Initially named the Northern Arizona Normal School it was formed on September 11, 1899. In 1925, the State of Arizona recognized the school, allowing it to grant the degree of bachelor of education. The institution renamed itself the Northern Arizona State Teachers College following this.

In 1945, its name changed once again to the Arizona State College at Flagstaff. A year later the college began offering the degrees of master of arts and bachelor of science. In 1966 its name changed once more to the current Northern Arizona University (or NAU) when it was granted full university status.