Our pledge FAQs

The pledge is Northern Arizona University’s commitment to provide a constant tuition rate, as set by the Arizona Board of Regents for eight (8) continuous semesters (summer and winter sessions excluded), beginning with the term of an undergraduate student’s initial enrollment on the Flagstaff campus of Northern Arizona University.

The purpose of the pledge is to help make the costs of a college education more predictable for undergraduate students enrolling on the Flagstaff campus and their families. The benefit is that it protects students and their families from sudden spikes in tuition and enables them to estimate and budget for college expenses more accurately.

The pledge tuition rate applies to all undergraduate students -- resident or non-resident, freshman or transfer -- who enroll in a bachelor’s degree program (or second bachelor’s degree) on the Flagstaff campus.

No, there is no special sign-up. The pledge is Northern Arizona University’s only tuition rate for new undergraduate Flagstaff students.

No, there is no special sign-up. The pledge is Northern Arizona University’s only tuition rate for new undergraduate Flagstaff students.

For students who have deferred admission, the original pledge group will be inactivated and a new pledge group will be activated equal to their revised admit term.

You will pay the rate in effect for that academic year for eight regular semesters.

Students needing a 9th or 10th semester in which to complete their bachelor’s degree would pay the same tuition as the students who first enrolled the following year. Students needing an 11th semester would pay the (prevailing) rate in effect for new students entering that year. For example, students enrolled in fall 2008 at the 2008 pledge tuition rate but who did not complete their degree by spring 2012 AND had not missed two regular (fall/spring) semesters in the interim would pay the 2009 pledge tuition rate for fall 2012 (9th semester) and spring 2013 (10th semester). Students needing an 11th semester, attending in fall 2013, would pay the 2013 pledge tuition rate for that 11th semester.

Students who have had continuous Flagstaff campus enrollment but who have exhausted the allotted eight (8)-semester clock plus two additional (9th and 10th) semesters at the subsequent pledge rate would be placed in the prevailing (current) pledge group in effect in their eleventh (11th) semester. The student’s eight (8)-semester clock starts over at that point, giving the student eight (8) semesters at the prevailing pledge tuition rate. Students with continuous enrollment can repeat the pledge cycle (eight semesters at a pledge rate followed by two semesters at the next pledge rate) as many times as is necessary. However, students with excess earned credit hours (greater than 145) will be responsible for paying the excess credit hours surcharge in accordance with state law.

Students who enroll as part-time, degree-seeking undergraduates pay a pro-rated per-credit rate based on the pledge rate. Students have eight consecutive regular (fall/spring) semesters at the pledge rate whether they are part-time or full-time.

Undergraduate students not seeking a degree will pay the tuition rate established for that current year and for any new tuition increases for future years.

If you enroll as a part-time, degree-seeking undergraduate, you will pay a pro-rated per credit rate based on pledge rate. You will have eight (8) consecutive regular semesters at the pledge rate whether you’re part-time or full-time.

No. The pledge tuition rate only applies to regular (fall/spring) semesters. If you choose to take classes in summer or winter terms, you will pay the per-credit rate approved for that term by the Arizona Board of Regents.

Students who first enroll at Northern Arizona University in the summer will pay the rate in effect for that summer. When the student enrolls for fall, the new pledge tuition rate in effect for that fall will begin and continue for eight regular semesters.

Students who first enroll at Northern Arizona University in the winter will pay the rate in effect for that winter. When the student enrolls for spring, the pledge tuition rate in effect for that spring will begin and continue for eight regular semesters.

Post-Baccalaureate (Second Bachelor’s Degree) students pay the pledge rate in effect at the time they begin the post-baccalaureate program. If a student completes their first bachelor’s degree in fewer than eight (8) regular semesters, they may use the ‘extra’ pledge semesters towards a second degree.

No. High School Concurrent Students do not qualify for the pledge tuition rate. High School Concurrent Students pay the tuition rate established for that current year (is typically less than the pledge rate), and they are responsible for any new tuition increases in future years.

It depends. International students who have an active international education study agreement in the system (e.g. IDDA, China 1-2-1, etc.) are responsible for paying the tuition rate associated with their study agreement. The pledge student group is not applicable for these students. (Study agreements take precedence over an active pledge group in the tuition calculation process.) International students who do not have an active international education study agreement will have their pledge groups managed in the same manner as all other Flagstaff undergraduate students.

Students who do not enroll at Northern Arizona University for one regular (fall/spring) semester can retain their original pledge rate; however, the non-enrollment semester does count as one of the eight regular semesters at that pledge rate. The pledge rate will not be extended a semester as a result of non-enrollment.

Students who do not enroll at Northern Arizona University for two or more regular (fall/spring) semesters lose their original pledge rate. Students lose their original pledge rate whether the two or more missed semesters are consecutive or non-consecutive. Students will be re-evaluated and placed into the prevailing pledge student group in effect at the time of their return to the NAU Flagstaff campus, and will have eight regular semesters at this rate. Any additional semesters of pledge rate eligibility that remain after the degree has been awarded may be used toward a post-baccalaureate degree.

Students who are enrolled in classes at an Extended Campuses site pay a tuition rate specific to that location. They do not qualify for the pledge tuition rate.

Students who begin at the Flagstaff campus and then switch to a non-Flagstaff campus for one semester can retain their original Flagstaff pledge rate; however, the non-Flagstaff semester of enrollment counts as one of the eight regular semesters. While enrolled at the non-Flagstaff campus, the student pays the Extended Campus tuition rate.

Students who begin at the Flagstaff campus and then switch to a non-Flagstaff campus for any two or more regular (fall/spring) semesters lose their original pledge rate. These students lose their original pledge rate whether the two or more missed regular semesters are consecutive or non-consecutive. Students will be re-evaluated and placed into the prevailing pledge student group in effect at the time of their return to the Flagstaff Mountain Campus.

Students who begin at an Extended Campus site and then switch to the Flagstaff campus will pay the pledge rate in effect the semester they begin at the Flagstaff campus. The student’s eight-semester clock begins the semester the student enrolls on the Flagstaff campus as well.

Students who do not enroll at Northern Arizona University’s Mountain Campus for two or more regular (fall/spring) semesters lose their original pledge rate. Students lose their original pledge rate whether the two or more missed semesters are consecutive or non-consecutive. (The Extended Campus enrollment would be considered a missed semester.)

Students who do not enroll at Northern Arizona University for two or more regular (fall/spring) semesters will be responsible for the tuition rate in effect when the student returns to the NAU Flagstaff campus. Students will then have eight regular semesters of this new pledge tuition rate.

Students who withdraw from all their NAU regular (fall/spring) semester courses can retain their original pledge rate; however, the semester does count as one of the eight regular semesters at that pledge rate.

Yes. Regardless of the number of credits you transfer, you will have eight (8) consecutive regular semesters at the pledge tuition rate to complete your bachelor’s degree.

Students participating in International Exchange, National Exchange or Study Abroad with enrollment through Northern Arizona University can retain their original pledge rate. In these situations, the students enroll in a placeholder course at NAU Flagstaff (usually CIE or NSE 499), so continuous enrollment at NAU Flagstaff is maintained. Students who complete two or more semesters of exchange or study abroad by enrolling through an institution other than Northern Arizona University will lose their original pledge rate and will be placed into the prevailing pledge rate in effect at the time of their return to the NAU Flagstaff campus.

You will have eight (8) consecutive regular (fall/spring) semesters at the Pledge tuition rate to complete your bachelor’s degree. If you need a 9th or 10th semester in which to complete your bachelor’s degree, you will pay the same tuition as the students who first enrolled the year after you. If you need an 11th semester, you will pay the prevailing Pledge rate in effect for new students entering that year.

Because your tuition is the same for eight (8) consecutive regular semesters, the value of your scholarship will remain the same for that time period as long as you meet the scholarship renewal criteria.

Our pledge is that students will see no increase in the meal plan rates for two (2) years. Rates will vary if a different meal plan is selected in the second year. Meal plan rates are usually set by the Arizona Board of Regents in spring.

Students who receive deployment orders while attending classes at NAU are eligible to retain their pledge rate in effect at the time of their deployment provided they enroll in classes again, at NAU, no later than 15 months following their deployment date.  The semester(s) during which the student is deployed will NOT count as stop-out/non-enrollment semesters.  The student’s existing pledge tuition rate eligibility will be extended to cover the full deployment period up to 15 months.  Students must follow the Reactivation Policy guidelines provided at the military and veteran education website.  Documentation is required. A student’s pledge tuition eligibility while not deployed will be evaluated following the standard pledge policy rules.