U of A vs. NAU

Should I go to University of Arizona or Northern Arizona University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if U of A or NAU 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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University of Arizona vs. Northern Arizona University comparison
University of Arizona Northern Arizona University College 3 College 4
University of Arizona Northern Arizona University
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Overview

U of A NAU
Location Tucson, AZ Flagstaff, AZ
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 49,403 28,086
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #294
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website arizona.edu nau.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

U of A NAU
Tuition (In State) $11,525 $11,024
Tuition (Out of State) $37,827 $26,286
Room & Board $13,650 $11,728
Avg Net Price $17,075 $17,115
Avg Grant Aid $15,279 $11,865
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 100%

Admission

U of A NAU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 52,091 44,855
Admitted 45,194 35,881
Acceptance Rate 86.8% 80%
Enrolled % 20% 15.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.48 3.7
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/29
SAT Range 1140/1370
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, 2025

Academics

U of A NAU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 20:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

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 45% 37%
% Women 55% 63%
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 47% 73%
% Out-of-State 48% 26%

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 (49,403 students vs. 28,086 students)

U of A vs. NAU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, U of A or NAU?

  • University of Arizona is 4.5% more expensive to attend than NAU for in-state tuition ($11,525.00 vs. $11,024.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 43.9% higher at U of A than Northern Arizona University ($37,827.00 vs. $26,286.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Arizona than NAU ($17,075 vs. $17,115)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Arizona University are 16.4% lower than costs at University of Arizona ($11,728 vs. $13,650)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Arizona University than University of Arizona (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Arizona students is 28.8% larger than aid received Northern Arizona University ($15,279 vs. $11,865)

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)
  • U of A has a higher acceptance rate (86.8%) than NAU (80%)

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/