Northern Arizona University
Region: Northern America
Country/Region: United States
Found Year: 1899
Address: South San Francisco Street
Introduction

Northern Arizona University is a public research institution with a main campus at the base of the San Francisco Peaks in Flagstaff, Arizona, more than 20 statewide locations, and online programs. Governed by the Arizona Board of Regents and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, the university offers 173 baccalaureate and graduate degree programs, with a Fall 2019 enrollment of 30,736 students—22,791 at the Flagstaff campus. As a high-research institution, NAU conducts significant research in land management and climate sciences, microbiology, astronomy and planetary science, and health sciences. As our research increases in bioengineering, informatics and cyber systems, and the human microbiome, our interdisciplinary collaborations increase across the university and the region to find solutions to improve lives. The World University Rankings recently listed NAU in the top 10 percent worldwide for the frequency that other researchers cite our work. NAU rated No. 74 in the National Science Foundation’s 2019 national research ranking of universities without a medical school and No. 196 overall. Since 1899, NAU has fostered a collaborative community and a student-centered approach that engages both undergraduate and graduate students in active research and professional growth. Students work closely with faculty mentors in small classes (average 19-to-1 student-faculty ratio), participating in rigorous scholarly activities involving research in the arts, business, education, the humanities, and the sciences. Surrounded by a spectacular natural laboratory and steeped in a rich history, the NAU Flagstaff campus has nurtured a dynamic culture of academic inquiry and excellence that permeates through statewide campuses and online programs. Students participate in more than 400 professional, academic, service, sports, and social organizations. The NAU Lumberjacks compete at the NCAA Division I level in 15 sports, and NAU competes in the Big Sky Conference in all sports except swimming and diving, now part of the Western Athletic Conference. Perched at 7,000 feet (2,134 m) above sea level, NAU’s main campus is one of the highest-elevation, four-year college campuses in the nation and is surrounded by the largest ponderosa pine forest in the world. Rated the third-best US college town by Business Insider in 2018, Flagstaff is the world’s first International Dark Sky City and enjoys a four-season climate with an average 266 days of sunshine. Winter skiing is accessible at Arizona Snowbowl, an alpine ski resort seven miles (11 km) northwest of Flagstaff. Notable alumni include Raúl Héctor Castro, former Arizona governor and US ambassador; Diana Gabaldon, New York Times best-selling author; R. C. Gorman, Native American artist; Robin Braun, United States Navy vice admiral; Lopez Lomong, South Sudanese-born US track and field Olympian; and Seamus Dever, actor in the TV series Castle.

Academic Ranking of World Universities
401-500
Academic Ranking of World Universities
The Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) is recognized as the precursor of global university rankings and the most trustworthy one. ARWU presents the world's top 1000 research universities annually based on transparent methodology and objective third-party data.
401-500
2021
501-600
2022
401-500
2023
Global Ranking of Academic Subjects
All Subjects
Subject
Rank
Best Ranked Subjects
Subject Rank
Ecology
51-75
Atmospheric Science
76-100
Earth Sciences
151-200
Agricultural Sciences
151-200
Geography
201-300
Environmental Science & Engineering
301-400
Biological Sciences
301-400
Education
301-400
Key Statistics
29689
Total Enrollment
1369(4.6%)
International Students
25916
Undergraduate Enrollment
1151(4.4%)
International Students
3773
Graduate Enrollment
218(5.8%)
International Students