Freshman tuition scholarships

When you apply to NAU as a first-year student, you’ll automatically be considered for tuition scholarships, no extra steps needed. Just be sure to fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) early to make the most of all available aid. Private scholarships may have their own applications, and we’ll walk you through that too.

Arizona residents

Scholarship	GPA (unweighted H.S. core*)	Annual amount
Lumberjack Scholars Award	3.75–4.0	$11,000
President's	3.5–3.74	$9,000
Dean’s with Distinction	3.4–3.49	$6,500
Dean's	3.0–3.39	$5,000
Opportunity	Admitted–2.99	$2,500

*For more information on how the High School Core GPA is calculated, please review the admissions requirements.

Scholarships will renew automatically for three additional years as long as students meet renewal criteria.

Access2Excellence (A2E)

Through a combination of funding, including scholarships, A2E covers 100% of tuition for eligible Arizona residents with a household income up to $65,000. And if you’re a member of one of Arizona’s 22 federally recognized tribes, you qualify for A2E no matter your income or state of residency. Applies to Flagstaff and statewide campus students (but not online). Learn more about Access2Excellence.

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)

If you’re from a western state, you may qualify for the WUE program, which gives you a major tuition discount as an out-of-state student. It’s a smart way to save and expand your options. Discover what Western Undergraduate Exchange is all about.

Scholarship	GPA (unweighted H.S. core*)	Annual amount
Excellence	3.75–4.0	$8,500
Gold	3.5–3.74	$8,000
Blue	3.0–3.49	$7,000
Opportunity	Admitted–2.99	$4,500

*For more information on how the High School Core GPA is calculated, please review the admissions requirements.

Out-of-State (non-WUE)

Scholarship	GPA (unweighted H.S. core*)	Annual amount**
President’s Excellence	3.5–4.0	$15,000
President's	3.0–3.49	$12,000
Opportunity	Admitted-2.99	$10,000

*For more information on how the High School Core GPA is calculated, please review the admissions requirements.

** Scholarship amounts shown are for Fall 2026.

Department-specific scholarships

Many NAU colleges offer scholarships for undergraduate students. Use ScholarshipUniverse to find opportunities in your program:

• College of Arts and Letters
• College of Education
• College of Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences
• College of Health and Human Services
• College of Nursing
• College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Steve Sanghi College of Engineering
• The W. A. Franke College of Business

Scholarship eligibility and general criteria

To be considered for NAU’s tuition scholarships, you must:

• be working toward your first bachelor’s degree
• be enrolled full-time (12+ credits)
  • (We recommend 15 credits per semester to stay on track to graduate in 4 years.)
• attend Flagstaff or a statewide campus
• accept your admission and pay the enrollment fee
• submit final high school transcripts right after graduation

Note: These scholarships apply to tuition only and can’t be combined with other NAU tuition awards (outside scholarships are okay as long as the total doesn’t exceed tuition).

Keeping your scholarship

Your tuition scholarship is renewable for up to 4 years (8 semesters) as long as you:

• maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA at NAU
• stay enrolled full-time (12+ credits per semester)

If you can't meet the renewal requirements due to extenuating circumstances, students are invited to submit a Scholarship Reinstatement Request and we'll do our best to help.

Studying abroad?

Good news! Most tuition scholarships can be used toward NAU’s education abroad or exchange programs. They don’t apply to faculty-led or provider programs, though. Reach out to Financial Aid if you’re planning to study internationally.

Additional awards

President's International Baccalaureate (IB)

Award amount: $5,000 per academic year (fall and spring)

Selection: The IB diploma is awarded to students who earn at least 24 points, subject to certain minimum levels of performance across the whole program and to satisfactory participation in the creativity, action, and service requirements. The maximum a Diploma Program student can earn is 45 points.

Eligibility: Arizona residents and non-residents (including WUE students)

Renewal criteria: Maintain a 2.0 cumulative NAU GPA

Multiple scholarship awards: This award can be combined with other tuition scholarships as long as it does not exceed the cost of the out-of-state portion of tuition.

Arizona Academic Decathlon

Award amount: $2,000 per academic year (fall and spring)

How to apply: No separate application is required outside of your NAU application for admission. The Arizona Academic Decathlon Association selects recipients and provides their information to NAU.

Eligibility: Recipient must be an Arizona resident who has participated in the Arizona Academic Decathlon—either regional or state—for at least two years.

Renewal Criteria
To maintain this scholarship, students must meet the general eligibility requirements for NAU scholarships.

• Duration: Renewable for up to four consecutive years (fall and spring semesters only). The total number of semesters/years depends on the student’s academic level at the time of transfer to NAU.
• Academic Performance: Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
• Credit Completion: Complete 30 credits each academic year (fall, spring, and summer).

Multiple scholarship awards: This award can be combined with other outside tuition scholarships as long as it does not exceed the cost of tuition. It cannot be combined with other tuition scholarships offered at NAU (the President’s International Baccalaureate scholarship is the only exception).

Questions about freshman tuition scholarships?

• Incoming students: Contact Admissions at admissions@nau.edu or 928-523-5511.
• Continuing students: Contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid (OSFA) at financial.aid@nau.edu or 928-523-4951.

We’re here to help!