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Northern Arizona University

Public Graduate Strong 70/100

Northern Arizona University

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

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Flagstaff, Arizona

About Northern Arizona University

Northern Arizona University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Flagstaff, Arizona. It enrolls 22,903 students (a very large 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.

Official website: nau.edu

Acceptance: 89.6%
Graduation: 56.8%
Net Price: $14,158
Median Earnings (10yr): $54,384
Enrollment: 22,903
Student : Faculty: 19:1

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 Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong

70/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 49

Value 81

Affordability 62

Selectivity 22

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 89.6%, Northern Arizona University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate

89.6%

Easy

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 Northern Arizona University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Becoming less selective ↑ 6.1 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Northern Arizona 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 $14,158 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$14,158

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

31%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

32%

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 (in-state): $13,009
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $29,881
Room & Board (on-campus): $14,432
Room & Board (off-campus): $18,342
Books & Supplies: $900
Other Expenses (on-campus): $4,936
Other Expenses (off-campus): $4,936
Total Cost of Attendance: $29,933

Application fee: $40 (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

$9,709
$30,001 – $48,000

$10,398
$48,001 – $75,000

$13,330
$75,001 – $110,000

$18,050
Over $110,000

$20,686

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.

$3,225

10% percentile

$5,500

25% percentile

$19,000

Median percentile

$23,726

75% percentile

$31,000

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 $13,452 ↓ $5,548

No Pell $12,425 ↓ $6,575

Dependent students $12,875 ↓ $6,125

Independent students $12,990 ↓ $6,010

Female students $13,000 ↓ $6,000

Male students $12,500 ↓ $6,500

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($19,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

57% of full-time students who enrolled at Northern Arizona University graduate within six years, and 74% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

57%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

74%

Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Northern Arizona University earn a median of $54,384 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$54,384

Earning > $25K

81%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

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

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

$39,800

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

Male graduates

$51,900

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

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$42,700

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$44,600

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$46,800

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $12,100, about 23% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

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 ↑ 12.2 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Strong. 76% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Northern Arizona University is home to 22,903 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 39% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

22,903

Part-Time

13%

First-Generation

39%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

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

GroupShareStudents

White 52.4% 11,990

Hispanic 27.1% 6,209

Other 9.8% 2,240

Asian 4.5% 1,019

Black 3.0% 694

International 2.1% 486

Student Life & Campus Culture

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

Setting

Small City Flagstaff, Arizona

Housing

Mostly residential 10,274 beds on campus

Adult Learners

13% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

What You Can Study

Northern Arizona University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 157 distinct programs across 25 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.

17 Programs

Health

Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Public Health $59K ($42K–$79K)
Rehabilitation $56K ($40K–$74K)

11 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Finance $83K ($61K–$112K)

6 Programs

Computer Science

Information Systems $92K ($64K–$128K)
Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)
Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)

5 Programs

Biology

Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)
Microbiology $63K ($44K–$83K)
Ecology $49K ($36K–$64K)

1 Program

Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)

7 Programs

Communication

Public Relations $64K ($46K–$84K)
Communication & Media $56K ($40K–$76K)
Radio, Television & Digital Media $50K ($34K–$70K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Northern Arizona University is 19:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty

19:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$9,423

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$254M

Solid financial position

Avg Faculty Salary

$86,276

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

1,115 instructional faculty across 5 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	311	28%	$113,771
Associate Professors	317	28%	$82,168
Assistant Professors	427	38%	$72,631
Instructors	15	1%	$60,317
Lecturers	45	4%	$63,332

Pros & Cons of Northern Arizona University

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

PROS

Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Solid post-graduation earnings

CONS

Class sizes are on the higher side
Modest first-year retention

Best for: Based on the data, Northern Arizona University is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.

Frequently Asked Questions about Northern Arizona University

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

Is Northern Arizona University hard to get into?

Northern Arizona University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 89.6%.

What is the acceptance rate at Northern Arizona University?

Northern Arizona University has an acceptance rate of 89.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

How much does Northern Arizona University cost?

The average net price after aid at Northern Arizona University is $14,158 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Northern Arizona University worth it?

Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $54,384 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $14,158 per year. That's roughly 3.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Northern Arizona University known for?

Northern Arizona University is best known for its programs in Psychology, Nursing, Biology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Northern Arizona University graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Northern Arizona University are $54,384, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Northern Arizona University accredited?

Yes. Northern Arizona University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

How many students attend Northern Arizona University?

Northern Arizona University enrolls 22,903 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Northern Arizona University?

Northern Arizona University graduates 57% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Northern Arizona University a public or private college?

Northern Arizona University is a Public institution.

Where is Northern Arizona University located?

Northern Arizona University is located in Flagstaff, Arizona.

What programs does Northern Arizona University offer?

Northern Arizona University offers 157 distinct programs. The most popular include Psychology, Nursing, Biology.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Northern Arizona University?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Northern Arizona University is 19:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.