From 54 Countries to Stafford, Texas: How North American University’s Small-Scale Model Shapes an International Education Experience

by Imed Bouchrika, PhD

Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist

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A university does not have to be large to have a global reach. In the Greater Houston area, North American University (NAU) offers a different proposition: a relatively small private, nonprofit institution with an international student community and academic connections that extend beyond Texas. For students comparing universities in the region, that raises a more useful question than whether small campuses are simply “better”: What does NAU’s size and international orientation mean for the actual student experience, and where might that model be a good fit?

To answer that, let’s take a look at NAU’s history, academic pathways, campus scale, and student outcomes.

Key Findings

A Small University with a Global Outlook

NAU describes itself as a small, private, nonprofit, non-denominational university built around student-centered learning, personal attention, and faculty excellence. Its student body countries around the world, reflecting an institutional emphasis on global cultural competency. This bodes well to students planning to study abroad.

That scale can change the day-to-day experience of university. NAU has about 573 undergraduate students, according to College Scorecard/EDsmart data, with roughly 95% attending full time. Its 15:1 student-faculty ratio also provides a relatively concrete measure of the university’s size.

For students, the potential benefit of a smaller institution is not simply a less crowded classroom. It can mean more direct interaction with faculty and staff, easier access to academic support, and fewer layers between students and the people responsible for their programs.

At the same time, small size is not automatically an advantage. Students who want extensive research facilities, hundreds of student organizations, a large athletics program, or a very broad selection of majors may find that a larger Houston-area university offers more of what they need.

Therefore, we look at the more distinctive feature of NAU: the combination of small scale and international reach.

What an International Community Can Add to the College Experience

NAU’s international orientation is part of its institutional identity. The university’s history traces that ambition to its early development, including SEVIS certification in 2009 and a stated goal of attracting students from around the world.

For international students, studying in an environment with classmates from different countries can make cross-cultural interaction part of ordinary campus life rather than something confined to occasional events.

For U.S. students, the benefit can be different. A student studying business, computer science, education, or criminal justice may find that everyday group projects and classroom discussions involve perspectives shaped by different national and cultural experiences.

The University’s Network Extends Beyond Stafford

NAU’s international character is also reflected in its academic relationships. For transfer students in particular, these relationships can be more consequential than a university’s marketing language. NAU has an articulation agreement with Houston Community College covering Business, Education, Criminal Justice, and Computer Science. It also has a memorandum involving Texas Southern University and academic relationships with institutions in countries including Cambodia, Turkey, Iraq, and Romania.

Meanwhile, NAU’s transfer policy allows students to bring in up to 90 credits from four-year institutions or up to 66 credits from community colleges, subject to applicable grade requirements. Undergraduate transfer courses generally need a C- or better, while master's-level transfer requirements are higher.

That flexibility can make the university worth investigating for students who do not follow a conventional four-year path. A community-college student in Houston, for example, may be able to use an established pathway to continue toward a bachelor’s degree rather than starting over elsewhere.

Still, “up to” is an important qualification. Students should have their individual transcripts evaluated before assuming that they will receive the maximum number of transferable credits.

A Young Institution with a Focused Academic Structure

NAU’s current identity also makes more sense when viewed through its history.

Founded in 2007 as Texas Gulf Institute, the institution became North American College in 2010 after receiving approval to offer bachelor’s degrees. It adopted the North American University name in 2013 and moved to its current Stafford campus in 2016. Graduate education began expanding in 2014, including the addition of programs such as the Master of Education, followed by other graduate offerings.

Today, IPEDS data shows NAU offering bachelor's and master's degrees. That is a considerably narrower academic footprint than students will encounter at Houston’s largest universities.

For some students, that concentration can be an advantage. A focused institution may make it easier to concentrate on a defined set of academic and professional pathways. For others, however, larger institutions give them the flexibility to pivot to one of the several best online undergraduate programs if their interests change after enrollment.

That is one reason prospective students should compare the programs they are likely to need, not simply the number of programs an institution advertises.

Accreditation Deserves More Than a Checkbox

NAU is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), with accreditation renewed for five years effective February 2024. The university is also approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to grant bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

For applicants, those distinctions matter because accreditation, state authorization, and professional licensing are separate considerations.

In particular, students preparing for regulated careers should check whether their specific program satisfies the requirements that apply to the profession and jurisdiction where they intend to work. International students should also consider how a U.S. credential fits their longer-term educational or employment plans.

Evaluating NAU’s Student-Centered Experience

NAU’s small classes and student-centered approach are important parts of the university experience, particularly for students who value personal attention, accessible faculty, and a supportive learning environment. At the same time, prospective students can gain a fuller picture of the university by considering how that experience relates to student outcomes.

College Scorecard/EDsmart data reports a 43.3% first-year retention rate, a 27.0% six-year graduation rate, and median earnings of approximately $32,221 six years after enrollment. These figures provide useful context, but they do not tell the complete story of the student experience at NAU. They do not explain the individual circumstances behind students’ decisions to continue or leave, how outcomes may vary by academic program, or how international students’ experiences compare with those of domestic students.

For prospective students, the more meaningful question is therefore not simply what a national dataset reports, but how well NAU’s educational environment supports students as they work toward their individual goals. Small class sizes, faculty accessibility, and personalized support can be particularly valuable in helping students navigate academic challenges, stay engaged, and make progress toward degree completion.

Ultimately, completion is an important part of evaluating any university. The value of an education depends not only on the opportunities and support available to students after they enroll, but also on how effectively the institution helps them make the most of those opportunities and successfully complete the path they have chosen.

Who Should Consider a University Like NAU?

NAU may deserve closer consideration from students who value:

• A smaller institutional environment.
• An internationally oriented student community.
• Transfer pathways from community colleges and other institutions.
• Bachelor's and master's programs in a focused academic environment.
• Study in the Greater Houston area without enrolling at a mega-university.
• Direct interaction with faculty and academic staff.

On the other hand, students who prioritize a very large research enterprise, extensive campus infrastructure, a wide choice of majors, or stronger institution-wide completion statistics may find other Houston-area options more appropriate.

When comparing universities, remember that an important criterion is fit—which one complements your situation, needs, or values. 

What NAU’s Model Means for Prospective Students

North American University occupies an unusual position in the Greater Houston higher-education landscape. Its relatively small enrollment sits alongside an international orientation, cross-border academic relationships, Texas transfer pathways, and a focused bachelor's-and-master's academic structure.

For international students, that combination may offer a more intimate alternative to a large U.S. university. For U.S. students, it may provide an opportunity to study in a community shaped by international perspectives without leaving the Houston area.

NAU’s distinctive model gives students something specific to evaluate—not a promise that it will be the right choice, but a different set of tradeoffs from the much larger institutions that dominate the Greater Houston higher-education landscape.

References:

• North American University. (n.d.). About NAU. https://www.na.edu/about/
• North American University. (n.d.). The history of North American University. https://www.na.edu/about-nau/nau-history/
• North American University. (2025). 2025–2026 academic catalog. https://www.na.edu/documents/academics/catalog-25-26.pdf
• North American University. (2025). International students: 54 countries. 1 university. https://www.na.edu/admissions/international/
• North American University. (n.d.). NAU agreements. https://www.na.edu/nau-agreements/
• North American University & Houston Community College. (2019). Articulation agreement. https://www.na.edu/documents/admissions/transfers/NAU%20HCC%20Articulation%20Agreement.pdf
• North American University. (n.d.). Transfer students. https://www.na.edu/transfers/
• North American University. (2025). Accreditation and professional memberships. https://www.na.edu/about-nau/accreditation/
• North American University. (2025). 2025–26 policy manual. https://www.na.edu/documents/about/policymanual.pdf
• North American University. (2024). ACCSC accreditation status letter. https://www.na.edu/documents/about/ACCSC%20Accreditation%20Status%20Letter%20031524.pdf
• U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (n.d.). Institution data profile: North American University. Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/institution-profile/461795
• U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2025). IPEDS Data Feedback Report: North American University. https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/data-feedback-report/461795
• EDsmart. (2026). North American University: Acceptance rate, tuition & rankings. https://www.edsmart.org/schools/north-american-university/
• College Scorecard. (n.d.). North American University. U.S. Department of Education. [Institutional data used through College Scorecard datasets; the institution's current IPEDS identifier is 461795.]
• North American University. (2025). Professional certifications and licensure disclosures. https://www.na.edu/about-nau/professional-certifications/