Northern Arizona University SAT & ACT Scores
Applicants to Northern Arizona University do not need the SAT or ACT for fall 2027 admission, and NAU says scores can help but never hurt. The ACT is more common at NAU: students in the fall 2025 entering class who sent it had a middle 50% composite of 19–26. SAT senders had a median of 1175 and a middle 50% of 1010–1280. NAU admitted 89.6% of 39,685 first-year applicants.
Where does your score land?
Compared with Northern Arizona University's enrolled first-years, fall 2025 entering class.
Is Northern Arizona University test-optional?
The rule for students applying now, for fall 2027 entry.
NAU does not require the SAT or ACT for first-year admission; scores are optional, NAU says they may help but never hurt an application, and official scores are used for scholarship consideration.
Checked October 29, 2026 on Northern Arizona University's admissions site . Policies can change each cycle.
Policy timeline
- Fall 2027 applicantsTest-optional
NAU's admissions pages say the ACT and SAT are not required for admission, and its Common Data Set lists scores as considered if submitted for fall 2027 applicants. You self-report your grades and any test scores when you apply. NAU uses official scores for scholarship consideration, and after you enroll, academic advisors can use your scores to recommend courses during Priority Enrollment. Scores can matter in one more way: NAU lets a qualifying ACT or SAT score stand in for missing high school English or math coursework, and an ACT science score for lab science.
Northern Arizona University SAT scores
The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1010–1280, and the median was 1175.
SAT score distribution
Enrolled first-years, fall 2025 entering class| SAT | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 1010 | 1175 | 1280 |
| Reading & Writing | 520 | 590 | 650 |
| Math | 483 | 565 | 630 |
Scores of enrolled first-year students (all NAU locations) who submitted scores, fall 2025 entering class. Source: 2025–26 Common Data Set. 3% of enrolled first-years sent an SAT score.
What your SAT means here
Only 3% of enrolled first-year students in the fall 2025 entering class submitted SAT scores, a much smaller group than the ACT takers. Their middle 50% total was 1010–1280, with a median of 1175. Section ranges were 520–650 in Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and 483–630 in Math.
Because the SAT group is so small, treat these numbers as a rough guide. They describe only the students who chose to submit. Most of the class enrolled without sending scores, since NAU's offer of admission is based on your core GPA in the required high school courses.
An SAT total at or above 1175 sits in the upper half of enrolled submitters, and one at 1280 or higher is in the top quarter. Since NAU says submitting scores may help and will never hurt your application status, a score in or above this range is worth sending.
Take full-length Digital SAT practice tests free, with an explanation on every question and a score report that shows what to fix.
Northern Arizona University ACT scores
The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 19–26 on the ACT, with a median of 23.
ACT score distribution
Enrolled first-years, fall 2025 entering class| ACT | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composite | 19 | 23 | 26 |
| English | 19 | 22 | 27 |
| Math | 18 | 22 | 26 |
Scores of enrolled first-year students (all NAU locations) who submitted scores, fall 2025 entering class. Source: 2025–26 Common Data Set. 27% of enrolled first-years sent an ACT score.
What your ACT means here
The ACT is the more common test at NAU: 27% of the fall 2025 entering class submitted it. Their middle 50% composite was 19–26, with a median of 23. English scores ran 19–27, and Math scores ran 18–26.
A composite at or above 23 is in the upper half of enrolled submitters, and 26 or higher is in the top quarter. ACT section scores can also help in another way: NAU accepts qualifying ACT English, math and science scores in place of some high school course requirements, so a strong section score can cover a gap in your coursework.
Take full-length ACT practice tests free, with a worked explanation on every question and a score report that shows what to fix.
Northern Arizona University acceptance rate
Less competitive: 89.6% of first-year applicants were admitted (fall 2025 entering class).
Each dot is 1 in 100 applicants.
- First-year applicants39,685
- Admitted35,561
- Acceptance rate89.6%
- Testing for fall 2027Test-optional
Early application plans: Rolling admission; no Early Decision or Early Action.
Fall 2025 entering class. Source: Northern Arizona University 2025–26 Common Data Set.
NAU has no Early Decision or Early Action plan. It reviews applications on a rolling basis. The Honors College takes a separate application after you are admitted; it opens in September and is also reviewed on a rolling basis.
What to aim for
If you choose to send scores to NAU for fall 2027, an ACT composite of 26 or higher or an SAT total of 1280 or higher puts you in the top quarter of recent enrolled submitters. Scores near 23 or 1175 match the middle. Because NAU says scores never hurt your application status and it uses official scores for scholarship consideration, sending a score you have is a reasonable choice.
Your core GPA in NAU's required high school courses (English, math, lab science, social science, and fine arts or career and technical education) is what NAU's admission offer is based on. If you are missing a course, NAU says you can still qualify with up to two course deficiencies, and some requirements can be met with test scores or college courses. Admission requirements are the same for the Flagstaff campus and NAU's statewide locations.
How Northern Arizona University compares
Schools with a similar acceptance rate.
| School | Admit rate | Median SAT | SAT middle 50% | ACT middle 50% | Testing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado Boulder | 78% | — | — | 29–33 | Test-optional |
| University of Minnesota Twin Cities | 78.9% | 1390 | 1310–1460 | 26–32 | Test-optional |
| Michigan State University | 83.2% | 1210 | 1100–1310 | 25–31 | Test-optional |
| University of Arizona | 83.5% | 1220 | 1090–1320 | 20–28 | Test-optional |
| Arizona State University | 88.4% | — | — | — | Test-optional |
| Northern Arizona University | 89.6% | 1175 | 1010–1280 | 19–26 | Test-optional |
Frequently asked questions
Is Northern Arizona University test-optional?
For students applying for fall 2027 entry: NAU does not require the SAT or ACT for first-year admission; scores are optional, NAU says they may help but never hurt an application, and official scores are used for scholarship consideration.
What is the average SAT score at Northern Arizona University?
The median SAT score of enrolled first-years was 1175 (fall 2025 entering class). The middle 50% scored 1010–1280, so a quarter scored 1280 or higher.
What SAT score do you need for Northern Arizona University?
A score at or above 1280 puts you in the top quarter of Northern Arizona University's enrolled first-years, and 1010–1280 is the middle 50% (fall 2025 entering class). Because the school is test-optional, those ranges come only from students who chose to submit.
What ACT score do you need for Northern Arizona University?
Northern Arizona University's enrolled first-years had a middle-50% ACT composite of 19–26, with a median of 23 (fall 2025 entering class). A 26 or above puts you in the top quarter.
What is Northern Arizona University's acceptance rate?
Northern Arizona University admitted 89.6% of first-year applicants for the fall 2025 entering class (35,561 of 39,685), which makes it less competitive.
How many Northern Arizona University students submit test scores?
In the fall 2025 entering class, 3% of enrolled first-years submitted an SAT score and 27% submitted an ACT score. Some students send both.
What are your chances at Northern Arizona University?
Scores are one part. Add your GPA, courses, activities and recommendations for a free reach, target or likely estimate.