Higher Learning Commission
Complaint Contact Info
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
| Unit | Program | Accrediting Agency | Last Review | Next Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| School of Art | Interior Design (Flagstaff & Scottsdale Locations | Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) | 2016 Letter | 2022 |
| School of Music | Music Programs in: | |||
| Music BA | National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) | 2018 Letter | 2026 | |
| Music BMUS | National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) | 2018 Letter | 2026 | |
| Music MM | National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) | 2018 Letter | 2026 | |
College of Education (COE) Accordion Closed
| Unit | Program | Accrediting Agency | Last Review | Next Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dept. of Educational Leadership | The following programs are both CAEP accredited and state approved: | 2017 Letter Action Report | 2024 | |
| Master of Education, Educational Leadership- Principal K-12 (M.Ed.) | Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) | Proof | 2024 | |
| Educational Leadership, Principal (post-degree certificate) | Arizona State Board of Education | |||
| Educational Leadership, Superintendent (post-degree certificate) | ||||
| Dept. of Educational Psychology | The following programs are both CAEP accredited and state approved: | Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) | 2017 Letter Action Report | 2024 |
| Educational Specialist, School Psychology (Ed.S.) | National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) | 2022 Letter | 2028 | |
| Doctor of Philosophy, Combined Counseling/School Psychology (Ph.D.) | CAEP and Arizona State Board of Education AND APA (see information in next line) | |||
| American Psychological Association | 2017 Letter | 2020 | ||
| Master of Education, Counseling - School Counseling (M.Ed.) | CAEP and Arizona State Board of Education AND CACREP (see information in next line) | |||
| Council of Accreditation of Educational Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) | 2022 Letter | 2024 | ||
| The programs is under review for state approved (ONLY): | ||||
| Master of Education, PK-12 College and Career Counseling (M.Ed.) | Arizona State Board of Education | Approval should be voted on by the Arizona State Board of Education on 8/21. | TBD | |
| Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology | American Psychological Association | 2022 Letter | 2025 | |
| Dept. of Educational Specialties | The following programs are both CAEP accredited and state approved: | Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) | 2017 Letter Action Report | 2024 |
| Bachelor of Science in Education, Special and Elementary Education (B.S.Ed.) | Arizona State Board of Education | Proof | 2024 | |
| Master of Education, Special Education - Mild/Moderate Disabilities Certified (M.Ed.) | ||||
| Master of Education, Special Education - Early Childhood Special Education with Certification (M.Ed.) | ||||
| Dept. of Teaching and Learning | The following programs are both CAEP accredited and state approved: | Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) | 2017 Letter Action Report | 2024 |
| Bachelor of Science in Education, Elementary Education (B.S.Ed.) | Arizona State Board of Education | Proof | 2024 | |
| Master of Education, Elementary Education - Certification (M.Ed.) | ||||
| The following program is state approve (ONLY): | ||||
| Bachelor of Science in Education, Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education (B.S.Ed.) | Arizona State Board of Education | Proof | 2025 |
College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences (CEIAS) Accordion Closed
| Unit | Program | Accrediting Agency | Last Review | Next Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Civil Engineering, Construction Management, and Environmental Engineering | BS in Construction Management | American Council for Construction Education (ACCE) | 2018 Letter | 2024 |
| Department of Civil Engineering, Construction Management, and Environmental Engineering | BS in Engineering: Civil Engineering | Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET | 2020 Letter | 2026 |
| Department of Civil Engineering, Construction Management, and Environmental Engineering | BS in Engineering: Environmental Engineering | Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET | 2020 Letter | 2026 |
| Department of Mechanical Engineering | BS in Mechanical Engineering | Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET | 2020 Letter | 2026 |
| School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems | BS in Computer Engineering | Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET | 2020 Letter | 2022 |
| School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems | BS in Electrical Engineering | Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET | 2020 Letter | 2022 |
| School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems | BS in Computer Science | Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET | 2020 Letter | 2026 |
College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences (CEFNS) Accordion Closed
| Unit | Program | Accrediting Agency | Last Review | Next Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| School of Forestry | Forestry BSF | Society of American Foresters (SAF) | 2013 Letter | 2023 |
College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) Accordion Closed
Professional Education Programs (PEP): Initial Teacher Preparation Programs Accordion Closed
| Unit | Program | Accrediting Agency | Last Review | Next Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAL | Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed.) for: | Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) | 2017 Letter Action Report | 2024 |
| Arizona State Board of Education | Proof | 2024 | ||
| Art Education | ||||
| Secondary Education - English | ||||
| Secondary Education - History and Social Studies | ||||
| Secondary Education - Spanish | ||||
| Bachelor of Music Education, Music Secondary Education (B.M.Ed.) | Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), Arizona State Board of Education and National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) | 2018 Letter | 2024 | |
| MAT Spanish Education | Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and Arizona State Board of Education | 2017 | 2024 | |
| CEFNS | Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed.) for: | Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) | 2017 Letter Action Report | 2024 |
| Arizona State Board of Education | Proof | 2024 | ||
| Secondary Education - Biology | ||||
| Secondary Education - Chemistry | ||||
| Secondary Education - Earth Science | ||||
| Secondary Education - General Science | ||||
| Secondary Education - Mathematics | ||||
| Master of Arts in Teaching, Teaching Science with Certification (M.A.T.) | Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and Arizona State Board of Education | 2017 | 2024 | |
| CEIAS | Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed.) for: | Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) | 2017 Letter Action Report | 2024 |
| Arizona State Board of Education | Proof | 2024 | ||
| Secondary Education - Physics | ||||
| CHHS | Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed.) for: | Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) | 2017 Letter Action Report | 2024 |
| Arizona State Board of Education | Proof | 2024 | ||
| Health Sciences - Physical Education |
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) Accordion Closed
| Unit | Program | Accrediting Agency | Last Review | Next Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geography, Planning & Recreation | Parks & Recreation BS | National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT) | 2014 Letter | 2021 |
| Politics and International Affairs | Public Administration MPA | Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) | 2022 Letter | 2029 |
| Social Work | Social Work BSW | Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) | 2019 Letter | 2027 |
| Social Work MSW | Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) | 2020 Letter | 2024 |
The W. A. Franke College of Business Accordion Closed
| Unit | Program | Accrediting Agency | Last Review | Next Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration | Business Programs (See List) | Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) | 2020 Letter | 2025 |
| Hotel and Restaurant Management | Hotel & Restaurant Management, BS | Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA) | 2018 Letter | 2024 |
Yuma Branch Campus Accordion Closed
| Unit | Program | Accrediting Agency | Last Review | Next Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business & Administration | Bachelor of Administration (BBA) | Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) | 2022 Letter | 2032 |
| Business & Administration | Applied Sciences - Industrial Technology Management BAS | Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) | 2022 Letter | 2032 |
| Business & Administration | Applied Sciences - Logistics & Supply Chain Management BAS | Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) | 2022 Letter | 2032 |
| Yuma - Arts and Sciences | Social Work BASW | Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) | 2018 Letter | 2022 |
| Dept. of Teaching and Learning > Elementary Education | Bachelor of Science in Education, Elementary Education (B.S.Ed.) | Arizona State Board of Education | 2018 Proof | 2024 |
| Secondary Education | Post-Baccalaureate, UCert | Arizona State Board of Education | 2018 Proof | 2024 |
Academic Program Licensure Rates
College of the Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences (CEIAS) Accordion Closed
| Academic Program | Year | NAU Pass Rate | State or National Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Constructor Construction Management (BS) | 2020 | 72% | 70% (National) |
College of the Health & Human Services (CHHS) Accordion Closed
| Academic Program | Year | NAU Pass Rate | State or National Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athletic Training | 2020 | 96.3% | 61.6% (National) |
| Communication Sciences & Disorders (Praxis) | 2019-2020 | 100% | 92.9% (National) |
| Dental Hygiene | 2020 | 97.7% | 90.1% (National) |
| Fitness Wellness | 2020-2021 | 77.6% | 72% (National) |
| Nursing (AANP) | 2020 | 93% | 85% (National) |
| Nursing (NCLEX) | 2020 | 95.7% | 86.6% (National) |
| Occupational Therapy | 2020 | 100% | 84% |
| Physical Therapy (Flagstaff) | 2019 | 100% | 99.2% (National) |
| Physical Therapy (Phoenix Bio campus) | 2019 | 100% | 99.2% (National) |
| Physician Assistant | 2020 | First time pass rate (94%) N=50 | 95% (First time National pass rate) |
College of Education (COE) Accordion Closed
| Academic Program | Year | NAU Pass Rate | State or National Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Psychologist (NCSP Praxis Exam) | 2020-2021 | (18/18) 100% | Not required |
| Positive Behavioral Support, Graduate Certificate | 2020 | 63% | 66% (National) |
| Clinical Mental Health Counseling, MA Flagstaff | 2020 | 100% | 80% (National) |
| Clinical Mental Health Counseling, MA Phoenix | 2019 | 80% | 90.5% |
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 Exam | Year | Number Taking Test | Number Passing | NAU Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Childhood* | 2019-2020 | 10 | 8 | 80% |
| Elementary** | 2019-2020 | 297 | 290 | 98% |
| Secondary*** | 2019-2020 | 97 | 95 | 98% |
Note: Students in the following programs take the above-listed exams, respectively:
*COE: BSEd Early Childhood Education; BSEd Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education; MEd Special Education – Early Childhood Special Education with Certification
**COE: BSEd Elementary Education; MEd Elementary Education – Certification; BSEd Special and Elementary Education; MEd Special Education – Mild/Moderate Disabilities
***CAL: BSEd Art Education; BSEd Secondary Education, English; BSEd Secondary Education, History & Social Studies; BMEd Music Secondary Education; BSEd Secondary Education, Spanish; MAT Spanish Education
***CEIAS: BSEd Secondary Education, Physics
***CEFNS: BSEd Secondary Education, Biology; BSEd Secondary Education, Chemistry; BSEd Secondary Education, Earth Science; BSEd Secondary Education, General Science; BSEd Secondary Education, Mathematics; MAT Teaching Science with Certification
***CHHS: BSEd Health Sciences – Physical Education
Overall Teacher Certification Licensure Exams Pass Rate
| Program Completers | Number Taking Test | Number Passing | NAU Pass Rate | Statewide Average Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-2020 | 553 | 542 | 98% | Not Yet Available |
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. Additionally, NAU only has access to results if candidates note that NAU may receive the results when registering for the exam.
AY 2018-2019, Program Completers
- Principal Graduate Certificate & MED Educational Leadership, Principal = 144
- Superintendent Graduate Certificate & EDD Educational Leadership, K-12 Emphasis = 39 *one student completed both programs simultaneously and is counted twice
Overall Assessment Pass Rates, aggregated across the Principal Exam, Principal Sub-test 1 & Sub-test 2.
| Program Completers | Number Taking Test | Number Passing Test | Pass Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| AY 2019-2020 | 32 | 29 | 91% |
Overall Assessment Pass Rates, aggregated across the Superintendent Exam, Superintendent Sub-test 1 & Sub-test 2.
| Program Completers | Number Taking Test | Number Passing Test | Pass Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| AY 2019-2020 | 10 | 5 | 50% |
The W. A. Franke College of Business Accordion Closed
| Academic Program | Year | NAU Pass Rate | State or National Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certified Public Account (CPA) | 2019 | 65.1% | 52.8% |
For more information on out-of-state professional licensure visit Professional Licensure Information.
Updated: 1/30/2023