Northern Arizona University is a public research university in Flagstaff, a mountain city at 7,000 feet near the Grand Canyon. It is best known for forestry, environmental science, astronomy, hospitality, nursing, engineering and education, with a strong outdoor culture and a lower cost than Arizona's bigger universities. Choose it for an environment-focused degree in one of the most scenic settings in the US.
Flagstaff, United States
Official website: nau.edu
#1001
R1 — very high research activity
One of the leading forestry and wildfire research schools in the US
Campus at 7,000 feet, 90 minutes from the Grand Canyon
$26,000 – $30,000
International students, non-resident undergraduate and master's rates
$13,000 – $16,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on nau.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Informatics
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MBA (Franke College of Business)
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Environmental Sciences and Policy
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MEng Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
BS Hotel and Restaurant Management
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 70
School of Forestry — a national leader in wildfire, ecology and ecosystem research.
Astronomy — Flagstaff is a dark-sky city, home to the Lowell Observatory where Pluto was found.
Hotel and restaurant management — a well-known hospitality school near the Grand Canyon's tourism industry.
Mountain campus with skiing 30 minutes away and hiking from the door.
Graduates join W. L. Gore, the US Forest Service, Northern Arizona Healthcare, Intel and Phoenix's tech firms.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Hospitality graduates move into resort and hotel management across the American Southwest.
Environmental science alumni work for federal agencies, national parks and consultancies.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The 740-acre campus sits in a ponderosa pine forest on the south side of Flagstaff, with the Cline Library, the Student Union and residence halls along a central corridor served by a free campus shuttle.
Flagstaff is a mountain town of about 77,000 people on historic Route 66, with four seasons, snow in winter and the Grand Canyon and Sedona nearby. Phoenix is two hours away, and rent is higher than in most small college towns.
Form I-20 issued by NAU
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Undergraduate admission is rolling, with a 1 December 2026 priority date for fall 2027 scholarships; international applicants should apply by June to leave time for the visa. Graduate deadlines are set by each programme, with most master's closing between 1 February and 1 June for fall.
Undergraduates can start in fall (August), spring (January) or summer (May). Computer science, informatics and engineering master's programmes admit for both fall and spring, while the MBA and environmental sciences master's are fall only. Check your programme's admissions page to confirm.
You need an F-1 student visa. The Center for International Education issues your Form I-20 after you accept the offer and submit proof of funding. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and book an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, informatics, the MBA, environmental sciences and engineering attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0, TOEFL 80 or IELTS 6.5; the GRE is optional for most programmes. Undergraduate admission is based mainly on grades.
Yes. International undergraduates are automatically considered for merit tuition scholarships based on their grades when they apply by the priority date; need-based aid is not available. Graduate students can apply for teaching and research assistantships, which are common in forestry, environmental science and engineering.
