Northern Arizona University Ranking

San Francisco , USA

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#Top 1400

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Northern Arizona University (NAU) offers rolling admissions for most programs, allowing students to apply at any time; however, priority deadlines for undergraduate admissions are March 1, 2025, for Fall 2025 intake, and September 15, 2025, for Spring 2026 intake.

Northern Arizona University (NAU) demonstrates a consistent global presence, ranked #834 worldwide by the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) 2025, placing it in the top 3.9% of institutions globally.

Northern Arizona University ranking is in the 1001-1200 band on QS World University Rankings 2025, while US News & World Report 2025 lists it at #244 among National Universities. The university is also ranked #182 nationally in the USA by CWUR, reflecting its strong academic and research output.

For international students aspiring to study in the USA, NAU provides a diverse academic portfolio that includes over 130 undergraduate, 80 graduate, and 20 doctoral programs, with particular strengths in physical sciences, engineering, and business disciplines.

Northern Arizona University World Rankings 2024-25

Northern Arizona University is currently ranked in the 1001-1200 band globally in the QS World University Rankings 2025. In the US News & World Report 2025, NAU holds the #244 positions among National Universities in the United States.

According to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, the most recent available data places NAU in the 501-600 band globally.

Here's a table outlining how Northern Arizona University rankings have moved over three years across major platforms.

Ranking Body	2023	2024	2025
QS World University Rankings	1201-1400	1001-1200	1001-1200
US News National Universities	299	249	244
THE Global Ranking	501-600	N/A	N/A

Here's a graphical representation that will help you analyze Northern Arizona University ranking over the years:

Northern Arizona University has shown stability in its global rankings across major platforms. In the QS World University Rankings, NAU is placed in the 1001-1200 band for both 2024 and 2025, maintaining its position among top universities in the world.

While, the US News & World Report ranks NAU at #244 among National Universities in 2025, improving from #249 in 2024 to #299 in 2023.

This stability reflects NAU's sustained academic reputation and research presence across these ranking bodies.

Now that you have explored Northern Arizona University ranking, it's equally important to understand how the Northern Arizona University courses perform across ranking platforms.

Subject-Wise Ranking of Northern Arizona University

Northern Arizona University offers a comprehensive academic portfolio with 97 baccalaureate degrees, 74 master's degrees, 21 doctoral degrees, 58 undergraduate certificates, and 40 graduate certificates as of Fall 2024.

Popular and highly regarded programs at NAU include those in physical sciences, environmental sciences, engineering, business administration, education, health sciences, and hotel & restaurant management.

Let’s have a look at Northern Arizona University ranking across specific subjects.

QS Rankings 2025

The QS World University Rankings 2025 recognize Northern Arizona University for its academic excellence in several disciplines. The university is ranked #89 in the QS World University Ranking by subject.

The agriculture and forestry subject is ranked #201-250. It is acknowledged for its programs in environmental sciences. It is among the top universities for earth & marine sciences, and education, reflecting its research impact and reputation in these fields.

Below is the table with the latest subject rankings of NAU in QS World University Rankings 2025:

Subject	Rankings 2025
Linguistics	89
Agriculture and Forestry	201-250
English Language and Literature	301-350
Education and Training	351-400
Environmental Sciences	401-450

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Building on NAU’s recognition in the QS subject-wise rankings, it is equally important to consider how the university performs in the U.S. News & World Report subject rankings.

U.S. News Rankings 2025

Northern Arizona University is ranked #244 among National Universities in the U.S. News & World Report 2025, reflecting its solid academic standing and reputation in the United States.

In subject-specific rankings for 2025, NAU’s undergraduate engineering program is ranked #168, nursing course is ranked #218, and economics is ranked #277 by U.S. News.

Here's a table highlighting Northern Arizona University ranking across different subjects:

Subject	Rankings 2025
Undergraduate Engineering	#168
Nursing	#218
Economics	#277

Now that you've seen how Northern Arizona University performs by subject, let's review some other rankings that provide a broader view of the university experience it offers students.

Miscellaneous Ranking

Beyond the major international rankings, Northern Arizona University is recognized by several additional reputable ranking bodies for its overall academic and research performance.

In the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) 2025, NAU holds a global rank of #834, placing it in the top 3.9% of universities worldwide, with a national rank of #182 in the USA. The Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) positions NAU in the #501-600 band globally for 2025.

Below is a table mentioning NAU’s miscellaneous rankings:

Ranking Body	Ranking Description	Ranking 2025
CWUR	Evaluates education quality, alumni employability, faculty awards, research output, influence, citations, and patents.	#834
CWUR	Measures education quality, research output, and influence nationally.	#182
Shanghai (ARWU)	Assesses research excellence, including Nobel/Fields laureates, highly cited researchers, and top journal publications.	#501-600

Now, let’s have a look at Northern Arizona University's achievements, excellence, and milestones that set it apart, including how its resources help students get the best career options after graduation.

Northern Arizona University: Excellence and Achievements

The university’s School of Communication has garnered top honors at the Broadcast Education Association awards, including four national awards in 2025, highlighting student excellence in media and sports coverage.

NAU’s commitment to research is reflected in faculty and student accomplishments, such as prestigious fellowships, national leadership institute selections, and significant research grants like the Gates Foundation award for educational innovation.

Next, let’s explore the university’s academic excellence and national recognition in greater detail.

Academic Excellence and National Recognition

The university is classified as an "R1: Doctoral University, Very high research activity" and is nationally recognized for its innovative teaching, research in astronomy and planetary science, and community engagement. NAU’s faculty have contributed to major NASA missions.

Below are listed some of the NAU's academic excellence and national recognition:

Recognition	Description
R1 Research Classification	Recognized as a top-tier research university for very high research activity
NASA Mission Participation	Faculty led NASA DART planetary defense mission and co-discovered celestial bodies like Eris
Gold Axe Award	Honors 1% of graduating seniors each semester for leadership and service to NAU and community

Beyond its academic achievements, Northern Arizona University also offers a lively community and a strong focus on social impact, giving a few more reasons to why study in the USA.

Community and Lifestyle Recognitions

Northern Arizona University is celebrated for its welcoming campus community, vibrant student life, and commitment to social impact.

With over 28,000 students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries, NAU promotes diversity and inclusion through 400+ student clubs, regular cultural festivals, and a broad range of volunteer opportunities.

Below is a table highlighting key community and lifestyle recognitions at Northern Arizona University:

Recognition	Description
Student Life & Engagement	44% live on campus; high ratings for housing, dining, recreation, and campus events
Safety & Wellbeing	83% of students report feeling extremely safe and secure on campus.
National Broadcasting Awards	Four national awards at the 2025 Broadcast Education Association for student media excellence
Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI)	Recognized for serving a diverse student population with nearly 30% Hispanic enrollment

As you explore NAU’s strong sense of community and enriching campus life, it’s also important to highlight the university’s achievements in the cultural and creative fields.

Cultural and Creative Excellence

The university's School of Music is renowned for its award-winning ensembles and hosts the annual NAU Jazz Festival, attracting top talent from across the region. NAU’s theater and film programs regularly produce acclaimed performances and student films, many of which have received regional and national honors.

The university’s art galleries and the Clara M. Lovett Art Museum provide platforms for student and faculty exhibitions.

Below is a table highlighting some of Northern Arizona University’s cultural and creative excellence recognitions:

Recognition	Description
NAU Jazz Festival	Annual event drawing leading jazz musicians and student ensembles from the Southwest.
Award-Winning Music Ensembles	School of Music ensembles have received regional and national accolades.
Art Exhibitions & Museum	Clara M. Lovett Art Museum and campus galleries showcase student and faculty creative work.
Creative Writing Distinction	MFA program and literary festivals recognized nationally for excellence in writing and publishing.

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To build on NAU’s achievements and recognition, let’s examine how its rankings relate to its acceptance rate:

Northern Arizona University: Ranking V/S Acceptance Rate

Northern Arizona University maintains a high acceptance rate of 91%, and ranks #834 globally (CWUR 2025) and #501-600 in the Shanghai (ARWU) 2025 rankings, demonstrating that its accessible admissions do not compromise its recognized strengths in fields like Linguistics, Nursing, and Engineering.

Let’s look at how acceptance rates align with subject rankings across different disciplines:

Subject	US News Rankings 2025	Acceptance Rate
UG Engineering Program	#168	91%
Nursing (Undergraduate)	#218	91%
Economics	#277	91%

Next, let's explore the methodologies employed by various ranking bodies to evaluate and rank universities.

Ranking Bodies Methodologies

Ranking systems evaluate universities using different priorities and measures. QS strongly emphasizes academic reputation, dedicating 30% of its score to it. Times Higher Education (THE) weighs teaching quality 32.5%, while U.S. News weighs at 20%.

Understanding these distinctions helps interpret Northern Arizona University's rankings more clearly. These rankings offer valuable insight for academic choices alongside solid employability support.

Below is the breakdown of each ranking body's key metrics to assess universities.

QS World University Rankings

QS evaluates Northern Arizona University rankings based on research output, faculty quality, and international engagement. This approach highlights how Northern Arizona University is perceived in global academic and professional circles.

The main focus areas include academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-student ratio, citations per faculty, and international faculty and student ratios. The key focus areas and indicators used to assess performance are listed below.

Focus Area	Indicators	Weightage
Research and Discovery	Academic Reputation	30%
Research and Discovery	Citations per Faculty	20%
Employability and Outcomes	Employer Reputation	15%
Employability and Outcomes	Employment Outcomes	5%
Global Engagement	International Faculty Ratio	5%
	International Research Network	5%
	International Student Ratio	5%
	International Student Diversity	0%
Learning Experience	Faculty Student Ratio	10%
Sustainability	Sustainability	5%

In contrast to the QS approach, the Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings adopts a different set of priorities and indicators.

Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings

THE combines teaching quality, research performance, and international diversity to assess universities worldwide. Unlike other rankings, it emphasizes fully funded PhD research and institutional collaboration, reflecting Northern Arizona University's impact on economic development and global partnerships.

Key indicators include teaching (learning environment), research (volume, income, reputation), citations (research influence), international outlook, and industry income. Here's a closer look at the key factors that shape their rankings:

Focus Area	Indicators	Weightage
Teaching	Teaching Reputation	15%
	Staff-to-student ratio	4.5%
	Doctorate-to-bachelor’s ratio	2%
	Doctorates-awarded-to-academic-staff ratio	5.5%
	Institutional income	2.5%
Research Environment	Research reputation	18%
	Research income	5.5%
	Research productivity	5.5%
Research Quality	Citation impact	15%
	Research strength	5%
	Research excellence	5%
	Research influence	5%
International Outlook	Proportion of international students	2.5%
	Proportion of international staff	2.5%
	International collaboration	2.5%
Industry	Industry income	2%
Industry	Patents	2%

Moving on, the Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings provides another perspective on university performance, emphasizing additional factors.

U.S. News and World Report Rankings

U.S. News centers on student success and institutional resources, focusing on graduation rates, faculty quality, and financial support. This perspective sets it apart by prioritizing outcomes alongside inputs.

Their evaluation includes indicators such as global research reputation, publications, normalized citation impact, and faculty resources. Here's a breakdown of the key indicators used in these rankings:

Focus Indicators	Weightage
Graduation Rates	16%
First-year retention rates	5%
Graduation rate performance	10%
Pell graduation rates	5.5%
Pell graduation performance	5.5%
College grads earning more than a high school grad	5%
Borrower debt	5%
Peer assessment	20%
Financial resources	8%
Faculty salaries	8%
Full-time faculty	3%
Student-faculty ratio	4%
Standardized tests	5%

Ranking agencies employ various benchmarks, encompassing faculty expertise, research output, and learning environment. Together, these perspectives help outline a university's standing and performance across key academic areas.

Conclusion

Northern Arizona University has maintained a strong and stable presence in global and national rankings, with a US News National University ranking of #244 in 2025 and a Shanghai ARWU global ranking of #501-600. Its standout programs in Ecology (#41 in Shanghai) and Linguistics (#89 in QS) demonstrate its subject-specific excellence.

NAU’s consistent performance across major platforms, combined with a high acceptance rate and diverse campus community, highlights its reputation as a research-driven, accessible, and well-rounded public university.

FAQs

How has Northern Arizona University’s global reputation changed over the past five years?

Northern Arizona University has shown steady improvement and stability in global rankings. In the QS World University Rankings, NAU moved from the 1201-1400 range to 1001-1200 in 2024 and maintained that position in 2025. In the CWUR, NAU has remained in the top 2000 globally, ranking #834 out of 21,462 universities in 2025.

On which platform does Northern Arizona University perform best, and why?

NAU performs best in the Shanghai ARWU (Academic Ranking of World Universities), ranked #501-600 globally for 2025. This strong showing is due to NAU’s research achievements, including high publication rates in top journals and notable performance in subject areas like Ecology (#41) and Linguistics (#89 in QS).

What is Northern Arizona University’s percentile among U.S. universities?

According to CWUR 2025, NAU is ranked #182 nationally out of over 2,000 U.S. universities, placing it in the top 9% of American higher education institutions. This percentile reflects NAU's solid national standing in terms of research, faculty, and employability.

How does NAU’s performance compare to other public universities in Arizona?

NAU is ranked #182 nationally by CWUR in 2025, while the University of Arizona holds a much higher national rank at #49, and Arizona State University is also ranked above NAU in most global and national lists. NAU is recognized for its research and teaching, but it trails behind Arizona's flagship public universities in most major rankings.

How does Northern Arizona University rank in terms of international student diversity?

NAU attracts students from over 80 countries and is recognized for its diverse campus community. While not ranked in the top tier for international diversity, it is designated as a Hispanic-serving institution. It is noted for its inclusive environment, but it does not appear in the top 100 U.S. universities for international student ratio in QS or THE rankings.

What is NAU's position in the CWUR for 2025?

In 2025, NAU is ranked #834 globally by CWUR out of 21,462 universities, placing it in the top 3.9% worldwide. Nationally, it is ranked #182 in the U.S., with a research rank of #794 and an employability rank of #1052.

How do NAU’s undergraduate business programs compare nationally?

NAU’s undergraduate business programs are not ranked in the top 100 nationally. In the latest QS subject rankings, Business & Management Studies ranks #201 in the U.S., and the US News Best Online Master’s in Business Programs ranks NAU at #93.

What role do research output and faculty credentials play in NAU’s performance?

Research output and faculty credentials significantly contribute to NAU's rankings, particularly in platforms like CWUR and Shanghai ARWU. NAU holds a research rank of #794 globally in CWUR 2025, and its strong performance in subject-specific research (e.g., Ecology and Linguistics) boosts its global standing.

How do NAU's graduate business programs stand against other U.S. institutions?

NAU's graduate business programs are ranked #93 in the US News Best Online Master's in Business Programs for 2025, which places them in the upper-middle tier nationally. While competitive, these programs do not reach the top tier of larger research universities.

How does student satisfaction and reviews impact NAU's popularity?

Student satisfaction and positive reviews directly impact Northern Arizona University's popularity and reputation among prospective students. Platforms like Niche report high ratings for NAU's campus environment, student engagement, and support services, with the university earning a 4.3/5 from verified student reviews.

How does Northern Arizona University's reputation influence its acceptance rate and selectivity?

NAU’s reputation as an accessible, research-driven institution is reflected in its high acceptance rate of approximately 91%. While it maintains solid academic and research credentials, its mission of broad access and inclusivity leads to less selectivity compared to more elite institutions, balancing reputation with opportunity.

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