Founded in 1899 as Northern Arizona Normal School to train public school educators, Northern Arizona University is a premier public research university located in Flagstaff, Arizona. Spanning a scenic 829-acre campus at an elevation of 7,000 feet surrounded by the Coconino National Forest and Ponderosa pine trees, NAU combines astronomy, forestry, health sciences, hotel management, and environmental science. You can examine its founding origins, normal school heritage, and mountain expansion through the Northern Arizona University Wikipedia historical entry.
When you attend NAU, you enter a vibrant mountain institution focused on hands-on undergraduate research, outdoor exploration, and sustainability. Living in Flagstaff places you inside a renowned mountain city surrounded by alpine ski resorts, hiking trails, and dark sky astronomical observatories.
Premier Academic Programs
NAU hosts seven specialized colleges delivering accredited undergraduate and graduate instruction:
- The W. A. Franke College of Business: AACSB-accredited business school renowned for hospitality management, corporate accounting, finance, and marketing. Explore degree options on the Franke College of Business portal.
- College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences: Global leader in forestry management, climate adaptation, geology, and ecology.
- College of Health and Human Services: Prepares clinical physical therapists, nurses, and physician assistants through advanced simulation labs.
- College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences: Delivers cutting-edge instruction in mechanical engineering, computer science, and cybersecurity.
- College of Education: Historic educator preparation school training public teachers, counselors, and educational policy leaders.
"To Serve and To Lead, guiding public educational access and environmental stewardship across Northern Arizona."
Campus Culture and Mascot
Your daily student experience centers on the Pedway, the University Union, and historic Blome Building. School spirit revolves around Louie the Lumberjack, the official costumed mascot representing NAU Lumberjacks athletic teams in NCAA Division I Big Sky Conference sports. You can read about spirit traditions and mascot history on the official NAU Lumberjacks Athletics portal. Cheering inside the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome for football and championship cross country events, and joining over 250 student clubs creates a close-knit campus culture.
Research Infrastructure and Astronomical Science
NAU operates an active doctoral research framework with specialized institutes in astronomy and forest health:
- Center for Materials Interfaces in Research and Applications: Advanced facility developing sustainable functional materials and energy technology.
- Ecological Restoration Institute (ERI): National leader in forest restoration science, wildfire prevention, and watershed health. Learn more via NAU Research Division Operations.
- Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science: Collaborates directly with Lowell Observatory to study solar system bodies and exoplanets.
Notable Alumni Legacy
You walk in the footsteps of Olympic gold medalists, public servants, corporate leaders, and authors, including:
- Lopez Lomong: Two-time U.S. Olympian and flag bearer who studied hotel and restaurant management at NAU.
- Diana Gabaldon: Bestselling author of the Outlander novel series who earned her Master's degree in marine biology at NAU.
- Raul Hector Castro: Former Governor of Arizona and U.S. Ambassador who earned his degree at NAU.
- Mike Mercer: Professional NFL kicker who excelled while studying at NAU.
NAU provides generous merit scholarship coverage and tuition guarantee programs for qualified undergraduate applicants. Review full admission standards and application steps on the official NAU Admissions portal.