Institutional Accreditation
Virtual Visit Request info Apply
MENUMENU
  • Institutional Accreditation
  • Open Pathways Process
  • Archive
  • Contact
  • NAU
  • Institutional Accreditation

Higher Learning Commission

230 S. LaSalle Street Suite 7-500 Chicago, IL  60604 800-621-7440 Contact the HLC

Complaint Contact Info

To submit a complaint contact: NAU's Regional Accrediting Body Higher Learning Commission
Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) If an issue submitted to Northern Arizona University by a student is unresolved and involves a complaint arising under state laws, an Arizona Board of Regents policy or any other matter, the student may contact the Arizona Board of Regents (in accordance with 75 Fed. Reg. 66865-66, Oct. 29, 2010), by visiting the ABOR website or by submitting a request directly. Students may also call the ABOR office at 602-229-2500.

Institutional Accreditation

Universities and colleges in the United States obtain accreditation from non-governmental bodies that are recognized by the U. S. Secretary of Education. Accreditation provides public certification of acceptable institutional quality and an opportunity for critical self-analysis leading to improvement in quality. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Education uses accreditation as a basis for their determination of institutional eligibility for participating in various federally funded programs, including Title IV federal financial aid to students.

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is one of six regional associations recognized by the U.S. Department of Education that accredit institutions of higher education. The Higher Learning Commission accredits Northern Arizona University. Northern Arizona University’s accreditation extends through 2027-2028.

Northern Arizona University participates in the Higher Learning Commission Open Pathways, which includes two processes: Quality Assurance and Quality Initiative.

Specialized Accredited Programs

College of Arts & Letters (CAL) Accordion Closed

UnitProgramAccrediting AgencyLast ReviewNext Review
School of ArtInterior Design BS (Flagstaff & Scottsdale Locations)Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA)2022-Flagstaff
Letter

2024-Scottsdale
Letter
2028-Flagstaff

2026-Scottsdale
School of MusicMusic Programs in:
Music BANational Association of Schools of Music
(NASM)
2018
Letter
2026
Music Performance BMUSNational Association of Schools of Music
(NASM)
2018
Letter
2026
Music MMNational Association of Schools of Music
(NASM)
2018
Letter
2026
For each of the following:Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)2024
Action Report
2031
Arizona State Board of Education
School of Art and DesignArt Education BSED
Department of English
Secondary Education - English BSED
Department of HistorySecondary Education - History and Social Studies BSED
Department of Global Languages and CulturesSecondary Education - Spanish BSED
Kitt School of MusicMusic Secondary Education BMEDCouncil for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
AND
Arizona State Board of Education
2024
Action Report
2031
National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)2018
Letter
2028


Northern Arizona University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) as of August 2020.
Next review 2025-2026

College of Education (COE) Accordion Closed

UnitProgramAccrediting
Agency
Last
Review
Next
Review
Dept. of Educational LeadershipThe following programs are both CAEP accredited and state approved:Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
AND
Arizona State Board of Education
2024
Action Report
2031
Educational Leadership- Principal Pre K-12 MED
Principal Pre K-12 GCERT
Superintendent GCERT
Educational Leadership – K-12 Administration EdD
Dept. of Educational PsychologySchool Psychology EDSCouncil for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
AND
Arizona State Board of Education
2024
Action Report
2031
National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)2022
Letter
2028
Combined Counseling/School Psychology PHDArizona State Board of Education
AND
American Psychological Association
2023
Letter

2031
Counseling - School Counseling MEDCouncil of Accreditation of Educational Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP)2022
Letter
2030
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.A.Council of Accreditation of Educational Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP)2022
Letter
2030
The program is state approved (ONLY):
Clinical Psychology PSYDAmerican Psychological Association2023
Letter
2025
Dept. of Educational SpecialtiesThe following programs are both CAEP accredited and state approved:Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
AND
Arizona State Board of Education
2024
Action Report
2031
Special and Elementary Education BSED
Special Education - Mild/Moderate Disabilities Certified MED
Special Education - Early Childhood Special Education with Certification MED
Dept. of Teaching and LearningThe following programs are both CAEP accredited and state approved:Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
AND
Arizona State Board of Education
2024
Action Report
2031
Elementary Education BSED
Elementary Education - Certification MED
The following program is CAEP and NAEYC accredited and state approved:Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
AND
Arizona State Board of Education
2025
Action Report

Letter

2030
Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education BSEDThe National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)Letter
Department of STEM EducationThe following program is both CAEP accredited and state approved:Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
AND
Arizona State Board of Education
2024
Action Report
2031
Teaching Science with Certification MAT

College of Engineering (SCE) Accordion Closed

UnitProgramAccrediting AgencyLast ReviewNext Review
Department of Civil Engineering, Construction Management, and Environmental EngineeringConstruction Management BSAmerican Council for Construction Education (ACCE)2023
Letter
2028
Department of Civil Engineering, Construction Management, and Environmental EngineeringEngineering: Civil Engineering BSEngineering Accreditation Commission of ABET2020
Letter
2026
Department of Civil Engineering, Construction Management, and Environmental EngineeringEngineering: Environmental Engineering BSEngineering Accreditation Commission of ABET2020
Letter
2026
Department of Mechanical EngineeringMechanical Engineering BSEngineering Accreditation Commission of ABET2020
Letter
2026
School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber SystemsComputer Engineering BSEngineering Accreditation Commission of ABET2020
Letter
2026
School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber SystemsElectrical Engineering BSEngineering Accreditation Commission of ABET2022
Letter
2026
School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber SystemsComputer Science BSCSComputing Accreditation Commission of ABET2022
Letter
2026

College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences (CEFNS) Accordion Closed

UnitProgramAccrediting AgencyLast ReviewNext Review
Chemistry & BiochemistryChemistry & Biochemistry BSAmerican Chemical Society (ACS)2023
Letter
2028
School of ForestryForestry BSFSociety of American Foresters
(SAF)
2024
Letter
2034
For each of the following:Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)2024
Action Report
2031
Arizona State Board of Education
Department of Biological SciencesSecondary Education - Biology BSED
Department of Chemistry and BiochemistrySecondary Education - Chemistry BSED
School of Earth and SustainabilitySecondary Education - Earth Science BSED
School of Earth and SustainabilitySecondary Education - General Science BSED
Department of Mathematics and StatisticsSecondary Education - Mathematics BSED
Department of Applied Physics and Materials ScienceSecondary Education – Physics BSED

College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) Accordion Closed

UnitProgramAccrediting AgencyLast ReviewNext Review
Athletic Training & Physical TherapyAthletic Training MSCommission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE)2021
Letter
2031
Physical Therapy - Entry Level DPTCommission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)2022
Proof
2030
Department of Dental HygieneDental Hygiene BSDHAmerican Dental Association (ADA) Commission
on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
2022
Letter
2028
Department of Health SciencesHealth Sciences - Fitness Wellness BSCommission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)2022
Letter
2032
Nutrition and Foods BSAccreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)2022
Letter
2030
Public Health (all emphases) – MPHCouncil on Education for Public Health (CEPH)2022
Letter
2029
Public Health – Nutrition MPHAccreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)2022
Letter
2030
Health Sciences - Physical Education BSEDCouncil for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
AND
Arizona State Board of Education
2024
Action Report
2031
Physical Education Path to Certification UCERTArizona State Board of Education2023

2028
Communications Sciences and DisordersClinical Speech – Language Pathology MSCouncil on Academic Accreditation (CAA) in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology2023
Letter
2031
Occupational TherapyOccupational Therapy OTDThe American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. (AOTA)2023
Letter
2033
Department of Physician Assistant StudiesPhysician Assistant Studies MPASAccreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant
(ARC-PA)
2015
Letter
2025

College of Nursing (CON) Accordion Closed

UnitProgramAccrediting AgencyLast ReviewNext Review
College of NursingThe following programs are CCNE accredited:Commission
on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
2018
Proof
2028
Nursing BSN
Nursing - Option for Registered Nurses
Nursing – Advanced Practice MS
Nursing MS
Nursing Practice DNP
Post-Master's Family Nurse Practitioner Graduate Certificate
Post-Graduate Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Graduate Certificate

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) Accordion Closed

UnitProgramAccrediting AgencyLast ReviewNext Review
Geography, Planning & RecreationParks & Recreation BSNational Recreation
and Park Association (NRPA)
Council on Accreditation
of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT)
2022
Letter
2028
Politics and International AffairsPublic Administration MPA Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA)2022
Letter
2029
Social WorkSocial Work BSW Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)2019
Letter
2027
Social Work MSWCouncil on Social Work Education (CSWE)2020
Letter
2024

The W. A. Franke College of Business Accordion Closed

UnitProgramAccrediting AgencyLast ReviewNext Review
Business AdministrationAccountancy BSACCY
Business Administration MBA
Business Economics BSBA
Finance BSBA
Information Systems BSBA
Marketing BSBA
Management BSBA
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)2020
Letter
2025
Hotel and Restaurant ManagementHotel & Restaurant Management, BSAccreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA)2018
Letter
2024

Yuma Branch Campus Accordion Closed

UnitProgramAccrediting AgencyLast ReviewNext Review
Business & AdministrationBachelor of Administration BBAAccreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)2024
Letter
2032
Business & AdministrationApplied Business Management BSAccreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)2024
Letter
2032
Business & AdministrationLogistics and Supply Chain Management BSAccreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)2024
Letter
2032
Business & AdministrationGlobal Business Administration MGBAAccreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)2024
Letter
2032
Secondary EducationPost-Baccalaureate Secondary Education Certification UCERTArizona State Board of Education2024
Proof
2029

 

Academic Program Licensure Rates

College of Education (COE) Accordion Closed

Academic ProgramYearNAU Pass RateState or National Pass Rate
Counseling / School Psychology (EPPP)2021-2022
100% 85% (National)
Positive Behavioral Support, Graduate Certificate202153%NA
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, MA (NCE)202093%63% (National)
School Psychology EdS (NCSP Praxis)2022100% NA

Professional Education Programs: Initial Teacher Preparation Programs Accordion Closed

All NAU students pursuing an initial teacher preparation program at the undergraduate or graduate level are required to take an Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment/National Evaluation Services licensure exam intended to measure candidate professional knowledge and skills aligned to the relevant certificate area. This is an Arizona State Board of Education certification requirement. Several graduate degree programs in school leadership or other school professional programs leading to certification also require candidates to pass licensure exams. These exams provide a summative assessment of candidate knowledge and skills related to the Interstate Teacher Assessment & Support Consortium (InTASC) categories and standards or other professional standards specific to the discipline (i.e., educational leadership, counseling, school psychology).

In November 2017, NAU was nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) for the initial teacher preparation and advanced programs leading to licensure in the state of Arizona. NAU’s initial teacher preparation and advanced programs are also nationally recognized by the discipline Specialized Professional Association or external accrediting agency and approved by the Arizona State Board of Education. Examples of licensure exam rates for NAU graduates are noted in the following table. NOTE: Aggregated scores are only reported when there are 10 or more candidates

Overall Teacher Certification Licensure Exams Pass Rate

Professional Knowledge ExamYearNAU Pass Rate
Early Childhood2020-202191%
Elementary2020-202198%
Secondary2020-202199%
Special Education2020-202197%

  • Professional Knowledge Early Childhood: BSEd Early Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education 
  • Professional Knowledge Elementary Exam: BSEd Elementary Ed, MEd elementary Ed-Certification, BSEd Special and Elementary Education, –
  • Professional Knowledge Secondary: BSEd Secondary Education-Biology; BSEd Secondary Education-Chemistry; BSEd Secondary Education-Earth Science; BSEd Secondary Education-General Science; BSEd Secondary Education-Physics; MAT-S Teaching Science with Certification; BSEd Secondary Education-Mathematics; BSEd Art Education; BMEd Music Secondary Education; BSEd Secondary Education-English; BSEd Secondary Education-History and Social Studies; BSEd Secondary Education-Spanish; BSEd Health Sciences-Physical Education.
  • Professional Knowledge Special Education: BSEd Special and Elementary Education, MEd Special Education-Mild/Moderate Disabilities with Certification

Professional Education Programs: Advanced Educator Programs Accordion Closed

The Principal and Superintendent programs are the only advanced preparation programs that require completion of a licensure exam for certification.

AEPA/NES principal and superintendent exams pass rates

Note: Scores are only reported when there are 10 or more candidates, thus the Superintendent results are not reported for 2021-2022. Additionally, NAU only has access to results if candidates note that NAU may receive the results when registering for the exam.

For the Principal exams, we do have the 2021-2022 academic year test data. Your percentages are correct.

  • Principal Subtest 1 and 2: MEd Educational Leadership – Principal PreK-12; GCert Principal
  • Superintendent Subtest 1 and 2: EdD Educational Leadership – Pre-K-12 Administration; GCert Superintendent

Program List

ExamYearNAU Pass Rate
Principal Sub-test 12021-202284%
Principal Sub-test 22021-202297%

College of Engineering (SCE) Accordion Closed

Academic ProgramYearNAU Pass RateState or National Pass Rate
Associate Constructor
Construction Management (BS)
202270%55% (National)
Civil Engineering
202239%55%

College of the Environmental, Forestry, and Natural Sciences (CEFNS) Accordion Closed

Academic ProgramYearNAU Pass RateState or National Pass Rate
Geology2020
50% NA

College of the Health & Human Services (CHHS) Accordion Closed

Academic ProgramYearNAU Pass RateState or National Pass Rate
Athletic Training202294%77% (National)
Clinical Speech -Language Pathology2021-202288%87% (National)
Dental Hygiene202297%87% (National)
Fitness Wellness202270%70% (National)
Occupational Therapy2022100%96%
Physical Therapy202194%99% (National)
Physician Assistant2022First time pass rate (98%)95% (First time National pass rate)
Registered Dietician 2021-202283%59% (National)

College of Nursing (CON) Accordion Closed

Academic ProgramYearNAU Pass RateState or National Pass Rate
Nursing (AANP)2021MS-FNP 93%
Post Masters-FNP 100%
83% (National)
Nursing (NCLEX)2020First time pass rate (94%)80% (National)

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) Accordion Closed

Academic ProgramYearNAU Pass RateState or National Pass Rate
Social Work MSW2021
96% 73%

The W. A. Franke College of Business Accordion Closed

Academic ProgramYearNAU Pass RateState or National Pass Rate
Certified Public Account (CPA)201965.1%52.8%

Note: Due to changes to the CPA exam, NASBA has ceased publishing results until further notice.

For more information on out-of-state professional licensure visit Professional Licensure Information.

Updated: 3/25/2025