On the first day of classes, Northern Arizona University is recording its highest total enrollment for the fall semester and the largest freshman class in school history.
NAU’s overall student population is 29,035, up from 27,197, and the university welcomed 5,141 first-time freshman compared to 4,765 last fall. The overall GPA for incoming resident students on the Flagstaff campus is 3.42, up from 3.39 last year.
“Our commitment to Arizona is represented in this outstanding incoming freshman class,” said NAU President Rita Cheng. “Its diversity and distinctiveness evidence the important and changing nature of our state and the communities we serve. I’m delighted to see that NAU continues to be a university of choice for so many new and returning students.”
Enrollment at the Flagstaff campus is 20,839, a nearly 5 percent increase from 19,913 last year. Graduate student enrollment increased from 3,823 to 3,905, and enrollment at the Phoenix Biomedical Campus is 256, up from 184.
Online enrollment is up to 5,183 from 4,385, which includes students enrolled in Personalized Learning, NAU’s competency-based online degree program.
The number of students pursuing STEM degrees continues to rise with enrollment in the College of Engineering, Forestry and Natural Sciences and the College of Health and Human Services up 6 percent and 10.7 percent, respectively. Enrollment in the W.A. Franke College of Business is up nearly 8 percent.
NAU continues to welcome a diverse population of students. The university reported a 15 percent growth in Asian students enrolled and a 13 percent increase in the Native American population. Twenty-two percent of the incoming class is Latino with the overall population up 10 percent.
