Instructional Leadership, emphasis: K-12 School Leadership (MEd)
Student looking through a microscope while professor observes.
  1. NAU
  2. Admissions
  3. Graduate student

Applying as a graduate student

What you need to know

Advance your knowledge—and increase your earning potential—when you apply for graduate study at NAU. 

With a wealth of master’s and doctoral degrees to choose from, along with many graduate certificate options, you’ll find a program that will help you reach your goals. And we make the application process easy, so you can focus on your next steps toward influencing the future.

Are you eligible for graduate study?

A photo of a student working on a laptop outside on a sunny day at Flagstaff campus.

If you have earned a bachelor’s degree from a college or university accredited by an appropriate regional accrediting association, you are eligible to apply for admission to NAU as a graduate student.

NAU admission requirements are the same whether you apply to the main campus in Flagstaff, an online graduate program, or any of our statewide locations.

Begin your application

Deadlines for graduate study

Find the application deadline for your program.

Important dates and deadlines

Admissions requirements for graduate study

Most NAU Office of Graduate and Professional Studies (OGPS) programs require a minimum 3.0 GPA (out of 4.0) on bachelor’s degree studies to be considered for regular admission. Admitted students are expected to have undergraduate educational experiences that are similar to those required for a baccalaureate at NAU. Some graduate programs have different GPA and admission requirements. Refer to specific degree programs for detailed requirements.

A photo of a professor and student working on a lab project in the woods.

Transcripts

Transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate work must be uploaded to evaluate your application. Your official transcripts, sent from the issuing institution directly to NAU, will be required upon admittance to your graduate program for GPA and degree verification.

NAU undergraduate students do not need to submit official transcripts for NAU coursework.
A photo of a student examining Petri dish in a lab at Flagstaff Mountain campus.

Academic program requirements

Academic programs, departments, or colleges may have admission requirements in addition to those of the OGPS.

For these specific requirements, contact the specific academic program or refer to the academic catalog.

Admission decisions for graduate study

Regular admission

If you meet all admission criteria, have been evaluated and recommended for admission by the academic program, and have been evaluated and approved by the OGPS, you may be granted regular admission, barring any extenuating circumstances.

  • While specific academic programs may notify you that they have recommended your admission, the OGPS notifies all applicants in writing of any official admission decision.
  • Meeting the minimum OGPS requirements does not ensure admission to a particular graduate program.
  • Consider a non-degree-seeking option if you’re not ready to apply for a full program of study.

Conditional admission

Students with a cumulative GPA below 3.00 must have a recommendation and rationale from an admitting academic program to be considered for conditional admission.

Find your program.

Residency classification and establishing domicile

Residency classification for tuition purposes is based on policies set by the Arizona Board of Regents.

What type of resident are you?

Residents

For a student to be classified as a resident for tuition purposes, they must, at minimum:

  • be physically present in Arizona 12 consecutive months prior to enrollment
  • be employed and paying Arizona taxes
  • have documentation of up to 24 months of financial independence
  • have graduated from an Arizona high school with at least two years attended at that school

Students establishing domicile in Arizona with the sole intent of becoming a resident for tuition purposes will not be eligible for in-state tuition.

For more information, review residency classification policy, forms, and deadlines.

Non-residents

Not meeting all of the above criteria for residency classification will result in a student being classified as a non-resident for tuition purposes.