Northern Arizona University is a 4-year public institution that was established in the year 1899 with 23 students, two faculty members (one, Almon Nicholas Taylor, was also the school president), and two copies of Webster’s International Dictionary bound in sheepskin.
Northern Arizona University offers 153 baccalaureate programs, 81 master's degree programs, and 15 doctoral programs, along with 49 undergraduate and 30 graduate certificates. In 2006, the Arizona Board of Regents directed the university to develop innovative ways to supply access and affordability to all or any Arizona residents.
Northern Arizona University developed the Pledge Program and Northern Arizona University partnerships with community colleges and Northern Arizona University–Yavapai, a collaboration with Yavapai College in Prescott Valley, Arizona. Northern Arizona University–Yuma, a 25 years partnership with Arizona Western College, is nationally recognized as a model community college/university effort.
In the fall of 2019, the top undergraduate academic degree plans by enrollment were Biomedical Sciences, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Nursing, Nursing – Option for Registered Nurses, Mechanical Engineering, and Elementary Education.
Student-athletes compete at the inter-varsity level in football (men); volleyball, soccer, golf, and swimming and diving (women); and basketball, cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field, and tennis (men and women).
The university participates in 15 intercollegiate sports programs. NAU teams compete at the Walkup Skydome, a multipurpose building providing facilities for football, basketball, indoor track and field, soccer, weight lifting, lacrosse, student recreation, major concert events, commencements, intramurals, and a spread of other university and community activities.
As of last year's fall semester, 31,066 students were enrolled, in which 27,072 were undergraduate students at the Flagstaff campus. NAU also participates in the Western Undergraduate Exchange Program, which offers lower tuition rates for students from the Western United States. Northern Arizona University offers Flagstaff undergraduate students the Pledge Program, which guarantees the same tuition rate for four years.
The university is recognized and is nationally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer various degree programs.
