As the birthplace of the modern mindfulness movement, Naropa University revolutionizes higher education by integrating the mind, body, and spirit into the classroom experience.
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.
Higher education is changing, and so are we.
Discover the different ways you can attend Naropa.
Experience a contemplative education in Boulder, Colorado. Our BA and MA programs foster personal growth and academic excellence.
Learn on campus
Combine online learning with in-person intensives in Boulder, CO. Our low-residency MA programs offer flexibility and depth.
Learn low-residency
Study remotely with our 100% online BA programs. Learn more about our online community, faculty, and resources.
Learn online
Anthony Gallucci
MA Religious Studies
The intrapersonal and interpersonal work that I did at Naropa influenced how I regulate my emotions and show up more fully as my authentic self in both my personal and professional life.
Chris Cole
BA Contemplative Psychology & MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling
Without Naropa University and this great lineage of embodied wisdom and secular enlightenment, I would not be doing the work I do today—working toward informed, compassionate theories and models of mental health.
Natalie Hsu
BA Art Therapy
I don’t know who you are, but I believe that you can change the world and this place will foster that. [Naropa] creates a container — a mirror, where you find that a-ha, where you make contact with the basic goodness in yourself and all of the people that this place attracts.
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 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.
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 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.
Naropa University offers four online Bachelor of Arts 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 five master’s degree programs in the low-residency format:
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.
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.
