International graduate program admission

Applicants must have earned a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 out of a 4.0 scale for their bachelor’s degree to be considered for regular admission. Admitted students are expected to have undergraduate educational experiences, including general education studies, that are similar to those required for a baccalaureate at Northern Arizona University.

Applicants who have earned their degree(s) from an international institution must submit official transcripts directly from the university or college. The transcripts must be in the original language of the country accompanied by an English translation. If the degree awarded and the date of award is not on the transcripts, applicants must also include a separate degree certificate document.

Please send transcripts to:

Northern Arizona University
Center for International Education

PO Box 5598
523 S Knoles Dr.
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5598

All transcripts become the official property of the university and cannot be returned. Failure to provide complete information may delay your admission decision.

NOTE to all applicants from Nigeria: NAU accepts transcript evaluations from members of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) as part of the evaluation process. However, the result of a transcript evaluation does not guarantee that transfer credits will be awarded.
Evaluation Services: NAU SpanTran Application, World Education Services

Having trouble uploading transcripts? Check out our frequently asked questions page.

Flagstaff Mountain campus:
International students may apply to most master’s and doctoral programs at the Flagstaff Mountain Campus, with the exception of the following programs (many of these programs ARE available for online student for international students):

• Applied Geospatial Sciences, Master of Science (Flagstaff Mountain)
• Early Childhood Education, Master of Education (Flagstaff Mountain)
• Educational Leadership – Community College/Higher Education, Master of Education (Flagstaff Mountain)
• Educational Leadership – Instructional Leadership, Master of Education (Flagstaff Mountain)
• Educational Leadership – Principal K-12, Master of Education (Flagstaff Mountain)
• Educational Foundations, Master of Education (Flagstaff Mountain)
• Elementary Education- Certification, Master of Education (Flagstaff Mountain)
• English – Rhetoric, Writing, and Digital Media Studies, Master of Arts (Flagstaff Mountain)
• Graduate – Non-Degree Seeking (Flagstaff Mountain)
• Human Relations, Master of Education (Flagstaff Mountain)
• Mathematics Education, Master of Science (Flagstaff Mountain)
• Occupational Therapy, Doctor of Occupational Therapy
• Physician Assistant Studies, Master of Physician Assistant Studies
• Public Administration, Master of Public Administration (Flagstaff Mountain)
• Social Work, Master of Social Work (Flagstaff Mountain)
• Special Education with Certification, Master of Education (Flagstaff Mountain)
• Special Education- Early Childhood Special Education with Certification, Master of Education (Flagstaff Mountain)
• Special Education- Mild/Moderate Disabilities with Certification, Master of Education (Flagstaff Mountain)
• Teaching Science with Certification, Master of Arts in Teaching (Flagstaff Mountain)

Special instructions:
Please contact the department prior to applying to the following programs:
ESL and Bilingual Education, Master of Education (Flagstaff Mountain)

Please Note:
International students may pursue degrees from their home country if delivered completely online. In those circumstances, the student would not need to acquire a visa.

International students may only pursue in-person degree programs on the Flagstaff Mountain or Yuma campuses. In-person Graduate Certificates may only be pursued by international students if paired with a degree program.

If English is not your native language, you must provide proof of English proficiency from one of the following testing agencies:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
  Scores are sent directly to NAU from ETS
  NAU’s Institutional Code is 4006.
• DuoLingo
  Scores are sent directly to NAU from DuoLingo
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
  Please send IELTS scores via email to gradinternational@nau.edu. We will verify your scores. You can also send directly from IELTS to:

Center for International Education- NAU
523 S Knoles Drive
PO Box 5598
Flagstaff, AZ 86011

Minimum scores for most programs:

Scores must be sent directly to the Center for International Education from the Testing Institution. Please note that some departments have their own requirements and it is important to reach out to them to ensure they accept the English Proficiency Test that you plan to submit.

Some programs require English proficiency scores that are lower or higher than the Office of Graduate & Professional Studies minimums. Below is a list of programs that have specific proficiency requirements.

Additionally, some programs require specific score minimums in the individual exam sections, that are above the Office of Graduate & Professional Studies requirements, as shown below.

The TOEFL/IELTS may be waived*:

• If you are a native speaker of English. Native speakers are considered applicants who are from and have completed a high school or university education at an institution in an English-speaking country.
• If you have earned a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from a U.S. university or college.

*Applied Linguistics, PhD and MA TESL applicants must submit official TOEFL/IELTS scores (no more than 2 years old), regardless of where the applicant received their higher education degree. Exemption from these requirements may be requested by contacting the English department.

The Program in Intensive English (PIE) meets the academic needs of NAU international students by providing academic English preparation and support. PIE teaches skills that are essential to successful academic performance at the university. The specific plan for English instruction will be finalized upon arrival at NAU and will include the degree program advisor and the PIE Director.

If an applicant does not meet the TOEFL/IELTS minimum score requirement for a program, they may be admitted to the PIE Program as a non-degree-seeking undergraduate student. Upon successful completion of the PIE program, the TOEFL/IELTS exam must be re-taken and new scores must be re-submitted to the Office of Graduate & Professional Studies.

The privileges and responsibilities of a foreign national in the United States of America depend on the type of visa held. Therefore, is important to ensure that international graduate students obtain the appropriate visa.

Obtaining an F-1 or J-1 Visa

To obtain a visa, you should present to the nearest United States Consulate in your country the following items:

• A Form I-20 (F-1) or a Form DS-2019 (J-1) issued by Northern Arizona University and your admission letter;
• A valid passport;
• Receipt of the SEVIS fee Form I-901 payment; AND
• Proof of financial support, as stated on the Certificate of Eligibility.

It is not advisable to enter the United States on a visitor’s visa and then later request to change this to a student visa. Please note that these requests are usually denied.

Students under H-1B visa status

Prospective students under a H-1B visa are required to provide a copy of their current H-1B visa and official documentation from their employer verifying the academic studies are incidental to their employment. The Office of Graduate & Professional Studies will request this information and provide instructions upon receipt of the student’s application.

Visas for a spouse or child

Your spouse and children may be issued F-2 or J-2 visas at this time, provided you are able to provide evidence of your ability to support dependents. Please be aware that it is illegal for spouses on F-2 visas to work while in the United States. Spouses with J-2 visas may only work with permission from the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Maintaining your visa

United States immigration regulations require that, as the holder of a student visa, you maintain student status by enrolling in an academic program on a full-time basis; this means you must complete a minimum of nine (9) credit units each Fall and Spring semesters, six (6) of which must be in-person on the Flagstaff Mountain campus. Additionally, if you intend to complete your degree over the summer term, you must enroll in a minimum of five (5) credit units, in-person on the Flagstaff Mountain campus. Your department can help you determine eligibility for the summer graduation option.

Estimated costs for Academic Year 2024-25:

Tuition $31,658

Mandatory Student Fees $1,321

Program Fees* $945

Housing $7,301

Meals $5,770

Books/Supplies $900

Mandatory Health Insurance $2,876

*Personal expenses, transportation, and summer costs are not included. $945 in program fees included but costs vary by degree program.

Total $50,771

Upon admittance to a program, international students must verify they have adequate funding available to support educational costs and all other costs associated with their stay in the United States before a visa application is processed. International students must submit one, or a combination of many, of the following documents to verify availability of $50,771 (Flagstaff campus) or $49,575 (Yuma campus):

• Self-support (e.g. submit a current bank statement)
• Governmental, Employer, or Academic Institution support: Submit a letter of official financial sponsorship

• Third Party support: submit a completed Financial Guarantee Form. If you bring dependents with you, please submit the Dependent Form and provide an extra USD $6,000 per dependent.

Important Memo for MBA students:
MBA Students are charged an additional $7,000 fee for this program.  Please ensure that this additional $7,000 is shown on your financial guarantee in addition to the total Estimated Cost of Attendance amount above.

Estimated Costs for Academic Year 2024-25:

NAU Yuma Graduate Tuition $30,658

Mandatory Student Fees $495

Program Fees* $1575

Housing $7,301

Meals  $5,770

Books/Supplies $900

Mandatory Health Insurance $2,876

*Personal expenses,  transportation, and summer costs are not included. $1,575 in program fees included but costs vary by degree program

Total $49,575

All international students must purchase NAU student health insurance. Exceptions may be made only for sponsored students who have adequate health insurance provided by the government or a sponsoring agency, or for students whose parents or spouse have health insurance coverage through their employment in the United States. Private policies are not accepted.

NAU has a number of health insurance/healthcare options, including major medical insurance. More information about services is available at Campus Health Services.