Northern Arizona University NAU

Northern Arizona University (NAU) is a public university located in Flagstaff, Arizona, United States. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and has 36 satellite campuses in the state of Arizona. The university offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees.

As of fall 2012, 26,002 students were enrolled, 18,292 at the Flagstaff campus. The average cost of tuition and fees for a full-time, Arizona resident undergraduate student for two semesters is $9,271. For the Fall 2013 school year, out-of-state undergraduates will pay an estimated $30,947 for tuition, fees, and housing. Since 2007, tuition and fees have increased 92 percent for new undergraduate students.

The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education classifies NAU as a research university with high research activity. NAU is governed by the Arizona Board of Regents.

Website: http://www.nau.edu/

Initially named the Northern Arizona Normal School, the institution was established on September 11, 1899. The first graduating class, in 1901, consisted of four women who received credentials to teach in the Arizona Territory. In 1925, the Arizona State Legislature allowed the school, which was now called the Northern Arizona State Teacher's College, to grant Bachelor of Education degrees. In 1929 the school became Arizona State Teacher's College.

Enrollment dropped sharply, however, as World War II dawned. ASTC became a Navy V-12 program training site.

Campuses: 

Flagstaff campus

Perched at 6,950 feet (2,120 m) above sea level, the main campus is surrounded by the largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest on the North American continent and enjoys a four-season climate. Snow is common in winter, with accumulations most prevalent in December and January. Winter skiing is accessible at Arizona Snowbowl, an alpine ski resort located on the San Francisco Peaks, 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Flagstaff.

Extended Campuses program

Northern Arizona University maintains campuses throughout Arizona with its Extended Campuses program. The program offers alternatives to the traditional learning experience, including evening, weekend, and accelerated classes, and offers more than 100 degree, certificate, and endorsement programs in person and/or on the web. Extended Campus students may take in-person courses in classrooms across the state at 36 different locations. Northern Arizona University served 7,710 students through the Extended Campuses program.

Academics: NAU is ranked 78th on Forbes Magazine's "America's Best Public Colleges" list and is ranked 460th overall on Forbes "America's Best Colleges 2010" list. It has 93 academic programs; and consists of six colleges.
In the fall of 2010, the top undergraduate degrees by enrollment were elementary education, biology, hotel and restaurant management, nursing, and criminology and criminal justice.