Northern Arizona University
#2 Best Master's Programs in Arizona- Graduation Rate
- 59% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $54,384 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $14,158 C+
- 17% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 90% D+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 22.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $22.6 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Master's Programs in Arizona.
Every $1 spent returns $22.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,225,793.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Earnings 33% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $22.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Northern Arizona University Matters
Northern Arizona University is a public research university in Flagstaff, AZ and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 22,903
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Psychology, Education
Why students choose Northern Arizona University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 90% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $14,158 a year after grants and scholarships — 17% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $54,384 ten years after enrolling — 33% above the typical college, against $19,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.64 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Nearly 23,000 students choose Northern Arizona University for its accessible education, reflected in a 90% acceptance rate. This openness creates a diverse student body and a supportive campus environment.
The Chetty/Opportunity Insights data for Northern Arizona University is not available, but the overall picture of student outcomes is clear. Graduates earn an average of $54,384 within ten years of completing their degrees. This figure highlights the potential for upward mobility, especially for those who may come from lower-income backgrounds.
With a net price of $14,158 and a median debt of $19,000, students can expect a manageable financial commitment. Many thrive here in popular programs like Business & Marketing, Health Professions, and Education. This school suits students who value accessibility and a strong sense of community while aiming for solid career outcomes.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Northern Arizona University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Northern Arizona University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Flagstaff, Arizona, Northern Arizona University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 90%. The graduation rate is roughly 59%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 90%
- Retention Rate
- 75%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 72%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,847
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 20:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.65
- First-Gen Students
- 39%
- Applicants
- 44,855
- Admitted
- 35,881
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2025-26
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Northern Arizona University is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 13% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 13%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 3%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 27%
- of enrolled freshmen
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 30% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
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 Northern Arizona University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Northern Arizona University is $29,881, 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 $14,158. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,709 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $13,009
- Out-of-State
- $29,881
- Avg Net Price
- $14,158
- Median Debt
- $19,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 31%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 32%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $9,709
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $10,398
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $13,330
- Family Income $110K+
- $20,686
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 Northern Arizona University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Northern Arizona University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Northern Arizona University earn a median of $54,384, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $47,308
- 8 Years
- $51,271
- 10 Years
- $54,384
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.35x
- Earning > $25K
- 67%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (1,855)
- 42%
- 100% (1,855)
- 42%
- 100% (1,855)
- 42%
- 100% (1,855)
- 42%
How Northern Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Northern Arizona University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Northern Arizona University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $14,158/year ($56,632 total). Graduates earn $54,384 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,282,425 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,225,793 (22.6× your investment). The median debt is $19,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 59% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $56,632
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,282,425
- Net Return
- $1,225,793
- ROI Multiple
- 22.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $14,158
- Median Debt
- $19,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 59%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-9,416,193
Top Programs
The fields Northern Arizona 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.
- Business & Marketing 17% $81,057 early-career
- Health Professions 16% $75,289 early-career
- Psychology 8% $36,132 early-career
- Education 7% $45,076 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 7% $39,756 early-career
- Social Sciences 6% $52,737 early-career
- Communications 5% $41,126 early-career
- Humanities 4% $26,856 early-career
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.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Northern Arizona University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Northern Arizona University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Flagstaff, Arizona, Northern Arizona University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 90%. The graduation rate is roughly 59%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Northern Arizona University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Northern Arizona University is $29,881, 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 $14,158. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,709 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,000 in federal student loans.
Is Northern Arizona University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Northern Arizona University earn a median of $54,384, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Northern Arizona University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Northern Arizona University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.64, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does Northern Arizona University offer Early Decision?
No. Northern Arizona University does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2025-26 Common Data Set).
Is Northern Arizona University really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 30% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at Northern Arizona University (2025-26 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at Northern Arizona University?
About 13% of admitted students choose to enroll at Northern Arizona University — its yield rate (2025-26 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Northern Arizona University.
- Georgia Southern UniversityStatesboro, GA · Close peer53% grad $53,236 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- East Carolina UniversityGreenville, NC · Close peer62% grad $55,146 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Utah State UniversityLogan, UT · Close peer58% grad $54,022 earn 92% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Sam Houston State UniversityHuntsville, TX · Close peer55% grad $54,211 earn 90% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- West Virginia UniversityMorgantown, WV · Close peer63% grad $55,939 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of MississippiUniversity, MS · Close peer70% grad $50,994 earn 97% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Northern Arizona University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Northern Arizona University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.64, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note