NAU vs. La Sierra University

Should I go to Northern Arizona University or La Sierra University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if NAU or La Sierra University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Northern Arizona University vs. La Sierra University comparison
Northern Arizona University La Sierra University College 3 College 4
Northern Arizona University
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Overview

NAU La Sierra University
Location Flagstaff, AZ Riverside, CA
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 28,086 1,614
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #645
Religious Affiliation - Seventh Day Adventists - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nau.edu lasierra.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NAU La Sierra University
Tuition (In State) $11,024 $33,912
Tuition (Out of State) $26,286 $33,912
Room & Board $11,728 $11,325
Avg Net Price $17,115 $25,076
Avg Grant Aid $11,865 $21,867
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

NAU La Sierra University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 44,855 1,878
Admitted 35,881 1,725
Acceptance Rate 80% 91.9%
Enrolled % 15.5% 19.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.54
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/28
SAT Range 880/1140
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

NAU La Sierra University
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Biology (24%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)

Outcomes

NAU La Sierra University
Graduation Rate 52% 32%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,900 $51,900
Making Student Loan Payments 55% 52%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,000 $30,000
Median Loan Payment $206 $310

Diversity

NAU La Sierra University
% Men 37% 40%
% Women 63% 60%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 59% 14%
% Black 3% 6%
% Hispanic 22% 48%
% Native American 3% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 2%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 4% 11%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

NAU La Sierra University
% In-State 73% 84%
% Out-of-State 26% 9%

Campus

NAU La Sierra University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Northern Arizona University is larger than than La Sierra University based on total student enrollment (28,086 students vs. 1,614 students)

NAU vs. La Sierra University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NAU or La Sierra University?

  • La Sierra University is 207.6% more expensive to attend than NAU for in-state tuition ($33,912.00 vs. $11,024.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 29% higher at La Sierra University than Northern Arizona University ($33,912.00 vs. $26,286.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Arizona University than La Sierra University ($17,115 vs. $25,076)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at La Sierra University are 3.6% lower than costs at Northern Arizona University ($11,325 vs. $11,728)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Northern Arizona University as La Sierra University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by La Sierra University students is 84.3% larger than aid received Northern Arizona University ($21,867 vs. $11,865)

NAU vs. La Sierra University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NAU or La Sierra University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between La Sierra University or NAU .

  • Accepted freshman NAU students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at La Sierra University (3.54)
  • La Sierra University has a higher acceptance rate (91.9%) than NAU (80%)

NAU vs. La Sierra University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NAU or La Sierra University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between La Sierra University and NAU.

  • The graduation rate at NAU is higher than La Sierra University (52% vs. 32%)
  • Graduates from La Sierra University earn on average $8,000 more per year than NAU graduates after ten years. ($51,900 vs. $43,900)
  • Northern Arizona University students graduate with a $10,000 lower median federal student loan debt than La Sierra University graduates. ($20,000 vs. $30,000)
  • NAU graduates are paying $104 less per month on federal student loans than La Sierra University graduates. ($206 vs. $310)
  • More NAU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former La Sierra University students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 52%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/