Arizona State University
Arizona, United States
Founded1885
Research$1.0B
Updated February 5, 2026
Overview
Founded in 1885, Arizona State University (ASU) is a comprehensive public research and land-grant institution governed by the Arizona Board of Regents. The university is defined by a unique charter that measures its success not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed. As a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), ASU is recognized for its commitment to academic excellence and broad access to higher education.
The university is organized into 16 to 19 colleges and schools, including the nation’s largest engineering school (Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering) and the largest comprehensive design and arts school (Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts). ASU offers over 800 degree programs, ranging from undergraduate majors to professional graduate degrees. It is particularly known for its pioneering work in online education and accelerated master's programs, maintaining a mission to provide high-quality education to a global audience.
Location
ASU operates under a "one university in many places" model, with four primary campuses located throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Tempe campus serves as the historic and principal location and is notable for being the most solar-powered campus in the United States. The Downtown Phoenix campus is integrated into the city's professional core to facilitate career-focused learning, while the Polytechnic campus in Mesa focuses on engineering and industry partnerships. The West Valley campus provides a hub for interdisciplinary arts, sciences, and workforce training.
Beyond Arizona, the university has expanded its reach with the ASU California Center in Los Angeles and the Barbara Barrett and Sandra Day O’Connor Washington Center in Washington, D.C. Its international presence includes ASU London and the Hainan University-ASU Joint International Tourism College in China. This distributed network allows the university to serve students in urban, suburban, and global settings.
Tempe, United States
Also in: Los Angeles, United States · Chula Vista, United States · Long Beach, United States · West Hawai‘i, United States · Yuma, United States · London, United Kingdom · Washington, United States · Haikou City, China · Lake Havasu City, United States · Phoenix, United States · Mesa, United States · Tucson, United States · Glendale, United States
Campuses
Tempe
MainTempe· United States
ASU California Center
Los Angeles· United States
ASU Local - Chula Vista
Chula Vista· United States
ASU Local - Long Beach
Long Beach· United States
ASU Local - West Hawai‘i
West Hawai‘i· United States
ASU Local - Yuma
Yuma· United States
Campus Culture
Arizona State University serves a massive and diverse student body of over 194,000 students from all 50 U.S. states and more than 165 nations. The university is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution and places a high priority on inclusivity, with approximately 36.5% of the undergraduate population identifying as first-generation college students. The campus community is further enriched by a significant military-affiliated population of over 20,000 veteran and military students, supported by the Pat Tillman Veterans Center.
Student life is characterized by a wide range of academic and social opportunities across its various colleges. High-achieving students can participate in Barrett, The Honors College, a residential community described as the "gold standard" for honors programs. The university also fosters a culture of accessibility through initiatives like the Starbucks College Achievement Plan and "Universal Learner Courses," which allow students to earn credit without traditional application barriers. Despite its large size, the university maintains an 18-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio to support individual success.
Rankings
Arizona State University has established a significant reputation for innovation, holding the No. 1 ranking in the U.S. for innovation by U.S. News & World Report for 11 consecutive years, ahead of institutions like MIT and Stanford. The university also ranks No. 1 in the U.S. and top 10 globally for its impact on the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Additionally, it is recognized as a leader in sustainability, earning the No. 1 "Cool School" ranking from the Sierra Club.
In terms of career outcomes and prestige, ASU ranks No. 2 among U.S. public universities for graduate employability. Several of its programs hold top global and national positions: the Thunderbird School of Global Management is ranked No. 1 in the world for international trade, and the university's online bachelor's programs consistently rank in the top 10. The Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law is also noted for having the highest bar passage rate in Arizona.
Research
ASU is an R1 graduate research university with a robust research enterprise that exceeded $1 billion in expenditures in fiscal year 2024. It ranks No. 5 in the U.S. for total research expenditures among institutions without a medical school and is a global leader in intellectual property, ranking No. 9 worldwide for U.S. patents. The university's research is supported by a distinguished faculty that includes Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and members of prestigious fellowships such as the Fulbright and MacArthur programs.
Key research facilities include the Biodesign Institute, the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory, and the Media and Immersive eXperience (MIX) Center. ASU is also a major contributor to the microelectronics industry and the CHIPS Act, collaborating with partners like Intel and TSMC. The university holds specific research distinctions, such as ranking No. 1 in anthropology research expenditures and maintaining active projects funded by NASA and the National Science Foundation.