Finance and Financial Management Services at Northern Arizona University

Northern Arizona University's finance program delivers solid outcomes nationally but lags behind what you'd expect in Arizona. At $53,962 in first-year earnings, graduates earn close to the national median but fall $9,000 below Arizona's median—placing this program in just the 40th percentile statewide. When U of A and ASU graduates start at $63,000-$66,000, that gap matters for students staying in-state.

The debt situation offers some relief: at $20,594, it's lighter than the national median and translates to a manageable 0.38 debt-to-earnings ratio. Graduates should be able to handle loan payments without excessive strain. The 15% earnings bump to $62,091 after four years shows reasonable career progression, though it doesn't close the gap with Arizona's top programs.

The practical question comes down to cost. If your child qualifies for in-state tuition and keeps borrowing modest, this program works as an affordable entry point into finance careers. But if competing offers from ASU or U of A come with similar net costs, those programs deliver meaningfully stronger early earnings. The 91% admission rate suggests NAU is accessible, but that same accessibility hasn't translated into the earning power Arizona's competitive finance job market typically rewards.