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 Education BMED | 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 | |
| Music Education BMED | Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) | 2017 Letter | 2024 | |
College of Education (COE) Accordion Closed
| Department > Unit | Program | Accrediting Agency | Last Review | Next Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dept. of Teaching and Learning > Early Childhood Education | Bachelor of Science in Education, Early Childhood Education (B.S.Ed.) | Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) | 2017 Letter | 2024 |
| Arizona State Board of Education | Proof | 2024 | ||
| Dept. of Educational Leadership > Educational Leadership | Master of Education, Educational Leadership- Principal K-12 (M.Ed) | Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) | 2017 Letter | 2024 |
| Educational Leadership: Principal (post-degree certificate) | Arizona State Board of Education | Proof | 2024 | |
| Educational Leadership: Superintendent (post-degree certificate) | Proof | 2024 | ||
| Dept. of Teaching and Learning > Elementary Education | Bachelor of Science in Education, Elementary Education (B.S.Ed.) | Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) | 2017 Letter | 2024 |
| Master of Education, Elementary Education– Certification (M.Ed) | Arizona State Board of Education | Proof | 2024 | |
| Dept. of Educational Psychology > School Counseling | Master of Education, Counseling - School Counseling (M.Ed) | Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) | 2017 Letter | 2024 |
| Arizona State Board of Education | Proof | 2024 | ||
| Council of Accreditation of Educational Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) | 2016 Letter | 2022 | ||
| Dept. of Educational Psychology > School Psychology | Educational Specialist, School Psychology (Ed.S.) | Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) | 2017 Letter | 2024 |
| Arizona State Board of Education | Proof | 2024 | ||
| Dept. of Educational Psychology > School Psychology | Doctor of Philosophy, Combined Counseling/ School Psychology (Ph.D.) | Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) | 2017 Letter | 2024 |
| Arizona State Board of Education | Proof | 2024 | ||
| American Psychological Association | 2017 Letter | 2020 | ||
| Dept. of Educational Specialties > Special Education | Bachelor of Science in Education: Special and Elementary Education (B.S.Ed.) | Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) | 2017 Letter | 2024 |
| Master of Education: Special Education Mild/Moderate Disabilities Certified (M.Ed.) | Arizona State Board of Education | Proof | 2024 | |
| Master of Education: Special Education - Early Childhood Special Education with Certification (M.Ed.) | 2017 Letter | 2024 |
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 Envirnomental Engineering | BS in Construction Management | American Council for Construction Education (ACCE) | 2018 | 2023 |
| Department of Civil Engineering, Construction Management, and Envirnomental Engineering | BS in Engineering: Civil Engineering | Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET | 2019 ABET letter forthcoming - July 2020 | 2025 |
| Department of Civil Engineering, Construction Management, and Envirnomental Engineering | BS in Engineering: Environmental Engineering | Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET | 2019 ABET letter forthcoming - July 2020 | 2025 |
| Department of Mechanical Engineering | BS in Mechanical Engineering | Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET | 2019 ABET letter forthcoming - July 2020 | 2025 |
| School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems | BS in Electrical Engineering | Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET | 2019 ABET letter forthcoming - July 2020 | 2025 |
| School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems | BS in Computer Science | Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET | 2019 ABET letter forthcoming - July 2020 | 2025 |
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 Secondary 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 | ||||
| English | ||||
| French | ||||
| German | ||||
| History and Social Studies | ||||
| Spanish | ||||
| MA English, Secondary Education | ||||
| MAT Spanish Education | ||||
| Bachelor of Music Education, Music Secondary Education (B.M.Ed.) | National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) | 2013 Letter | 2023 | |
| CEFNS | Bachelor of Science in Secondary 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 | ||
| Biology | ||||
| Chemistry | ||||
| Earth Science | ||||
| General Science | ||||
| Mathematics | ||||
| Physics | ||||
| Master of Arts in Teaching, Teaching Science with Certification (M.A.T.) | ||||
| CHHS | Bachelor of Science in Secondary 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 | ||
| 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 |
| Social Work | Social Work BSW | Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) | 2019 Letter | 2027 |
| Social Work MSW | Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) | 2019 Letter |
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) | 2018 AACSB letter forthcoming July 2020 | 2023 |
| 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) | Proof | 2021 |
| Business & Administration | Applied Sciences - Industrical Technology Management BAS | Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) | Proof | 2021 |
| Business & Administration | Applied Sciences - Logistics & Supply Chain Management BAS | Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) | Proof | 2021 |
| 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 | Proof | |
| Secondary Education | Post-Baccalaureate, UCert | Arizona State Board of Education | Proof |
Academic Program Licensure Rates
College of the Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences (CEIAS) Accordion Closed
| Academic Program | Year | NAU Average Score (out of 300) | National Average Score (out of 300) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Constructor Construction Management (BS) | 2019 | 231 | 219 |
College of the Health & Human Services (CHHS) Accordion Closed
| Academic Program | Year | NAU Pass Rate | State or National Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing (NCLEX) | 2018 | 92% | 88% (National) |
| Nursing (AANP) | 2018 | 93% | 93% |
| Communication Sciences & Disorders (Praxis) | 2017-2018 | 97% | 94.3% (National) |
| Fitness Wellness | 2018 | 60% | 53% first time pass rate (National) |
| Dental Hygiene | 2018 | 100% | 94.3% (National) |
| Physical Therapy (Flagstaff) | 2018 | 98% | 98% |
| Physical Therapy (Phoenix Bio campus) | 2018 | 100% | 98% |
| Occupational Therapy | 2018 | 100% | 100% |
| Physician Assistant | 2018 | First time pass rate (98%) N=49 | 98% (2018 National first time pass rate) 2018 five year first time average – 96% |
| Athletic Training | 2018 | 100% (first time pass rate) | 77.7% (National first time pass rate) |
College of Education (COE) Accordion Closed
| Academic Program | Year | NAU Pass Rate | State or National Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Psychologist (NCSP Praxis Exam) | 2018-2019 | 9 of 9 (100%) passed | Not required |
| Title II (Traditional Programs) | 2016-2017 | 98% | 90% (state) |
| Positive Behavioral Support, Graduate Certificate | 2018 | 33% | 65% (national) |
| Masters of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 2018 | 92% | Not required |
Professional Education Programs (PEP): 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
| Professional Education Programs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAL | ||||
| Academic Program | Year | NAU Pass Rate | ||
| BMEd and BSEd in Secondary Ed : Art, English, French, German, Spanish, History | AY17-18 | 100% | ||
| MA English | AY17-18 | 100% | ||
| MAT Spanish | AY17-18 | 100% | ||
| CEFNS | ||||
| Academic Program | Year | NAU Pass Rate | ||
| Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, General Science, Physics, Math | AY17-18 | 100% | ||
| CHHS | ||||
| Academic Program | Year | NAU Pass Rate | ||
| Physical Ed. | AY17-18 | 100% | ||
| COE | ||||
| Academic Program | Year | NAU Pass Rate | State Pass Rate (%) | |
| BSEd and MEd in Early Childhood Ed and Early Childhood Special Ed | AY17-18 | 94% | Available in Spring 2020 | |
| BSEd and MEd in Elementary Ed and Special Ed | AY17-18 | 95% | Available in Spring 2020 | |
| Subject Knowledge Exams | ||||
| CAL | ||||
| Academic Program | Year | NAU Pass Rate | State Pass Rate (%) | |
| BSEd Secondary Ed, Art Ed | AY17-18 | 83% | Available in Spring 2020 | |
| BMEd Music Secondary Ed | AY17-18 | 100% | Available in Spring 2020 | |
| BSEd and MA Secondary Ed, English Ed | AY17-18 | 100% | Available in Spring 2020 | |
| BSEd Secondary Ed, History & Social Studies | AY17-18 | 100% | Available in Spring 2020 | |
| CEFNS | ||||
| Academic Program | Year | NAU Pass Rate | State Pass Rate (%) | |
| BSEd Secondary Ed, Mathematics | AY17-18 | 63% | Available in Spring 2020 | |
| COE | ||||
| Academic Program | Year | NAU Pass Rate | State Pass Rate (%) | |
| BSEd Early Childhood Ed | AY 17-18 | 83% | Available in Spring 2020 | |
| BSEd and MEd Elementary Ed and BSEd Special and Elementary Ed (Reading, Writing, & Oral Language and Social Studies) (Elem 1) | AY17-18 | 79% | Available in Spring 2020 | |
| BSEd and MEd Elementary Ed and BSEd Special and Elementary Ed (Math, Science, and The Arts, Health, and Fitness) (Elem 2) | AY17-18 | 82% | Available in Spring 2020 | |
| BSEd and MEd Special Ed Mild Moderate Disabilities | AY17-18 | 89% | Available in Spring 2020 | |
| Educational Leadership Licensure Exams | ||||
| Academic Program | Year | # of Exam Attempts (N) and Response Rates (R) | NAU Pass Rate (%) | |
| Principal Test (previous required exam) and Principal Subtests I and II | AY18-19 | Subtest 1, RR=34% Subtest 1, N=48 Subtest 2, RR=32% Subtest 2, N=45 | 94% Note: There were 45 passing scores out of the 48 exam attempts | |
| Candidates: | ||||
| -MEd Educational Leadership, K-12 Principal | ||||
| -Graduate Certificate, Educational Leadership, K-12 Principal | ||||
| Total Number of Graduates = 140 | ||||
| Superintendent Subtests I and II | AY18-19 | Subtest 1, RR=13% Subtest 1, N=2 Subtest 2, RR=8% Subtest 2, N=1 | Note: There were fewer than 12 scores so results are not reported. | |
| Graduate Certificate, Educational Leadership, Superintendent | ||||
| Total Number of Graduates = 15 | ||||
| Overall Assessment Pass Rates extracted from Title II Reports (Traditional Programs) | ||||
| Program Completers | Number taking test | Number passing | Pass Rate (%) | Statewide Average % |
| AY 2017-2018 | 142 | 115 | 81% | Available in Spring 2020 |
The W. A. Franke College of Business Accordion Closed
| Academic Program | Year | NAU Pass Rate | State Pass Rate | National Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certified Public Account (CPA) | 2018 | 57.3% | 50.2% | 51.9% |
For more information on out-of-state professional licensure visit Professional Licensure Information.
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.