Northern Arizona University (NAU) is a public, research-led university located across the state of Arizona in the United States.

Established in 1899 with just 23 students, the institution did not become a university until 1966 and instead provided a basic education to students primarily from the state.

NAU has one main campus, known as Flagstaff Campus, which is located in the mountain town of Flagstaff and surrounded by the world’s largest ponderosa pine forest.

It is a picturesque setting with almost 300 days of sunshine each year and snowfall in the winter. There are more than 30 extended NAU campuses, offering people from all over Arizona the opportunity to study at NAU.

NAU has about 90 undergraduate programs, 60 graduate programs and 70 online degree courses. Among the national and internationally renowned programs offered by NAU are studies in forestry, education, hotel and restaurant management, applied linguistics, environmental sustainability, engineering and physical therapy.

Over the years NAU has developed a number of traditions that occur at various points throughout the year.

Among them are the autumn Family Weekend, where the families of NAU students are encouraged to visit them; Homecoming, where alumni are invited back to Flagstaff Campus for a week of activities; and True Blue Friday, held every year on 30 August - an event where all NAU students and staff are encouraged to wear NAU clothing to raise the profile of the university.

There are more than 125,000 NAU alumni, among them are vice admiral in the United States Navy Robin Braun, former Arizona governor Raul Hector Castro and best-selling author Diana Gabaldon.