Naropa University
Boulder, CO 80302-6697
About Naropa University
Naropa University is a private research university in Boulder, Colorado, enrolling about 339 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 100.00% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $28,720 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Naropa University charges 25% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($36,620).
- Versus the Colorado median, sticker tuition is about 3.7×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 36.67%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $28,720.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naropa University | $36,620 | $29,179 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| Colorado (state median) | $9,958 | $12,045 | 43 |
| Suburban (locale median) | $13,135 | $18,048 | 684 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 20% below published tuition at Naropa University
Key findings
- Naropa University's average net price ($29,179) is 20% below published tuition ($36,620).
- Naropa University charges 25% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($36,620).
- Versus the Colorado median, sticker tuition is about 3.7×.
Naropa University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $36,620
Finding Naropa University charges 25% above the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $36,620. That is 25% above the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the Colorado median ($9,958), sticker tuition is about 3.7×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 3.1×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Naropa University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Naropa University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Naropa University is $29,179.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $29,179 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $17,134 above the Colorado median net price. Versus suburban campuses, net price runs $11,131 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway Naropa University’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 20% lower after grants and scholarships.
Naropa University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Naropa University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$36,620
Avg. net price
$29,179
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $21,457 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $33,397 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $21,817 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $45,897 |
| $110,001+ | $46,397 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $146,480. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Naropa University is known for
Top program completions
- Counseling Psychology165
- Psychology, General43
- Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other18
- Creative Writing15
- Pastoral Studies/Counseling13
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 26% of admitted students enrolled.
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Naropa University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Naropa University is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Naropa University.
Campus
Location
Boulder, CO
City / state
- ZIP
- 80302-6697
- NCES locale
- Suburb
Compared with Suburban campuses nationally, net price is 62% above the median for Suburban campuses ($18,048 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Rocky Mountains
- Carnegie
- Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs
Size
Enrollment
339
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 401
- Graduate
- 755
- Full-time share
- 91%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$24,712
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 51.36%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Naropa University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Naropa University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Naropa University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $28,790 | $28,790 | $25,942 |
| 2014 | $29,970 | $29,970 | $26,505 |
| 2015 | $30,580 | $30,580 | $33,937 |
| 2016 | $31,170 | $31,170 | $26,112 |
| 2017 | $31,790 | $31,790 | $26,574 |
| 2018 | $31,790 | $31,790 | $26,812 |
| 2019 | $33,070 | $33,070 | $25,871 |
| 2020 | $34,600 | $34,600 | $30,062 |
| 2021 | $34,800 | $34,800 | $29,924 |
| 2022 | $34,600 | $34,600 | $26,838 |
| 2023 | $34,600 | $34,600 | $28,862 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Naropa University reported total enrollment of about 339 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 30% male and 70% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (62.2%), Hispanic or Latino (14.2%), and Race/ethnicity unknown (9.7%). About 51.36% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 19.5% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
90.6% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Naropa University in 2024 is 339 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 401 students. Graduate enrollment is about 755 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
54.2%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
26.67% 100% Completion Time
36.67% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 26.67% of students graduating from Naropa University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Counseling Psychology: 22% male / 78% female
- Psychology, General: 33% male / 67% female
- Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other: 28% male / 72% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Naropa University graduates earn a median of $28,720 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Naropa University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $28,720. Median federal loan debt: $24,712. Average net price used in cost models: $29,179.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Naropa University graduates report median earnings of $28,720 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Naropa University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (13 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Naropa University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Naropa University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Naropa University—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$4.6M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Colorado median 0.29× the median ($15.8M)
- Rocky Mountains median 0.24× the median ($19.5M)
- U.S. median 0.17× the median ($26.4M)
- Colorado median 0.83× the median ($5,882)
- Rocky Mountains median 0.48× the median ($10,274)
- U.S. median 0.41× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 39.2%
- Colorado median 28.6 pp below median (67.9%)
- Rocky Mountains median 34.1 pp below median (73.3%)
- U.S. median 18.7 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $5,935
- Colorado median 0.81× the median ($7,318)
- Rocky Mountains median 0.80× the median ($7,458)
- U.S. median 0.78× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $14,461
- Colorado median 2.1× the median ($6,731)
- Rocky Mountains median 2.1× the median ($6,852)
- U.S. median 2.0× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Naropa University at a glance
Naropa University
Naropa University is a private non-profit institution in Boulder, CO, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Counseling PsychologyPsychology, GeneralMulti-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian62.2%Hispanic or Latino14.2%Race/ethnicity unknown9.7%
Schools near Naropa University
Other campuses in Boulder, CO when available, plus nearby institutions in Colorado.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade D) within Colorado, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Naropa University located?
Naropa University is located in Boulder, CO.
What is Naropa University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Naropa University is 100.0% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 100 applicants and 94 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Naropa University's tuition?
Naropa University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $36,620 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $29,179 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Naropa University cost?
Reported tuition is $36,620 and average net price is $29,179 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $12,290 annually.
Why is Naropa University's net price so much lower than tuition?
At Naropa University, published tuition is $36,620 while average net price is $29,179—about 20% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains Naropa University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($29,179), completion (36.7% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($28,720). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Naropa University?
Naropa University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 401 students, White (62.2%), Hispanic or Latino (14.2%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Naropa University?
About 19.5% of students at Naropa University are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Naropa University earn?
Median earnings are $21,841 six years after entry and $28,720 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Naropa University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 36.7% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Naropa University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $24,712.
Is Naropa University public or private?
Naropa University is a private nonprofit institution located in Boulder, CO.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.