NAU vs. Prescott College

Comparable Facts

Compare Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ with Prescott College in Prescott, AZ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northern Arizona University is larger than Prescott College based on total student enrollment (28,467 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Northern Arizona University is located in Flagstaff, AZ (Small City setting); Prescott College is in Prescott, AZ (Small City setting).
• Northern Arizona University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Prescott College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Northern Arizona University 19:1; Prescott College 8:1.

NAU vs. Prescott College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NAU or Prescott College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Arizona University than Prescott College ($16,371 vs. $23,377).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Prescott College are 24.5% lower than at Northern Arizona University ($10,902 vs. $14,432).
• Prescott College is 174.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than NAU (about $22,676 more per year; $35,685.00 vs. $13,009.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.4% higher at Prescott College than at Northern Arizona University (about $5,804 more per year; $35,685.00 vs. $29,881.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northern Arizona University than at Prescott College (99% vs. 96%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Prescott College students is 92.3% larger than aid received by Northern Arizona University students ($25,158 vs. $13,085).

NAU vs. Prescott College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NAU or Prescott College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Prescott College and NAU.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPrescott College 1095/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPrescott College 15/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NAU - Test-free; Prescott College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: NAU Aug 1, 2027; Prescott College Aug 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman NAU students have a 0.51 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Prescott College (3.19).
• Prescott College has a higher acceptance rate (94.5%) than NAU (89.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.8% at NAU vs. 5.8% at Prescott College.

NAU vs. Prescott College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NAU and Prescott College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Northern Arizona University's six-year graduation rate (52%) is higher than Prescott College's (29%).
• Graduates from Northern Arizona University earn a median of about $10,000 more per year than Prescott College graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,900 vs. $33,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Prescott College graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than NAU graduates ($19,500 vs. $20,000).
• Among borrowers, Prescott College graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NAU graduates ($201 vs. $206).
• More NAU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Prescott College 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.