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ASU GCU San Diego State CU Boulder University of Nevada-Reno Utah ISU UO WSU OSU UNM UC Riverside| University of Arizona | Northern Arizona University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
U of A | NAU | ||
| Location | Tucson, AZ | Flagstaff, AZ | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 53,001 | 28,186 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #269 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | arizona.edu | nau.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
U of A | NAU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,871 | $11,352 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $39,340 | $27,600 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,400 | $11,728 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $18,144 | $16,544 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $16,511 | $12,377 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 95% |
Admission |
U of A | NAU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 56,466 | 37,805 | ||
| Admitted | 48,369 | 34,383 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 85.7% | 90.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.9% | 15.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.48 | 3.7 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/30 | |||
| SAT Range | 1160/1420 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2026 |
Academics |
U of A | NAU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 19:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
U of A | NAU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 61% | 52% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $54,000 | $43,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 66% | 55% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $19,000 | $20,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $196 | $206 |
Diversity |
U of A | NAU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 6% | ||
| % Women | 11% | 11% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 52% | 59% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 25% | 22% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 3% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 5% | ||
| % International | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
U of A | NAU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 50% | 79% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 44% | 20% | ||
Campus |
U of A | NAU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Arizona is larger than than NAU based on total student enrollment (53,001 students vs. 28,186 students)
U of A vs. NAU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, U of A or NAU?
- University of Arizona is 4.6% more expensive to attend than NAU for in-state tuition ($11,871.00 vs. $11,352.00)
- Out of state tuition is 42.5% higher at U of A than Northern Arizona University ($39,340.00 vs. $27,600.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Arizona University than U of A ($16,544 vs. $18,144)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Arizona University are 22.8% lower than costs at University of Arizona ($11,728 vs. $14,400)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Arizona than Northern Arizona University (97% vs. 95%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Arizona students is 33.4% larger than aid received Northern Arizona University ($16,511 vs. $12,377)
U of A vs. NAU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, U of A or NAU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NAU or U of A .
- Accepted freshman NAU students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at U of A (3.48)
- NAU has a higher acceptance rate (90.9%) than U of A (85.7%)
U of A vs. NAU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, U of A or NAU? 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 NAU and U of A.
- The graduation rate at U of A is higher than Northern Arizona University (61% vs. 52%)
- Graduates from University of Arizona earn on average $10,100 more per year than NAU graduates after ten years. ($54,000 vs. $43,900)
- University of Arizona students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than NAU graduates. ($19,000 vs. $20,000)
- U of A graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than NAU graduates. ($196 vs. $206)
- More U of A graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NAU students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 55%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/