Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsPublic

Naval Postgraduate School

Monterey, California·Public, 4-year or above·Far West·nps.edu
Acceptance
Grad-only
—
6-yr Graduation
Grad-only
—
Total enrollment
2,441
peer median 3,278
Avg net price
Grad-only
—
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AboutAccreditationAcademic programsEnrollment trendsPeersIR OfficeDocumentsAlumni

About

The Naval Postgraduate School, established in 1909, is a graduate university located in Monterey, California, focused on providing defense-related education and research for the U.S. Navy and its partners. It offers master's and doctoral degrees in fields crucial to naval operations and military needs, supported by an average student enrollment dedicated to enhancing the warfighting capabilities of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Accreditation status & history

Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.

DAPIP
AccreditedInstitutional accreditor

WASC Senior College and University Commission

Accredited since 1955Next review Feb 2031

Action history · 1

  1. Feb 2021Renewal of Accreditation
    WASC Senior College and University Commission

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Academic programs at Naval Postgraduate School

Top program areas ranked by completions.

IPEDS
Distinct CIP programs52
GraduateOffered

Top program families by completions

1,039 total completions
01Engineering
33432.1%
02Social Sciences
19719.0%
03Military Tech
17817.1%
04Business
11010.6%
05Computer Sciences
10610.2%
06Security/Protective
888.5%
07Physical Sciences
171.6%
08Mathematics
90.9%

Enrollment trends & demographics

Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.

IPEDS
Fall total
2,441
12-mo unduplicated
3,865

Gender split

Men
79%3,054
Women
21%811

Naval Postgraduate School vs Peer comparison

The peer institutions Naval Postgraduate School selected for federal comparison reporting.

IPEDS
GraduationRetentionSelectivityEnrollmentAffordabilityYield
This institutionPeer median

A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.

Carnegie
SubjectNaval Postgraduate School
Grad-onlyGrad-only2,441Grad-onlyMasters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
United States Air Force Academy
88%14.1%4,114Not reportedBaccalaureate
United States Coast Guard Academy
93%22.4%1,108Not reportedBaccalaureate
United States Merchant Marine Academy
82%34.2%976$6,174Baccalaureate
United States Military Academy
87%12.5%4,473Not reportedBaccalaureate
United States Naval Academy
93%9.3%4,474Not reportedBaccalaureate
Peer group median88%14.1%3,278$6,174

Institutions like Naval Postgraduate School

Explore the federal data for institutions in Naval Postgraduate School's comparison group.

IPEDS

Naval Postgraduate School Institutional Research office

The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.

Office
Office of Institutional Effectiveness
Email
oie [at] nps.edu
Address
1 University Circle, Monterey, CA 93943

The page details the Office of Institutional Effectiveness at the Naval Postgraduate School, listing contact information, leadership roles, and links to forms, dashboards, and fact books related to institutional research and alumni achievements.

Visit IR office page

Reports & documents (1)

Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.

Notable alumni of Naval Postgraduate School (12)

A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.

  • Keith B. Alexander
    Military
  • Scott Altman
    Astronautics
  • Qamar Javed Bajwa
    Military
  • Mark Kelly
    Astronautics
  • Victor Glover
    Astronautics
  • Gerald Carr
    Astronautics
  • Gene Cernan
    Astronautics
  • Ronald Evans
    Astronautics
  • Michael Foreman
    Astronautics
  • Michael López-Alegría
    Astronautics
  • Lisa Nowak
    Astronautics
  • Robert F. Overmyer
    Astronautics

Frequently asked questions about Naval Postgraduate School

Quick answers to the questions most often asked about Naval Postgraduate School.

What is the acceptance rate at Naval Postgraduate School?

Naval Postgraduate School does not have a reported acceptance rate. This institution offers no undergraduate degree programs, so there is no undergraduate admissions cycle to report.

What is the graduation rate at Naval Postgraduate School?

Naval Postgraduate School does not have a reported federal graduation rate. Federal graduation rates track first-time, full-time undergraduates seeking a degree. This institution offers no undergraduate degree programs, so there is no cohort to follow.

How many students attend Naval Postgraduate School?

Naval Postgraduate School reports a total enrollment of 2,441 students per the latest IPEDS.

What is the average net price at Naval Postgraduate School?

Naval Postgraduate School does not have a reported average net price. Net price is a federal metric for first-time, full-time undergraduates receiving federal aid. This institution offers no undergraduate degree programs, so it does not report one.

Where is Naval Postgraduate School located?

Naval Postgraduate School is located in Monterey, California 93943.

Who runs Institutional Research at Naval Postgraduate School?

Naval Postgraduate School's IR work is done by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
U.S. Department of Education
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.
U.S. Department of Education
DAPIP accreditationContinuously refreshed
Accreditation status for institutions and programs, reported by recognized accrediting agencies.
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education
Federal Pell Grant & loan volumeAY 2025–26 (through Q3), through March 31, 2026
Pell Grant and Direct Loan recipient counts, award amounts, and disbursement volume by institution and award year.
U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid
Cohort Default RatesFY 2022 official rates
Institution-level federal student loan default rates, measuring borrowers who default within three years of entering repayment.
U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid
Equity in Athletics (EADA)Academic year 2024–25
Athletics participation, coaching, revenues, and expenses by sport and gender for Title IV institutions.
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education
Campus Safety & SecurityData through reporting year 2024
Criminal offenses, arrests, disciplinary actions, VAWA offenses, and fire statistics reported by campus under the Clery Act.
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education
Last reviewed July 2026All data sources & release dates →

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