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Naropa University

Private nonprofit Boulder, CO · Urban · Rocky Mountains · 93% data
C Diversity D+ Graduation D Earnings
Graduation Rate
42% D+
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$28,720 D
Below average for college graduates
Net Price
$29,179 F
70% more than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
100% F
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings -30% vs avg
Graduation -27% vs avg
Net Price 70% vs avg

Bottom line: A D overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 7.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $7.1 over 20 years.

7.1× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $7.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $712,049.

What The Data Says

  1. A D overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Graduate earnings fall 30% below the national college median.

  3. Graduation of 42% — 27% below the national average.

  4. Every $1 invested returns $7.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

About Naropa University

Naropa University is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private University
Carnegie Class
Master's University
Enrollment
339
Setting
Urban
Primary Strengths
Psychology, Health Professions, English & Literature, Education

Why students choose Naropa University

Strength in Psychology
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

D
Top 82% overall
D
Earnings
$28,720 median
F
Value
1.0× net price
F
Affordability
$29,179/yr net
D+
Graduation
42% graduate
F
Selectivity
100% admit rate
C
Diversity
0.59 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

Naropa University has a 100% acceptance rate, making it accessible to all students who apply. With an enrollment of 339 students, the university fosters a close-knit community that emphasizes individualized attention and support.

According to the Chetty/Opportunity Insights data, specific outcomes and mobility metrics for Naropa students are not available. However, the overall graduation rate stands at 42%, indicating that nearly half of the students complete their degrees within the expected timeframe. This statistic may be a consideration for prospective students exploring their long-term success and opportunities.

The net price to attend Naropa University is $29,179, which can lead to a median debt of $24,712 for graduates. After ten years, alumni earn an average of $28,720 per year. Students interested in psychology, health professions, and visual and performing arts tend to thrive here, benefiting from the university's specialized programs and intimate learning environment.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Naropa University is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Naropa University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Naropa University, located in Boulder, Colorado, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 100%. The graduation rate is roughly 42%.

Acceptance Rate
100%
Retention Rate
54%
Full-Time Faculty
39%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$5,935
Student–Faculty Ratio
9:1
Diversity Index
0.59
First-Gen Students
19%
Applicants
94
Admitted
94

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Naropa University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Naropa University is $36,620, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $29,179. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $21,457 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,712 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$36,620
Out-of-State
$36,620
Avg Net Price
$29,179
Median Debt
$24,712
Pell Grant Rate
51%
Federal Loan Rate
54%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$21,457
Family Income $30K–$48K
$33,397
Family Income $48K–$75K
$21,817
Family Income $110K+
$46,397

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Naropa University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Naropa University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Naropa University report median earnings of $28,720, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

6 Years After Entry
$21,841
8 Years
$23,791
10 Years
$28,720
Debt-to-Earnings
0.86x
Earning > $25K
25%

Earnings Trajectory

$21,841 6yr $23,791 8yr $28,720 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (10)
17%
100% (10)
17%
100% (10)
17%
100% (10)
17%

How Naropa Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation42%Earnings 10yr$29KNet Price$29KRetention54%Median Debt$25KPell Grant Rate51%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$21K$0-30K$33K$30-48K$22K$48-75K$46K$110K+

College ROI Calculator

Is Naropa University Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Naropa University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $29,179/year ($116,716 total). Graduates earn $28,720 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $828,765 in total earnings — a net gain of $712,049 (7.1× your investment). The median debt is $24,712, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 42% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$116,716
Projected 20yr Earnings
$828,765
Net Return
$712,049
ROI Multiple
7.1×
Cost Per Year
$29,179
Median Debt
$24,712
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
42%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Endowment
$3,370,010
Federal Grants
$1,237,172
Investment Income
$226,201

Top Programs

The fields Naropa University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Naropa University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Naropa University, located in Boulder, Colorado, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 100%. The graduation rate is roughly 42%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Naropa University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Naropa University is $36,620, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $29,179. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $21,457 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,712 in federal student loans.

Is Naropa University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Naropa University report median earnings of $28,720, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Naropa University.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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