.8% (2,665 students)Dependent students: 12.8% (3,159 students)Independent students: 24.5% (6,055 students)Female students: 16.2% (4,014 students)Male students: 15.4% (3,817 students)Overall Median$24,712
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($24,712), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

50% of full-time students who enrolled at Naropa University graduate within six years, and 56% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
50%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
56%
Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Naropa University earn a median of $28,720 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$28,720
Earning > $25K
49%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$21,000$23,000$25,000$28,000$30,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates
$26,100

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$29,700

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt 14.7 pts across 6 years
62.8%1yr67.7%3yr76%5yr77.5%7yr
What this signals: Strong. 77% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Naropa University is home to 339 students, an intimate, close-knit community.

Total Enrolled
339
Part-Time
9%
First-Generation
19%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 62.2% 211
Hispanic 14.2% 48
Other 6.5% 22
Black 2.7% 9
Asian 2.7% 9
International 2.1% 7
White: 62.2% (211 students)Hispanic: 14.2% (48 students)Other: 6.5% (22 students)Black: 2.7% (9 students)Asian: 2.7% (9 students)International: 2.1% (7 students)Total339

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Naropa University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Midsize City Boulder, Colorado
Housing
Partly residential 103 beds available
Adult Learners
60% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Naropa University offers a varied set of programs: 16 distinct programs across 9 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

2 Programs
2 Programs
2 Programs
1 Program
2 Programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Naropa University is 9:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).

Student : Faculty
9:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$15M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$53,512
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

76 instructional faculty across 4 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
Full Professors 9 12% $72,278
Associate Professors 15 20% $68,622
Assistant Professors 17 22% $57,179
Instructors 35 46% $40,431

Pros & Cons of Naropa University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Naropa University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Accessible admissions for most applicants
  • Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
  • Tight-knit, close community feel
  • Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
  • Above-average net price
  • Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
  • Below-average completion rate
  • First-year retention is below typical
  • Below-average post-graduation earnings
Best for: Based on the data, Naropa University is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about Naropa University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Naropa University.

Is Naropa University hard to get into?
Naropa University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 100%.
What is the acceptance rate at Naropa University?
Naropa University has an acceptance rate of 100%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Naropa University cost?
The average net price after aid at Naropa University is $29,179 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Naropa University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $28,720 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $29,179 per year. That's roughly 1.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Naropa University known for?
Naropa University is best known for its programs in Counseling Psychology, Psychology, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Naropa University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Naropa University are $28,720, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Naropa University accredited?
Yes. Naropa University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Naropa University?
Naropa University enrolls 339 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Naropa University?
Naropa University graduates 50% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Naropa University a public or private college?
Naropa University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Naropa University located?
Naropa University is located in Boulder, Colorado.
What programs does Naropa University offer?
Naropa University offers 16 distinct programs. The most popular include Counseling Psychology, Psychology, Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Naropa University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Naropa University is 9:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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