National university
#3 Best colleges for communications and journalism in ArizonaNorthern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ · Public · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid $14,158 a year
Median debt at graduation: $19,000 (all students)
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Campus tour
Northern Arizona University Walking Tour | North & South Campus |September 2026| Flagstaff, Arizona · From the college’s official YouTube channel. Plays from YouTube when you tap it.
Rankings
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In Arizona
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.61%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.75%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.Not reported
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.19 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$7,753
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Full cost of attendance before aid: $29,933 a year.
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 23,128 |
|---|---|
| Men and women College Scorecard, fall 2023 | Men 37% · Women 63% |
| First-generation students College Scorecard | 39% |
| First-year students from another state IPEDS, fall 2023 | 20% |
| Total students | 28,186 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $14,158 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $29,933 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $19,000 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 61% |
| Graduation rate for Pell grant recipients College Scorecard, within 6 years | 56% |
| Graduation rate for first-generation students College Scorecard, within 6 years | 55% |
| Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years College Scorecard, within 3 years | 56% |
| First-year retention | 75% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $54,384 |
| Admission rate | 90% |
| Application fee IPEDS, 2023–24 | $40 |
| Typical rent HUD fair market rent, FY2026 | About $1,727 a month for a one-bedroom |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 31% |
Value: Excellent · Top 18% (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Computer science | |
| Construction Management | |
| Computer Systems Analysis | |
| Electrical engineering | |
| Mechanical engineering | |
| Civil engineering | |
| Nursing | |
| Accounting | |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | |
| Finance | |
| Management information systems | |
| Marketing | |
| Dental assisting | |
| Business administration | |
| Managerial economics | |
| Public health | |
| Kinesiology and exercise science | |
| Chemistry | |
| International relations | |
| Geology and earth science | |
| Hospitality management | |
| Political science | |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | |
| Journalism | |
| Romance languages | |
| Criminology | |
| Liberal arts | |
| Public relations | |
| Biology | |
| Other science technologies/technicians | |
| Linguistics | |
| Mathematics | |
| Social work | |
| Special education | |
| Secondary education | |
| Communication studies | |
| Public administration | |
| Forestry | |
| Teacher education | |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies | |
| Psychology | |
| Broadcasting | |
| General studies | |
| Film and video | |
| Design | |
| Natural resources and conservation | |
| English | |
| History | |
| Sociology | |
| Music | |
| Anthropology | |
| Theatre | |
| Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis | |
| Fine arts |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): Astronomy and Astrophysics, Business (general), Computer engineering, Computing and information science, Criminal justice, Data Analytics, Data Science, Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services, Ecology and evolutionary biology, Engineering (general), Entrepreneurship, Ethnic and gender studies, Geography, Geography and Environmental Studies, Health sciences, Information technology, Interdisciplinary studies, Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering, Other communication, journalism, and related programs, Other physical sciences, Philosophy, Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, Physics, Physics and Astronomy, Pre-law and legal studies, Programming, Speech-language pathology, Writing and rhetoric.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Business | |
| Health professions | |
| Education | |
| Psychology | |
| Biology |
Campus life
| School colors | |
|---|---|
| Setting | City |
| Part-time undergraduates | 13% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 13% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $14,432 |
| Sports | NCAA Division I · Big Sky Conference |
| ROTC | Army · Air Force |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 19 to 1 |
| Undergraduates registered with the disability office | About 6%IPEDS, 2023–24 |
| Disability services | Visit the office’s pageThe college’s own page |
| Faculty who are full-time | 72%College Scorecard, fall 2023 |
| Endowment per student | $10,138IPEDS, 2023, per student |
| Dorm space | For about 44% of studentsBeds per undergraduate; not who lives on campus |
| Nearest airport with airline service | Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG)About 3 miles away · about 10 minutes by car |
| Nearest major airport | Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)About 123 miles away |
| Town population | 76,445Census, 2020–2024 |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | PhoenixAbout 114 miles away · about 2 hours 25 minutes by car |
| Typical weather | 31°F in January · 67°F in JulyNOAA, 1991–2020, from Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, AZ, about 3 miles away |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors.
Campus safety reports
On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.
| Category | This campus | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rape | 0.04 | 0.07 |
| Robbery | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Aggravated assault | 0.03 | 0.04 |
| Burglary | 0.06 | 0.08 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 0.20 | 0.15 |
Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.
Questions families ask
- What is Northern Arizona University’s Compass Score?
- Good (grade B). It ranks in the top 45% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does Northern Arizona University cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is $14,158 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into Northern Arizona University?
- Northern Arizona University admitted 90% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do Northern Arizona University’s graduates do?
- 61% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $54,384; the median federal debt at graduation is $19,000.
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About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 105330
- Carnegie classification: Doctoral university (high research)
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
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