CSU-FC vs Northern Arizona University (NAU)

Nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado State University-Fort Collins and Northern Arizona University stand as prominent educational institutions, each offering a unique blend of academic excellence and vibrant campus life. While both universities share a commitment to providing a transformative educational experience, they differ in several key aspects. CSU-Fort Collins boasts a higher acceptance rate, attracting a diverse student body from across the nation and beyond. NAU, on the other hand, offers a more intimate learning environment with a smaller student population. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details, including popular majors, graduation rates, and student demographics, to determine which university best aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Colorado State University-Fort Collins logo

Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Northern Arizona University logo

Northern Arizona University

Overview

Location Fort Collins, Colorado Flagstaff, Arizona
Campus setting City: Midsize City: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 86.0% 74.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 89.6% 78.4%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $60
Undergraduate: $25

Graduate: $65
SAT range 1080 - 1290 N/A
ACT range 23 - 29 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 38.0%
Students submitting ACT score 17.0%
Total number of applicants 31,586 42,872
Total number of admissions given out 28,314 33,592
Admitted students who chose to enroll 5,197 5,297
Yield rate 18.4% 15.8%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $27,174

Out of state: $46,456
In state: $28,430

Out of state: $43,176
Average net price $18,320 $16,059
Tuition
In state: $9,709

Out of state: $28,991
In state: $10,650

Out of state: $25,396
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $6,186

Meal plan: $6,830
Room/dormitory: $6,000

Meal plan: $5,338
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

70.0%
Average amount $10,034
97.0%
Average amount $12,922
Students receiving federal student loan 36.0%
Average amount $5,018
34.0%
Average amount $5,314
Students taking out private loans 7.0%
Average amount $19,976
4.0%
Average amount $13,306

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 24,954
Men 45.6% Women 54.4%
24,162
Men 37.0% Women 63.0%
Graduate students 7,632
Men 43.7% Women 56.3%
4,549
Men 32.1% Women 67.9%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 34.3% 31.9%
International students 4.8% 2.2%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize City: Small
Dormitory capacity 8,300 9,853
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Colorado California Texas Illinois Washington Arizona California Colorado Nevada New Mexico

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Agriculture
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Public Administration and Social Service
Students to faculty ratio 17:1 21:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 69.1% 59.0%
Dropout rate 18.5% 40.0%
Transferred out 10.4% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $94,915
  • Year 3: $106,015
Engineering, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $82,613
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: $95,296
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,379
  • Year 2: $75,706
  • Year 3: $93,827
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $98,747
  • Year 2: $80,301
  • Year 3: $92,215
Chemistry (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,256
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $89,957
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,253
  • Year 2: $73,070
  • Year 3: $88,889
Veterinary Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $77,603
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $88,546
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,387
  • Year 2: $83,546
  • Year 3: $86,814
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,629
  • Year 2: $71,778
  • Year 3: $83,089
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,849
  • Year 2: $67,101
  • Year 3: $80,723
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $94,560
  • Year 2: $101,406
  • Year 3: $108,112
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $100,716
  • Year 2: $92,632
  • Year 3: $96,135
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $80,374
  • Year 2: $79,081
  • Year 3: $89,768
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,244
  • Year 2: $76,117
  • Year 3: $81,532
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,225
  • Year 2: $74,890
  • Year 3: $79,106
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,718
  • Year 2: $68,219
  • Year 3: $75,432
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,725
  • Year 2: $71,183
  • Year 3: $71,928
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,840
  • Year 2: $59,350
  • Year 3: $70,793
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,911
  • Year 2: $65,042
  • Year 3: $70,433
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,712
  • Year 2: $54,252
  • Year 3: $68,199

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