Northern Arizona University

If you are planning on applying to NAU, the deadline for Fall 2023 admissions is August 1 and the application fee costs $25.

Students who apply to NAU for the fall semester should receive an admissions decision no later than July 1.

NAU Admissions Stats at a Glance

Here's an overiew of some of NAU's admissions stats.

NAU 2022	Admissions Statistics
Mean Unweighted GPA	3.7
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class	22%
Mean SAT Score	1165
Admissions Test Policy	Not optional and are considered
Applicants Who Submit SATs	10%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs	23%
Waitlist	No

Northern Arizona University Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for Northern Arizona University.

Application Type	Offered	Application Deadline	Notification Deadline
Early Decision I	No	––	––
Early Decision II	––	––	––
Early Action	No	––	––

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Considering Applying Early to NAU?

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NAU does not offer early decision or early action.

➡️ Explore a list of some top colleges that accept significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.

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More on Northern Arizona University Admissions

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How To Get Into Northern Arizona University

NAU is a moderately difficult school to get into. NAU evaluates applicants carefully based on multiple criteria to decide who to admit, and who to deny.

In 2021, NAU accepted 78% of students, around 33,592 of the 42,872 students who applied.

Schools that are moderately difficult to get into, like NAU, accept fewer than 85% of all applicants. At least 75% of all admitted students have GPAs in the top 50% of their high school class and scored over 1010 on the SAT or over 18 on the ACT.

Transferring to Northern Arizona University

It is moderately difficult to be admitted as a transfer student.

For Students Waitlisted to NAU

NAU has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.

What Does NAU Look For in an Applicant?

Colleges consider a range of factors when deciding who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college determines which factors are are most important in the admissions process. When creating your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and choose schools that prioritize the admissions factors where you stand out.

Admissions Factors at NAU

What does NAU consider during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor	Level
Academic GPA	Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record	Important
Class Rank	Considered
Standardized Test Scores	Considered

Make sure to check with NAU for more information on admission factors.

NAU Application Requirements

To apply to NAU, all applicants must submit the following items. Double check with NAU's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area	Required	Recommended	Required for Some	Details (If Any)
Written Essay or Personal Statement
Interview
Transcript(S) of College Record
Standardized Test Scores
Statement of Good Standing From Prior Institution(S)
Other Requirements	√			16 college preparatory courses with minimum 2.0 in each subject
Transcript of High School Record	√
Minimum High School GPA (On 4.0 Scale)	2.5

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GPA and Testing

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What GPA Do I Need To Get Into NAU?

Students admitted to NAU have an average unweighted GPA of 3.7.

Out of all students that were admitted, 45% submitted a class rank. At NAU 22% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 54% were in the top 25% and 84% were in the top 50%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At Northern Arizona University, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA	Percent of Students
4.0 GPA	31%
3.75 and 3.99	21%
3.50 and 3.74	17%
3.25 and 3.49	13%
3.00 and 3.24	9%
2.50 and 2.9	7%
2.00 and 2.49	1%

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to NAU directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that reflects your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

NAU considers ACT or SAT scores as part of the admissions process.

NAU does not have a test optional admissions policy. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 10% of NAU's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 23% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for NAU?

To be competitive with other NAU applicants, you should strive to score between 1070 and 1260 (or higher!) on the SAT. At NAU 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1260 and 25% of scored lower than 1070, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.The mean composite SAT score for a NAU student is 1165.

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of NAU students scored 628 or higher and 75% of students scored 540 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of NAU students scored 640 or higher, and 75% scored a 540 or higher.

What is a Good ACT Score for NAU?

To be most competitive at NAU, you should strive to earn between 19 and 26 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 26 means you fall in the 75th percentile for NAU's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 26, and three out of four students scored lower than 26 on the ACT.

A 19 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for NAU students. Only one out of every four students scored below 19.

Want To Bring Up Your ACT Score? Access ACT practice tests and study tips and see upcoming ACT test dates.

More Information on Transferring to Northern Arizona University

For transfer students, it is moderately difficult to get admitted to NAU. Transfer applications are processed on a on a rolling basis as they are received.

Transfer students can enroll in NAU during the following terms:

• Fall Term

• Spring Term

• Summer Term

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NAU Admissions FAQs

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Can I defer my acceptance to NAU?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to NAU.

Does NAU accept transfer credits?

✅ NAU accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions. NAU accepts:

• CLEP subject tests • DSST/DANTES

Does NAU accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ NAU accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits and Advanced Placement (AP) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to NAU?

✅ NAU is not test optional. You must submit test scores as part of the application.

What is NAU's acceptance rate?

✅ NAU's acceptance rate is 78%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at NAU?

❌ NAU does not offer early decision.

Want To Learn More About NAU?

Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

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