No tuition increases for NAU undergraduates for second year in a row

Student working in classroom

NAU is proposing no tuition increases for the majority of its students for the second year in a row, remaining mindful of the economic disruption students and families have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The NAU 2021-2022 tuition proposal features no increases for undergraduate students while retaining the four-year Pledge tuition guarantee for undergraduates on the Flagstaff campus. The Pledge program is in its 13th year and holds the rate consistent for a second tuition setting cycle at $11,896 for total tuition and mandatory fees for incoming resident undergraduate students on the Flagstaff campus.

“Our proposal places a high priority on NAU’s mission of student access and success and the state’s goals of increasing postsecondary attainment,” said NAU President Rita Hartung Cheng. “NAU is a critical partner in guaranteeing Arizona has the talent pipeline to succeed in the state’s new economy. As a result of the governor’s proposed state investment in higher education this year, which will support key program expansion at NAU to meet Arizona’s workforce needs, our 2021-2022 tuition and fee recommendation is modest and consistent with discussions on the ongoing impact the pandemic has had on our students.”

Resident undergraduate tuition rates on the mountain campus and statewide will hold at the current year’s rate. Graduate tuition rates, which are currently below that of undergraduate on-campus tuition, will increase for all campus-based students, Flagstaff and statewide. Graduate tuition for students enrolled on campus will see a proposed 5 percent increase. All other tuition rates for undergraduate and graduate students will be held flat.

Additionally, in an effort to keep the total cost of attendance as low as possible, NAU proposes no mandatory fee increases for the 2021-2022 academic year. Cost-reduction efforts will continue to focus on eliminating class fees.

NAU has cut the proportion of class-specific fees in half, from about 32 percent of all classes having fees assessed in 2015 to 12 percent today. One new undergraduate program fee is proposed to eliminate incidental fees paid by students in the undergraduate dental hygiene program. This program fee proposal reflects NAUs’ efforts to remain transparent in the tuition and fee setting process, ensuring students are able to leverage financial aid support for program fees, and provide resources to administer higher cost programs without shifting the costs to all students.

NAU also proposes a 4.45 percent increase in the 2021-2022 Residence Hall rates, reflecting changes that include simplifying the rent rate structure from 17 rates to five rates, reducing unit capacity from three students to two and rolling the cost of laundry into rent, thereby eliminating per-load laundry payments.

The development of room rates at NAU includes a detailed rate review by an advisory council of residential students, elected Residence Hall Association (RHA) campus student leaders and university staff representing departments outside of housing.

NAU is also proposing a 2 percent increase in the 2021-2022 Meal Plan, reflecting the elevated minimum hour wage mandated by the City of Flagstaff and also incorporates national and regional inflationary increases in food costs.

Flagstaff campus

  • New resident undergraduate students: $11,896
  • New nonresident undergraduate students: $26,642
  • Resident graduate students: $12,250
  • Nonresident graduate students: $28,240

NAU-Yuma, NAU-Yavapai and NAU Statewide locations

  • Resident undergraduate students: $8,365
  • Nonresident undergraduate students: $8,365
  • Resident graduate students: $11,011
  • Nonresident graduate students: $26,407

Personalized Learning

  • Personalized Learning: $3,000/six-month subscription
  • Personalized Learning- nursing programs: $3,750/six-month subscription

Online

  • Undergraduate: $455 per credit hour
  • Graduate: $575 per credit hour

View the 2021-2022 President’s Recommendation Base Tuition and Fees to ABOR.

Public tuition hearing scheduled

Northern Arizona University will hold an interactive tuition hearing via videoconference in conjunction with the Arizona Board of Regents, Arizona State University and the University of Arizona from 3-5 p.m. April 6. The hearing will be streamed on ABOR Live.

Regents will also accept comments via e-mail to the Arizona Board of Regents at tuition@azregents.edu; by regular mail, at 2020 N. Central Ave., Suite 230, Phoenix, AZ 85004; or by fax at (602) 229-2555.

NAU Communications