Competencies may be met with high school coursework, college work and/or test scores. Competencies must be met regardless of your major or the number of transferable hours you have earned. Students must earn a minimum of 2.0 GPA in each competency area.
Admission may be granted with one deficiency in not more than two competency areas and must be fulfilled within one calendar year of enrollment at NAU. Deficiencies in both math and laboratory science are not acceptable.
English Competency RequirementMeet one of the following:
- Four years of high school English (composition/literature based)
- Minimum test score of 21 on ACT English or 530 on SAT Verbal
- One transferable three-semester-hour college English composition course
Mathematics RequirementMeet one of the following:
- Four years of high school courses including one year each of Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II and an advanced math class for which algebra II is a prerequisite
- Minimum test score of 24 on ACT Math or 540 on SAT math
- One transferable three-semester-hour college math course for which at least intermediate algebra is a prerequisite
Laboratory Science Competency Requirement Meet one of the following:
- Three years of high school laboratory science, one year each from Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, or Physics). An integrated science class may be substituted for one required course.
- Two years of high school laboratory science (Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, or Physics) plus minimum SAT II subject test score on one of the following: Chemistry-600, Biology –590, Physics-620, or ACT Science 20. (Subject test score may not be from the same subject as either high school credit earned and may be used to satisfy only one laboratory science unit.)
- Three transferable four-semester-hour college laboratory science courses including one semester each from the following: Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics. An integrated laboratory science or an advanced level science may be substituted for one required course.
Social Science Competency RequirementsMeet one of the following from Section A and one from Section B
Section A
- One year of high school American History
- Minimum Sat II subject test score of 560 on American History/Social Studies
- One transferable three-semester-hour college American History course
Section B
- One year of high school social science (e.g., European History, World History, Economics, Sociology, Geography, Government, Psychology, or Anthropology)
- Minimum SAT II subject test score of 580 on World History
- One transferable three-semester-hour college social science course
Foreign Language Competency RequirementMeet one of the following:
- Two years of the same high school foreign language
- Attainment of minimum score on a national standardized foreign language test: AP 3, CLEP 50 or better, IB 4 or better, and SAT II must place on the 50 percentile or better; or placement into a third semester college foreign language class based on university placement exam results
- One year of transferable college study in the same foreign language
Fine Arts Competency Requirement Meet one of the following:
- One year of high school fine arts
- A combination of two semesters of high school fine arts
- One transferable three-semester–hour college fine arts course
You do not need to meet competencies if:
- You are 22 years of age or older when you begin classes at NAU
- You have earned a GED
- You have completed an associate’s or higher level degree from a regionally accredited post secondary institution with a minimum 2.0 GPA (A= 4.0) if you are an Arizona resident. If you are a nonresident, you must have a minimum GPA of 2.50
- You have completed the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC) with a minimum 2.0 GPA (A=4.0) if you are an Arizona resident and 2.5 GPA (A=4.0) if you are a nonresident.
Home Schooled and Charter School Students
- Must meet aptitude requirements through ACT or SAT composite test scores.ACT score of 22 (Arizona resident) or 24 (non-resident) or SAT I score of 1040 (Arizona resident) or 1110 (non-resident). Basic competency requirements must be met through test scores as explained above and through coursework descriptions.
GED Students
- Must submit an official score report from the applicable state department of education and must have a minimum composite score of 50 (taken before 2002) or 500 (taken 2002 and after).
Your application is considered complete and a decision will be made when we receive:
- an official high school transcript. Transcripts are official if sealed in an envelope by your high school counselor or registrar and sent directly from your school.
- scores from either the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the American College Test (ACT). To submit your scores, indicate NAU as a score recipient on the test registration form. Scores posted on your high school transcript are also acceptable.
- A $25 non-refundable application fee for all students.
Arizona residents will be offered admission if they meet the following:
- 3.0 or higher GPA* (on a 4.0 scale), or
- 22 ACT or 1040 SAT (Math and Critical Reading Sections Only) composite score,
or
- top 50 percent class rank
- and have no deficiencies in the required course requirements
Arizona residents may be conditionally offered admission if they meet the following:
- 2.5-2.99 GPA* (on a 4.0 scale), or
- top 50 percent class rank
- and have no more than one deficiency in any two subjects in the course requirements. Students with a combination math/science deficiency are not admissible. Conditionally admitted students may be required to participate in academic assistance programs.
Nonresident students will be offered admission if they meet the following:
- 3.0 or higher GPA* (on a 4.0 scale), or
- 24 ACT or 1110 SAT (Math and Critical Reading Sections Only) composite score, or
- top 25 percent class rank
- and have no deficiencies in required course requirements.
Nonresident students may be conditionally offered admission based on individual circumstances and/or space availability if they meet the following:
- 2.50-2.99 GPA* (on a 4.0 scale), or
- top 50 percent class rank
- and have no more than one deficiency in any two subjects in course requirements. Students with a combination math/science deficiency are not admissible. Conditionally admitted students may be required to participate in academic assistance programs.
* GPA is calculated using only the 16 core courses listed under course requirements.
Your application is considered complete and a decision will be made when we receive:
- Official transcripts from all colleges attended, submitted directly from those institutions. Opened transcripts or transcripts issued to students are not acceptable.
- An official high school transcript, or GED scores, are required if you have not earned an associate's degree, the AGEC or the California IGETC.
- A $25 non-refundable application fee for all students
- The Undergraduate Admissions office will evaluate transcripts submitted to determine both the number of credits accepted and number of hours and courses accepted toward the liberal studies requirements for graduation. Determination of hours and coursework accepted toward a specific degree program is made by the school or college of that major.
Arizona residents will be offered admission if they meet the following:
- Completion of an associate's degree and/or the AGEC with a 2.0 GPA or higher (on a 4.0 scale), or
- cumulative 2.0 or higher GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in at least 24 transferable college credits and completion of all course requirements.
Arizona residents may be conditionally offered admission if they meet the following:
- cumulative 2.0 or higher GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in at least 24 transferable college credits
- and have no more than one deficiency in any two subjects in the course requirements .
Nonresident students will be offered admission if they meet the following:
- Completion of an associate's degree, the AGEC, or the California IGETC with a 2.5 GPA or higher (on a 4.0 scale) or
- cumulative 2.50 or higher GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in at least 24 transferable college credits and completion of all course requirements.
Nonresident students will be conditionally offered admission if they meet the following:
- cumulative 2.00 or higher GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in at least 24 transferable college credits and have no more than one deficiency in any two subjects in the course requirements.
- conditional admission may be limited based on space availability
PLEASE NOTE: Transfer students who are 22 years of age or younger and have not earned an associate's degree, or completed the Arizona AGEC or the California IGETC with a minimum 2.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for Arizona residents or a minimum 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) for non-Arizona residents, will be evaluated based upon a combination of high school and college courses. Students need a minimum of 2.0 GPA in each of the course requirements.
NOTE: Academic coursework includes english, mathematics, lab science, foreign language, social sciences, and fine arts.
Transfer students must be eligible to reenter the institution they last attended.
Individuals wishing to study part-time and/or for personal enrichment (non-degree-seeking) are welcome at NAU. Only the admission application, and nonresident fee if applicable, is required. Students admitted part-time may enroll in six (6) credit hours or less, and may be limited in the course selection based on prerequisite requirements. Students are also advised that the university may not accept more than 15 credit hours earned while enrolled in this status. Students who attend part-time in non-degree seeking status are reminded that financial aid is not available.
Concurrent enrollment is available in limited situations to high school students in the Northern Arizona region who wish to take an academic course for which they are qualified and which is not available at their high school. These students must meet special requirements set by the Arizona Board of Regents, must secure department approval prior to registration, and are required to submit a new admission application for each semester. In addition, students attending concurrently may not register for classes until the last day of regular registration for fall, spring and summer sessions. For more information contact your high school counselor or call the Undergraduate Admissions office at 523-5511.
