Northern Arizona University's 2027-28 freshman tuition scholarships are based on high school core GPA alone: $2,500 to $11,000 a year for Arizona residents and $2,500 to $6,500 for out-of-state students, with no test score required. Every admitted first-year student gets at least $2,500, but the awards require living on campus the first year.
Northern Arizona University is reworking its prices for fall 2027. Non-WUE out-of-state students will pay a new flat $16,000 tuition rate, and the scholarships below come off that. It's a contrast with the University of Arizona, which dropped its published chart for 2026-2027. For the basics, see what an automatic scholarship chart is.
Northern Arizona University scholarship chart for Arizona residents (2027-28)
| Scholarship | Core GPA | Annual Award | Four-Year Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lumberjack Scholars Award | 3.75-4.00 | $11,000 | $44,000 |
| President's | 3.50-3.74 | $9,000 | $36,000 |
| Dean's with Distinction | 3.40-3.49 | $6,500 | $26,000 |
| Dean's | 3.00-3.39 | $5,000 | $20,000 |
| Opportunity | Admitted-2.99 | $2,500 | $10,000 |
Northern Arizona University scholarship chart for out-of-state students (2027-28)
The same chart applies whether or not you're from a WUE state.
| Scholarship | Core GPA | Annual Award | Four-Year Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summit | 3.75-4.00 | $6,500 | $26,000 |
| Peak | 3.50-3.74 | $6,000 | $24,000 |
| Ascent | 3.00-3.49 | $5,000 | $20,000 |
| Trailhead | Admitted-2.99 | $2,500 | $10,000 |
Core GPA is the unweighted high school core GPA NAU's admissions office calculates.
The part that surprises people: the 3.50 line is worth $2,500 a year in-state
For Arizona residents, the step from Dean's with Distinction (3.40-3.49, $6,500) to President's (3.50-3.74, $9,000) is tied for the largest on the chart, worth $10,000 over four years for as little as a hundredth of a GPA point. For out-of-state students, the steps are flatter: the top three tiers are only $1,500 apart, and the real price difference comes from whether you get the WUE rate or the $16,000 Flagstaff Advantage Rate.
Housing requirement, WUE and Access2Excellence
- Live on campus your first year. Every four-year merit scholarship requires NAU-managed housing and a meal plan in year one.
- WUE students may pay a reduced WUE tuition rate and still get the out-of-state chart above.
- Non-WUE out-of-state students pay the new $16,000 Flagstaff Advantage Rate, starting fall 2027.
- Access2Excellence covers 100% of tuition for eligible Arizona residents with household income up to $65,000, and for members of Arizona's 22 federally recognized tribes from any state.
- Renewal is automatic for three more years if you meet NAU's renewal criteria.
What this means for you
- No test score needed. Spend the effort on your core GPA.
- Arizona residents: aim for 3.50. It's the most valuable line on the chart.
- Out-of-state students: check WUE first. The tuition rate you pay matters more than the gap between scholarship tiers.
- Arizona resident with a low or moderate income? Your tuition may be covered outright; see free tuition at ASU, UA and NAU.
- Compare it with Arizona, Utah and Nevada, Reno, see the WUE schools list, or check all charts at once with the scholarship finder.