Northern Arizona University: A Mountain-Top Institution with a Global Reach
Northern Arizona University (NAU) is a public research university located in Flagstaff, Arizona, at the base of the majestic San Francisco Peaks. Founded in 1899 as the Northern Arizona Normal School, it was the third and final university established in the Arizona Territory. Over the past 125 years, NAU has transformed from a modest teacher-training institution with just 23 students and two faculty members into a nationally recognized research university serving more than 28,000 students across the state and online.
A Century of Growth and Transformation
NAU’s journey began on September 11, 1899, when the Northern Arizona Normal School opened its doors in Flagstaff to train future educators. The first graduating class in 1901 consisted of four pioneering women who received their teaching credentials. As the institution’s mission expanded beyond teacher training, it underwent several name changes—becoming Arizona State Teachers College at Flagstaff in 1929 and later Arizona State College. In 1966, the Arizona Board of Regents granted university status, officially naming it Northern Arizona University. Today, NAU is one of three universities governed by the Arizona Board of Regents and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Buy fake USA diploma online.
Academic Excellence and Research Distinction
NAU is classified among “R1: Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity,” the highest research designation awarded by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The university is organized into eight academic colleges offering approximately 130 undergraduate and graduate programs. These include the College of Arts and Letters, College of Education, College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences, College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences, College of Health and Human Services, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, the W. A. Franke College of Business, and the Honors College.
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Popular majors include Business, Management, and Marketing (15% of graduates), Health Professions (15%), Psychology (9%), Education (9%), and Biological and Biomedical Sciences (8%). The university maintains a student-faculty ratio of 19:1. NAU’s forestry program, launched in 1958, is internationally renowned, and the university is a primary institutional partner of the nearby Lowell Observatory. NAU faculty have made significant contributions to astronomy, including leading observations for NASA’s DART planetary defense mission and co-discovering astronomical bodies such as Eris and Sedna.
The Flagstaff Mountain Campus: A Natural Wonder
NAU’s main campus, known as the Flagstaff Mountain Campus, spans 883 acres and sits at an elevation of 6,950 feet (2,120 meters) above sea level, making it the fourth highest-elevation four-year college campus in the United States. The campus is surrounded by the world’s largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest and enjoys nearly 300 days of sunshine annually. Flagstaff itself is a growing city of approximately 61,000 residents, located 140 miles north of Phoenix at the junction of Interstate 17 and Interstate 40. The university is just 75 miles from the incomparable Grand Canyon, 45 minutes from the red rocks of Sedona, and minutes from the Arizona Snowbowl ski resort. Beyond the main campus, NAU operates more than 20 extended campuses across Arizona and offers over 140 fully online degree programs.
Student Life and Athletic Tradition
NAU serves a diverse student body of 28,468 students (fall 2024), including 22,991 undergraduates, with a gender distribution of 37% male and 63% female. Approximately 43% of students live in college-owned housing. The university is home to over 300 student organizations and 21 club sports.
NAU’s athletic teams, known as the Lumberjacks, compete in NCAA Division I primarily as members of the Big Sky Conference. The university’s cross country running program has won six national championships. Due to its high elevation, NAU’s athletic facilities are used by Olympic and professional athletes worldwide for high-altitude training.
Notable Alumni and Lasting Impact
The NAU Alumni Association represents more than 160,000 alumni, including two Governors of Arizona, one U.S. Senator, one U.S. Representative, two U.S. Ambassadors, one Medal of Honor recipient, and 16 Olympians. Notable alumni include former Arizona Governor Raúl Héctor Castro, best-selling author Diana Gabaldon, Olympic distance runner Lopez Lomong, and Grammy-winning musician Dom Flemons.
From its humble beginnings as a one-room normal school to its current status as an R1 research university, Northern Arizona University continues to fulfill its mission of empowering learners, driving innovation, and serving communities across Arizona and beyond.