Northern Arizona University (NAU) vs University of Nevada-Reno (UNR)
Northern Arizona University (NAU) and University of Nevada-Reno (UNR) are two distinct universities with unique offerings. NAU, located in Flagstaff, Arizona, boasts a higher acceptance rate (84%) compared to UNR's 79%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with NAU excelling in fields like forestry, engineering, and nursing, while UNR is known for its strengths in engineering, business, and education. NAU's student body is slightly larger, with over 20,000 undergraduates, while UNR has a more compact undergraduate population of around 12,000. In terms of graduation rates, UNR holds a slight edge, with a four-year graduation rate of 30% compared to NAU's 27%. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these aspects and more, allowing you to assess which university
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![]() Northern Arizona University |
![]() University of Nevada-Reno |
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Overview |
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Location | Flagstaff, Arizona | Reno, Nevada |
Campus setting | City: Small | City: Large |
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 | 74.0% | 78.0% |
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No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 78.4% | 88.2% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$25
Graduate:
$65
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Undergraduate:
$60
Graduate:
$60
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SAT range | N/A | 1060 - 1270 |
ACT range | N/A | 20 - 26 |
Students submitting SAT score | 12.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 60.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 42,872 | 9,421 |
Total number of admissions given out | 33,592 | 8,306 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 5,297 | 3,412 |
Yield rate | 15.8% | 41.1% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$28,430
Out of state:
$43,176
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In state:
$26,796
Out of state:
$42,888
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Average net price | $16,059 | $16,398 |
Tuition |
In state:
$10,650
Out of state:
$25,396
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In state:
$7,470
Out of state:
$23,562
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$6,000
Meal plan:
$5,338
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Room/dormitory:
$5,850
Meal plan:
$5,792
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
97.0%
Average amount $12,922 |
86.0%
Average amount $7,232 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
34.0%
Average amount $5,314 |
29.0%
Average amount $5,001 |
Students taking out private loans |
4.0%
Average amount $13,306 |
4.0%
Average amount $12,013 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
24,162
Men 37.0% Women 63.0% |
17,025
Men 47.1% Women 52.9% |
Graduate students |
4,549
Men 32.1% Women 67.9% |
4,009
Men 39.3% Women 60.7% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 31.9% | 26.1% |
International students | 2.2% | 2.8% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 9,853 | 3,524 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Arizona California Colorado Nevada New Mexico | Nevada California Hawaii Oregon Washington |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 21:1 | 17:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 59.0% | 62.7% |
Dropout rate | 40.0% | 34.1% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
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