NAU vs. NSC

Comparable Facts

Compare Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ with Nevada State University in Henderson, NV on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northern Arizona University is larger than NSC based on total student enrollment (28,467 students vs. 7,549 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Northern Arizona University is located in Flagstaff, AZ (Small City setting); Nevada State University is in Henderson, NV (Rural Fringe setting).
• Northern Arizona University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Nevada State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Northern Arizona University 19:1; Nevada State University 18:1.

NAU vs. NSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NAU or NSC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Nevada State University than NAU ($15,699 vs. $16,371).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Nevada State University are 18.1% lower than at Northern Arizona University ($11,819 vs. $14,432).
• Northern Arizona University is 92.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than NSC (about $6,244 more per year; $13,009.00 vs. $6,765.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 36.9% higher at NAU than at Nevada State University (about $8,048 more per year; $29,881.00 vs. $21,833.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northern Arizona University than at Nevada State University (99% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Arizona University students is 64.2% larger than aid received by Nevada State University students ($13,085 vs. $7,969).

NAU vs. NSC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NAU or NSC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between NSC and NAU.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NAU - Test-free; NSC - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: NAU Aug 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman NAU students have a 0.95 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at NSC (2.75).
• NAU has a higher acceptance rate (89.6%) than NSC (86.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.8% at NAU vs. 33.2% at NSC.

NAU vs. NSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NAU and NSC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Northern Arizona University's six-year graduation rate (52%) is higher than Nevada State University's (22%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Northern Arizona University graduates have a $2,920 lower median loan debt than NSC graduates ($20,000 vs. $22,920).
• Among borrowers, NAU graduates have an estimated $30 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSC graduates ($206 vs. $236).
• More NAU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSC students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 43%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.