Naropa University

Naropa University is a private, nonprofit, Buddhist-inspired liberal arts university located in Boulder, Colorado. Founded in 1974 by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, it is named after the 11th-century Indian Buddhist sage Naropa. The university is known for its distinctive contemplative education model, which integrates mindfulness, meditation, and creative practice with rigorous academic study across the arts, humanities, psychology, environmental studies, and religious studies. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, including BA, BFA, MA, MFA, and MDiv programs, and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Naropa’s educational philosophy emphasizes self-awareness, compassion, and interdisciplinary inquiry. Its small student body and intimate class sizes support close relationships between students and faculty. The university hosts a number of notable programs and centers, including the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics and the Naropa University Environmental Studies program, reflecting its commitment to both creative expression and ecological responsibility. Situated in the city of Boulder at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, Naropa draws students interested in alternative, holistic, and spiritually grounded approaches to higher education. The campus community is diverse and inclusive, welcoming students from a wide range of backgrounds and traditions.