Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-4092
About Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University is a public research university in Flagstaff, Arizona, with about 22,903 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 89.61% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $54,384 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Northern Arizona University charges about 2.4× the national public median tuition ($13,009).
- Versus the Arizona median, sticker tuition is 48% above.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 61.32%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $54,384.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Northern Arizona University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 860% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Finding
Northern Arizona University awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 177 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Arizona University | $13,009 | $14,158 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| Arizona (state median) | $8,774 | $12,055 | 54 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,600 | $14,971 | 1,517 |
| 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.
How expensive is Northern Arizona University really?
Key findings
- Northern Arizona University charges about 2.4× the national public median tuition ($13,009).
- Versus the Arizona median, sticker tuition is 48% above.
Northern Arizona University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $13,009
Finding Northern Arizona University charges about 2.4× the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $13,009. That is about 2.4× the national public median ($5,512). Versus the Arizona median ($8,774), sticker tuition is 48% above. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 9% above.
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 public 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 Northern Arizona University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Northern Arizona University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Northern Arizona University is $14,158.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $14,158 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $2,103 above the Arizona median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $813 below 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 At Northern Arizona University, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Northern Arizona University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Northern Arizona 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
In-state tuition
$13,009
Out-of-state tuition
$29,881
Avg. net price
$14,158
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $9,709 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $10,398 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $13,330 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $18,050 |
| $110,001+ | $20,686 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $52,036. 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 Northern Arizona University is known for
Top program completions
- Information Technology551
- Psychology, General491
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse405
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies346
- Business Administration and Management, General331
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 16% of admitted students enrolled.
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Northern Arizona University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Northern Arizona 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 Northern Arizona University.
Campus
Location
Flagstaff, AZ
City / state
- ZIP
- 86011-4092
- NCES locale
- Town
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is 5% below the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Southwest
- Carnegie
- Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity
Size
Enrollment
22,903
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 24,919
- Graduate
- 5,477
- Full-time share
- 88%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$19,000
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 31.26%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Northern Arizona 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 Northern Arizona 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 Northern Arizona 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 | $9,738 | $22,093 | $15,011 |
| 2014 | $9,990 | $22,510 | $13,683 |
| 2015 | $10,358 | $23,348 | $14,785 |
| 2016 | $10,764 | $24,144 | $14,664 |
| 2017 | $11,059 | $24,841 | $14,789 |
| 2018 | $11,564 | $25,828 | $14,326 |
| 2019 | $11,896 | $26,516 | $12,915 |
| 2020 | $11,896 | $26,642 | $14,308 |
| 2021 | $11,896 | $26,642 | $14,636 |
| 2022 | $12,274 | $27,536 | $15,533 |
| 2023 | $12,652 | $28,900 | $14,922 |
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
Northern Arizona University reported total enrollment of about 22,903 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 37% male and 63% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (52.3%), Hispanic or Latino (27.1%), and Two or More Races (5.7%). About 31.26% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 38.7% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
87.5% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Northern Arizona University in 2024 is 22,903 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 24,919 students. Graduate enrollment is about 5,477 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
75.5%
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
48.12% 100% Completion Time
61.32% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 48.12% of students graduating from Northern Arizona University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Information Technology: 65% male / 35% female
- Psychology, General: 17% male / 83% female
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 12% male / 88% 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.
Northern Arizona University graduates earn a median of $54,384 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Northern Arizona University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $54,384. Median federal loan debt: $19,000. Average net price used in cost models: $14,158.
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 Northern Arizona University graduates report median earnings of $54,384 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 Northern Arizona University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (177 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Northern Arizona University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Northern Arizona University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Northern Arizona 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
$253.8M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Arizona median 59× the median ($4.3M)
- Southwest median 11× the median ($23.2M)
- U.S. median 9.6× the median ($26.4M)
- Arizona median 3.3× the median ($2,717)
- Southwest median 0.90× the median ($10,113)
- U.S. median 0.75× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 71.8%
- Arizona median 16.3 pp above median (55.6%)
- Southwest median 12.1 pp above median (59.7%)
- U.S. median 13.9 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $9,847
- Arizona median 1.4× the median ($7,187)
- Southwest median 1.4× the median ($7,078)
- U.S. median 1.3× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $7,753
- Arizona median 1.4× the median ($5,643)
- Southwest median 1.4× the median ($5,699)
- U.S. median 1.1× 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.
Northern Arizona University at a glance
Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University is a public institution in Flagstaff, AZ, classified as Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Information TechnologyPsychology, GeneralRegistered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian52.3%Hispanic or Latino27.1%Two or More Races5.7%
Schools near Northern Arizona University
Other campuses in Flagstaff, AZ when available, plus nearby institutions in Arizona.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C) within Arizona, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Northern Arizona University located?
Northern Arizona University is located in Flagstaff, AZ.
What is Northern Arizona University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Northern Arizona University is 89.6% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 37,805 applicants and 34,383 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Northern Arizona University's tuition?
Northern Arizona University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $13,009 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $14,158 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Northern Arizona University cost?
Reported tuition is $13,009 and average net price is $14,158 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $14,432 annually.
What explains Northern Arizona University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($14,158), completion (61.3% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($54,384). 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 Northern Arizona University?
Northern Arizona University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 24,919 students, White (52.3%), Hispanic or Latino (27.1%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Northern Arizona University?
About 38.7% of students at Northern Arizona University are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Northern Arizona University earn?
Median earnings are $47,308 six years after entry and $54,384 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Northern Arizona University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 61.3% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Northern Arizona University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $19,000.
Is Northern Arizona University public or private?
Northern Arizona University is a public institution located in Flagstaff, AZ.
Is Northern Arizona University an HBCU?
No. Northern Arizona University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
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
- Arizona college profile
- Arizona college costs
- Arizona colleges by ROI
- Arizona State University Campus Immersion vs University of Arizona vs Northern Arizona University
- Flagstaff, Arizona city profile
- Southwest regional profile
- Town college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Arizona
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.