WELCOME TO NAROPA UNIVERSITY

Celebrating 50 Years of Transforming Higher Education.

As the birthplace of the modern mindfulness movement, Naropa University revolutionizes higher education by integrating the mind, body, and spirit into the classroom experience.

Saturday, October 18: The Inauguration of Dr. Paul Burkhardt as Naropa’s New President. Experienced Higher Education Leader Poised to Take University Into Its Next 50 Years of Impact.

Naropa Academics

Naropa’s degree programs combine contemplative practices with traditional academics, igniting a spark of presence throughout your educational journey. This unique blend cultivates a sense of purpose and an ethically driven approach to professional success and community service, fostering a synergy between intellectual knowledge and intuitive wisdom.

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission 

What Our Students Say

Why Choose Naropa?

Naropa University is a private, nonprofit liberal arts institution in Boulder, Colorado. Inspired by Buddhist principles, Naropa integrates Eastern wisdom and the arts with Western scholarship, emphasizing a contemplative and holistic education.

Naropa Now

Naropa University has been championing contemplative education since its foundation in 1974. Discover how we are keeping true to our legacy and pioneering change in higher education 50 years later.

Naropa in Numbers

948

Students

36

Average Age

9:1

Student-Faculty
Ratio

12

Average
Class Size

14.2%

of Graduates are
Founders
(Digital Information World, 2021)

Explore
Our Campus Now

Yes, Naropa University has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1986. Learn more about our accreditation
Naropa University is located on two campuses in Boulder, Colorado, a city which has won many accolades and awards for its outdoor recreation, vibrant arts community, and overall quality of life. Learn more about Boulder
Naropa has a holistic admissions process that considers various aspects of an applicant’s background and potential.
Naropa University is known for its unique contemplative education approach and its strong emphasis on mindfulness and social engagement. Viewed as the birthplace of the modern mindfulness movement, Naropa has an innovative approach to learning that goes beyond academics.

Informed by ancient Eastern educational philosophies, contemplative education at Naropa experiments with another way of knowing through its joining of rigorous liberal arts training and the disciplined training of the heart. Transcending the belief that knowledge arises in the thinking mind only, this educational philosophy invites students to embrace the immediacy of their interior lives as a means for fully integrating what they learn.

Online Degree Programs Naropa University offers four online Bachelor of Arts degree programs: BA in Art Therapy Online BA Environmental Studies Online BA Interdisciplinary Studies Online BA in Psychology Online Low-Residency Master's Degree Programs Offering you the flexibility of taking most of your classes online, low-residency programs combine online learning with in-person intensives, which immerse you in contemplative practice and coursework—and build community. You can maintain your work and personal life and live the experience of contemplative education. Choose from six master’s degree programs in the low-residency format: MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling Concentration MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Somatic Counseling Concentration (Beginning in Summer 2026) MA in Ecopsychology MA in Religious Studies: Yoga Studies Master of Divinity MFA in Creative Writing
Naropa has approved the transfer of up to 90 credits for undergraduates starting in Fall 2024. Apply as a transfer student by submitting an official college transcript as part of your application.
As of the fall of 2023, Naropa has 1,117 students, 749 of which are students enrolled in one of our graduate programs.
Tuition Payments tuition@naropa.edu // 303-546-3554 Financial Aid finaid@naropa.edu // 303-546-3509

Questions Students Have

Upcoming Events

Follow Your Heart to Naropa University

You’re on a heart-first journey – whether as a scholar, spiritual practitioner, counselor, activist, artist, or any other path that’s led you here – you’re ready to take another leap. Join your new life at Naropa, where you’ll discover your unique gifts and contribute to societal and planetary evolution.

YOU ARE READY.

This is where experiential learning meets academic rigor. Where you challenge your intellect and uncover your potential. Where you discover the work you’re moved to do—then use it to transform our world.

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About Naropa

Located in Boulder, Colorado, Naropa University is a Buddhist-inspired, nonsectarian liberal arts university that is recognized as the birthplace of the mindfulness movement. Naropa offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs that emphasize professional and personal growth, intellectual development, and cultivating compassion. 

Academics

Contemplative education brings together the best of Western scholarship and Eastern world wisdom traditions. Therefore, your pursuit of wisdom at Naropa means learning both about academic subjects and about your own place in the world. This innovative approach places Naropa on the cutting edge of the newest and most effective methods of teaching and learning.  

Admissions & Aid

If you’re seeking an education that resonates with both personal fulfillment and global impact, Naropa could be your top choice. At Naropa, you will experience a comprehensive curriculum that integrates the best of Eastern and Western educational approaches. Explore how Naropa can fuel your journey of intellectual and spiritual development.

Life at Naropa

Through its incredibly vibrant and welcoming community,  “Naropa offers a home for those who aren’t willing to conform to convention—the mystic, the healer, the prophet, the rebel, the artist, the revolutionary, the oddball—those who are incredible contributors to the evolution of society and of our planet.”—Core Associate Professor Zvi Ish-Shalom

The Naropa Difference

How is Naropa different from other universities? At Naropa, a liberal arts education balances rigorous academics with powerful interpersonal skills and self-awareness to educate the whole person. Naropa’s contemplative approach is inspired by Buddhist philosophy and the conviction that we can build a diverse, contemplative, enlightened society when we have transformed education to affirm the basic goodness of every person. 

Support Naropa

At a time when the value of higher education is being questioned, Naropa University stands firmly rooted in its mission to create a more just and regenerative world by nurturing insight, awareness, courage, and compassion in its students. By making a gift to Naropa, you play a pivotal role in helping to create the authentic, effective & mindful leaders that the world desperately needs.

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Naropa University campuses are closed on 12/17/2025. 

Due to adverse weather conditions of high winds and planned power outages, all Naropa campuses will be closed today.