What Outcomes Can NAU Graduates Expect After Graduation?

Updated

NAU reports that 73% of graduating seniors said they would be employed or enrolled in graduate school after graduation. That figure is the clearest outcome signal on the university's own site, and it sits alongside three supporting numbers: 800 funded research projects per year, more than 500 companies recruiting directly from NAU, and a student body where 39% of undergraduates are first-generation college students. If you are weighing whether NAU is worth it, these are the numbers to start from — with the caveat that they describe graduating seniors' self-reported plans, not a guaranteed result for every graduate.

The headline outcome: 73% employed or in graduate school

NAU states that 73% of graduating seniors reported they will be employed or enrolled in graduate school after graduation. A few things are worth understanding about a number like this:

  • It is a report, not a placement guarantee. The wording is "reported they will be employed or enrolled," which reflects students' stated plans at graduation. It does not tell you the salary, the field, or whether the job is full-time and degree-related.
  • It combines two destinations. Employment and graduate school are counted together, so the 73% does not separate how many go straight to work versus how many continue studying.
  • It is a single snapshot. The site presents it as a current figure without a year-by-year trend, so you cannot read improvement or decline from it alone.

For a prospective student, the practical takeaway is that roughly three in four graduating seniors had a next step lined up. The remaining share is not explained on the page, so treat 73% as a floor for "has a plan," not a ceiling on outcomes.

What supports those outcomes

Research experience: 800 funded projects per year

NAU reports 800 research projects funded each year. For undergraduates, funded research matters because it produces the kind of supervised, hands-on work that graduate programs and employers ask about. If you are aiming for graduate school, this is the number that most directly connects to the "enrolled in graduate school" half of the 73%.

Recruiting: over 500 companies recruit directly from NAU

More than 500 companies recruit directly from NAU each year, according to the site. Direct recruiting is the mechanism behind the employment half of the outcome figure — it means employers come to campus rather than waiting for applications. If a specific employer matters to you, the useful next step is to ask that employer's recruiter or NAU's career office whether they actually recruit for your intended field, since "500+ companies" is an aggregate across all programs.

First-generation support: 39% of undergrads

NAU reports that 39% of undergraduates are first-generation college students. That is a composition figure rather than an outcome, but it is relevant to outcomes: a large first-gen population usually means the university has built advising, financial aid, and career support aimed at students without family experience navigating college. If you are first-gen yourself, this suggests you would not be navigating it alone.

How to use these numbers when deciding

What NAU reports What it tells you What it does not tell you
73% of graduating seniors employed or in grad school Most graduates report a next step Salary, field, or job quality
800 funded research projects per year Research opportunities exist at scale Whether a specific major has openings
500+ companies recruit on campus Employers engage directly with NAU Whether they hire in your field
39% of undergrads are first-generation Strong first-gen support likely Your individual fit or aid package

The right way to read this table is as a set of conditions to verify against your own situation. The aggregate numbers are favorable, but they are university-wide. Your outcome depends on your major, your use of research and recruiting opportunities, and your own follow-through.

What to check before you commit

Because the published figures are broad, close the gap with program-level questions:

  1. Ask your intended department for its own placement data. Departmental numbers are usually more specific than the university-wide 73%.
  2. Ask which of the 500+ recruiters hire for your major. A recruiting list is only useful if your target employers are on it.
  3. Ask how undergraduates actually get into the 800 funded projects. Find out whether first-years and sophomores can join, or whether it is mostly upperclassmen.
  4. Ask about career services for your path. If graduate school is your goal, ask about advising and application support; if employment is your goal, ask about internships and recruiting timelines.

NAU's own framing is that students find "community, purpose, and opportunity" with "career-driven programs" and "real-world experience." The outcome numbers back up that framing at a general level. Whether they hold for you comes down to the specific program and how you use what the university offers.