Northern Arizona University
#2 Best Colleges in ArizonaBottom 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 Colleges in Arizona.
Every $1 spent returns $22.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,225,793.
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What The Data Says
A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
Earnings 33% above the national college median.
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, Education, Psychology
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 keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 90% of those who apply. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 59%.
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
When weighing the true cost of attending Northern Arizona University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $29,881 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $14,158 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,709 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $19,000.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
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 national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
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.
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Northern Arizona University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
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.
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 keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 90% of those who apply. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 59%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Northern Arizona University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Northern Arizona University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $29,881 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $14,158 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,709 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $19,000.
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 national averages for 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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.64 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Northern Arizona University.
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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.64 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note