About Northern Arizona University

Founded in 1899, Northern Arizona University. is a Public college. Located in Arizona, which is a city setting in Arizona, the campus itself is Urban. The campus is home to 26,500 full time undergraduate students, and 3,861 full time graduate students.

The Northern Arizona University Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 18:1. There are 1081 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Northern Arizona University include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.

Quick Facts

Acceptance Rate78%
Application Deadline
Application Fee25
SAT Range
ACT Range

Admissions at NAU are considered Less Selective, with ,187% of all applicants being admitted.

In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 15 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.

81% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 48% were in the top quarter, and 19% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.

STUDENT LIFE

We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Northern Arizona University.

Northern Arizona University REVIEWS

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  • How would you rate on-campus housing?

    413 Students rated on-campus housing 3.7 stars. 17 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate off-campus housing?

    336 Students rated off-campus housing 3.5 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus food?

    429 Students rated campus food 3.6 stars. 20 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus facilities?

    440 Students rated campus facilities 4.1 stars. 37 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate class size?

    441 Students rated class size 4.2 stars. 43 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate school activities?

    440 Students rated school activities 4.1 stars. 43 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate local services?

    442 Students rated local services 4.3 stars. 50 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate academics?

    438 Students rated academics 4.2 stars. 42 % gave the school a 5.0.

What's your overall opinion of Northern Arizona University?

302 Students rated Northern Arizona University

Willow - 08/25/2023

NAU is a great college if you live in Arizona and want to get away from your hometown. The lumberjack scholarship is great and there are a lot of opportunities for indigenous students. There's a lot of partying, though, and the town is honestly really small for such a big campus. The disability resource office kind of sucks but if you're persistent then they'll help you. As someone who has experienced Flagstaff from both a student and a resident perspective, NAU is kind of ruining the town, they keep buying things and the entire west side of town is extremely gentrified because of them.

Kiera - 06/20/2023

Personally I love going to NAU. If you enjoy the outdoors Flagstaff is the place for you. I love to snowboard and have met so many people I get to ride with, I have got so much better just by riding with friends and catching a few pointers along the way. The people at NAU are all so unique and interesting. I am so lucky to have met all the friends I have today, I would recommend giving NAU a chance.

Imani - 06/20/2023

Pretty solid university to go to , although theres a huge influx of freshman each year, so there might be a bigger risk of getting something unideal on campus housing. Theres a lot of funding put into sports but honestly we arent the best so its not a high priority. Dining NORTH campus is alright, dining SOUTH campus is much better from my experience of being on campus (which was about 3 years), but either way soups are solid from both areas. Professors at least within the field of anthropology are very kind or funny, sometimes both but thats rare (honestly all professors aside from what Ive heard about the STEM professors are quite lax and accommodating to students , especially in social sciences). Worst thing about the university is sometimes there are programs that just dont exist?? Or the requirement for graduation fluctuates at times. Accommodations for disabilities or mental health are not that good especially for those with ADHD. Also, inclusivity wise, its ok. As a black person I was mostly fine, but you are at risk of a friendly microaggression the more off campus you go from well meaning white people (but they are easy to avoid). I recommend finding clubs/organizations at the Office of Inclusion to find a sense of community with a group or multiple groups you identify with most if you are a POC or in a minority group.

Delaney - 01/19/2023

I loved my experience at NAU. The education was solid, professors were approachable, classmates were academically intriguing and just overall good people. I feel like I was adequately prepared post-degree for the workplace and my degree has since provided me with a lot of opportunities.

Northern Arizona University FAQS

  1. What is the Acceptance Rate at Northern Arizona University?

    The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Northern Arizona University is 78%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020 , _____ students were offered admission. The number of males who applied was _____ vs the number of females which was _____.

  2. What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

    I would've taken 6 classes instead of 5 one being AP Biology being that it's my major in college now. Also i would have got more help with my college essay and applied to more scholarships because im now taking out loans that i will have to pay back. I would have taken more college visits although i toured many,but more wouldn't hurt.

    Read all  369 answers
  3. What kind of person should not attend this school?

    Someone who doesn't appreciate the outdoors.

    Read all  67 answers
  4. Describe the students at your school.

    My classmates are kind, caring, intelligent, and fun individuals who strive to become excellent educators.

    Read all  67 answers
  5. What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?

    NAU is a great little university. For the most part, I had good professors who were passionate about the field of education.

    Read all  66 answers
  6. What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

    I wished I had known more about the study abroad program, because I probably would have planned ahead and been able to do it. I also wish I had known about jobs offered on campus; then I would have applied for them. If I knew more about the town of Flagstaff, I would have gotten involved much earlier in the community and things the city offers, like the art walk and dancing in the square.

    Read all  64 answers
  7. What's unique about your campus?

    The small class size and beautiful environment are probably what I love best about this school. The small class size is essential for better teacher student relationships, and the peaceful, beautiful environment allows for peace and rest of mind.

    Read all  61 answers
  8. Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.

    NAU is a has a relaxed yet studious environment which makes it a fun and comfortable place to learn.

    Read all  60 answers
  9. What kind of person should attend this school?

    A person who is laid back, acceting, and wants to experience a beautiful campus.

    Read all  58 answers
  10. Describe your favorite campus traditions.

    Their forestry program

    Read all  56 answers
  11. What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?

    Every time I talk about the Flagstaff campus of NAU, I always mention the Platinum Research and Development Building that is 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} self-sufficient, the easy access shuttle system that reaches the entire town, the nearby shops and food services, the Lowell Observatory nearby, the friendly staff and fellow students, the delicious food in the Union, the wonderful support services the faculty provides for the students and most importantly, the stunning view of the mountains high above the beautiful campus.

    Read all  54 answers
  12. What's the most frustrating thing about your school?

    The most frustrating thing about Northern Arizona is the amount of things to do around. Every so often the school brings good events to campus, but Flagstaff is a small town so it can get boring. It also takes 2 and half hours to get to Phoenix if you want to get to a major mall, airport or concert etc.

    Read all  43 answers
  13. Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!

    Northern Arizona Univesity is unique compared to other school that considered me because they offer very flexible schedules for working students. The professors at Northern Arizona University accomodate to students' needs and are willing to work with students one-on-one to give them the instruction they need. Not only do the students want to be successful at NAU, the professors also want the best for them. Continuously, professors can be seen engaging their students in learning.

    Read all  36 answers
  14. What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?

    The people that go here are laid back, snow lovers, stoners, etc It is a mix of students

    Read all  22 answers
  15. What are the academics like at your school?

    Another great part of NAU is that yes, the professors will know you by name by the end of the semester in most classes. The class sizes are usually no larger than 40 people on average and can be as small as 15-20 students. It really allows for a personal interaction with the teacher. My favorite class, or classes, have been my psychology classes. They psychology department has amazing professors that do a very good job in teaching the material. I haven't had a least favorite class yet, I really enjoy most of my classes and you'll find that many students at NAU love almost all of their classes as well. I really enjoy how much participation is involved in the smaller classes as well. Some classes, though they are lecture classes, have a lot of discussions and group participation that is so crucial teachers even assign points to participating in class! That really helps get your mind thinking and get involved in the material. Students here, study a lot! That's what our huge library is for. The library even has extended hours, open until 2AM for all of your study needs. I'm a criminal justice and psychology double major with a minor in sociology. My majors fall under the Social and Behavioral Sciences Department. This department is really neat and like most of them, they all have options for study abroad, internships, and careers that you're able to look into through the department. This definitely makes it easier to find a job or a career in the major of your choice, making our school definitely geared towards getting a job as well as learning about the field of study.

    Read all  18 answers
  16. What is your overall opinion of this school?

    I think that Northern Arizona University is an amazing school! Flagstaff itself is a beautiful place and the weather is wonderful. You have beautiful and warm summers and you'll get cold winters with snow! The school is a perfect size, it's large but not overwhelmingly large and it doesn't take up the entire city of Flagstaff. Most people don't know a lot about this school, especially if they aren't from Arizona or the Southwest Region which I think is nice as well. The school is great and people do know about it but it's not a school that everyone knows about. NAU makes Flagstaff a college town. There's a great sense of community here and everyone seems to know everyone else. It's not very hard to get close to people just by virtue of living here. I really like the support that a smaller college town such as this one provides to every one who lives here. The library and the campus grounds seem to be the places where everyone spends most of their time, if they're not in their dorms of course. The library is absolutely HUGE! It's really neat. There are so many study rooms and places to just hang out and relax. Another great thing about NAU is there are a lot of outdoor-areas to sit and relax, do homework, read, hang out, etc. It's so nice, especially in the summer or spring to just sit under a tree and do homework. The school's administration is wonderful! They really care a lot about their students and they do their best to make the 4 years of college really enjoyable for each individual. The support systems that they've set up are wonderful too. We have free tutoring, free counseling services, a great gym and health clinic and more that have been set up and perfected by our President to make campus life as nice as possible. As far as school pride goes, I think our school would benefit from more school pride but sports aren't a huge part of our school so the pride kind of follows in suit with that. I don't have any complaints about that simply because even though we lack school pride, we don't lack sports and athletic opportunities for those who do enjoy sports. The biggest complaint that I've heard since I've attended NAU was in regards to the amount of construction that has been actively going on around campus. Right now they're in the process of building two new town-home style dorm facilities and a new parking garage. Just a few months ago, they finished building our new health center, pharmacy, and gym. This place is huge and it took a long time to build. While all of this has been going on, yes we've had a lot of construction around campus but I wouldn't say that it's too big of a problem to affect enrollment.

    Read all  15 answers
  17. What are the most popular student activities/groups?

    The student media center is popular and offers students the opportunity to write for the newspaper (which is what I do), broadcast on the radio, and even be on TV. There are tons of clubs and organizations, even Quid-itch is offered! People do party a lot here, but not necessarily everyone does. There is not a lot of other stuff to do in Flagstaff late at night, so we resort to partying and hanging out with friends. Fraternities and sororities do not rule the school like they do in other universities, but many people are involved in them. There is a good balance of people and things to do that pleases every type of person.

    Read all  6 answers
  18. Tell us about the sports scene on campus.

    There's tons of intramural sports to be involved with. You can also choose to be part of the university's teams or alternatively a club team through the university.

    Read all  4 answers
  19. What do students complain about most?

    I guess it would be the ever-changing weather, but it isn't that often that I hear complaints. We get used to it eventually. Also, I suppose another thing students complain about is the bus schedule. Sometimes, the buses get crammed together at one stop and move around campus in packs rather than spread apart.

    Read all  4 answers
  20. Why did you decide to go to this school?

    I chose to attend NAU for a variety of reasons, but the big one was how well the W.A. Franke School of business presented itself during the tour of the college. Also that the classes being taught in the business college are all done by professors who have had industry experience about what they are teaching. Also that the campus of NAU is very scenic and easy to get around with the bus system in the winter months and not an overly long walk in the summer months. NAU has a good atmosphere and I am glad I chose to attend this institution.

    Read all  4 answers
  21. Tell us about your professors.

    Most of the professors here are wonderful! They seem to care a lot about the well-being and success of all their students and they don't try and make learning difficult. A lot of the teachers I've had try to make learning fun and use tests to make sure you understand the material (so no trick questions) The professors tend to be pretty accessible if someone needs a little extra practice or explanations regarding the material. It's not hard to confront them and like I said before, they are almost always willing to help! Occasionally you'll run into a teacher that you clash with but it's going to be that way no matter where you go to school. Some teachers like to place too much opinion into their lectures but it's easily ignored.

    Read all  3 answers

Student Body

Students

59%

female

41%

male

26,500

Total Undergrad Enrollment

3,861

Total Grad Students

34%

Out-Of-State

62%

In-State

4%

International

Organizations

151

Student Organizations

15

Fraternities

8

Sororities

Housing

Yes

On-Campus Housing

33%

of students living on campus

Student Diversity

% American Indian/Alaskan Native
3%
% Asian/Pacific Islander
2%
% Black or African-American
3%
% Hispanic/Latino
23%
% White or Caucasian
58%

TUITION & AID

All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA. Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.

92% of students attending Northern Arizona University receive some sort of financial aid. 36% were awarded federal grants. While 51% received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.

Cost Out of State

$16,179

Tuition and fees(Out of state)

$1,000

Books and Supplies

$9,872

Room and Board

27,051

Total On Campus

Actual Cost By Income Level(W/Financial Aid)

Family Income
Cost
$0 - $30K
$11,907
$30 - $48K
$12,395
$48 - $75K
$14,836
$75 - $110K
$17,411
$110K & UP
$19,345

We use student reviews and the most current publicly available data on our school pages. As such, we don't typically remove or edit college information. Sources for school statistics and data include the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Portions of college data include copyrighted material, which is reproduced on this website by permission of Wintergreen Orchard House, a division of Carnegie Communications. © 2009-2016 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.

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