At $14,922/yr net price, Northern Arizona University graduates earn $54,384/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $20,384/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $14,922 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $59,688 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $54,384/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$20,384/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 2.9 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 56.9% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $19,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $10,333/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,015/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,211/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,013/yr |
| $110,001+ | $20,484/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Master | $101,406 | $72,425 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Master | $92,632 | $42,539 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision. | Doctoral | $79,081 | $38,000 |
| Computer Science. | Bachelor | $76,117 | $26,500 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | Bachelor | $74,890 | $19,500 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. | Doctoral | $71,183 | $87,849 |
| Construction Management. | Bachelor | $68,219 | $22,589 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $65,042 | $30,500 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $63,364 | $18,692 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions. | Bachelor | $61,110 | $20,567 |
The Risk Factor
56.9% of students at Northern Arizona University graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
Northern Arizona University gives you a solid financial return with low borrowing risk. You leave with a median debt of $19,000 against median earnings that clear $54,000 ten years out, so your loans stay well below your first-year pay. That debt-to-earnings ratio is the strongest part of NAU's case.
Your major decides most of the outcome. Computer science and electrical engineering both push past $74,000, and engineering does it while keeping debt under $20,000, one of the best cost-to-payoff trades on the list. Construction management pays well and feeds directly into Arizona's building market. Nursing lands in the low $60,000s with the lowest debt of any top program, making it the safest bet here. There's no bachelor-level data below the mid-$50,000s shown, so majors outside these technical and health fields carry more uncertainty.
The real risk is finishing. A 57% graduation rate and 73% retention mean a meaningful share of you leave without the degree but with the debt. Non-completion is the most likely way NAU turns into a bad deal for you, so treat the four-year finish as the actual goal, not enrollment.
The net price tiers reward lower-income families. Under $30,000, you pay about $10,300. over $110,000, you pay double that. If your family earns under $48,000, NAU is cheap relative to the earnings you can reach through its engineering, CS, and nursing tracks. Above $110,000, the price climbs enough that the return depends more heavily on picking one of those high-paying majors.
NAU fits you if you're targeting computer science, engineering, construction, or nursing and can commit to graduating. Look elsewhere if you're undecided or drawn to fields with no strong salary data here, since the payoff outside the technical and health programs isn't proven by these numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Northern Arizona University worth the cost?
Northern Arizona University offers decent value with a net price of $14,922 and median debt of $19,000, but the 10-year median earnings of $54,384 are below average for a four-year degree. The return depends heavily on your major, with allied health and nursing programs showing strong earning potential.
What are the highest paying majors at Northern Arizona University?
Allied health diagnostic programs lead with median earnings of $101,406, followed by nursing at $92,632 and educational administration at $79,081. Computer science graduates earn around $76,117, while many other programs fall well below the overall median of $54,384.
How much debt do Northern Arizona University graduates typically have?
The median debt at Northern Arizona University is $19,000, which is manageable compared to many schools. However, with a 57% graduation rate, many students leave without a degree but still carry debt.
Does Northern Arizona University have good job outcomes after graduation?
Job outcomes vary significantly by program at Northern Arizona University. Health and nursing graduates see strong returns, but the overall median earnings of $54,384 are modest for a bachelor's degree, and the 57% graduation rate means many students don't complete their programs.