Arizona State University (ASU) is one of the largest universities in the United States, with campuses across metropolitan Phoenix — Tempe (the main campus), Downtown Phoenix, Polytechnic in Mesa, West Valley in Glendale, and a California centre. It is known for innovation (ranked the most innovative university in the US for many years running), for a high acceptance rate of about 88%, and for strong programmes in engineering, business, computer science and sustainability. For international students it is one of the most accessible routes into a major US research university, with rolling admissions and generous merit scholarships.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Tempe / Phoenix, Arizona, USA |
| Type | Public research university (founded 1885) |
| Students | About 80,000+ on campus (one of the largest in the US) |
| Best known for | Engineering (Fulton Schools), business (W.P. Carey), computer science, sustainability |
| Application routes | ASU application or Common App |
| Application fee | US$90 |
| Fall 2027 deadlines | Priority 1 November 2026; merit scholarship consideration by 15 January 2027; final 1 April 2027 |
| Acceptance rate | About 88% (undergraduate, reported) |
Fees and costs (2026-27, verified)
ASU publishes a separate budget for international undergraduates. For 2026-27, base tuition is US$39,062, plus a tuition surcharge of US$350, an advanced technology fee of US$200, a college fee of up to US$2,190 (depending on programme), student-initiated fees of US$807 and an international student fee of US$400. With housing and meals (US$18,819) and health insurance, the total cost of attendance is US$69,906 for an international undergraduate on the Tempe campus. Graduate international base tuition is about US$30,348 a year. Programme fees vary: engineering on the Polytechnic campus is about US$37,346 a year, and some programmes reach US$41,252. Confirm your exact figure with ASU's tuition estimator, which gives the price for your specific programme.
Programmes
ASU offers more than 350 undergraduate degrees. Its strongest programmes are engineering at the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, business at the W.P. Carey School of Business, computer science, sustainability (the world's first School of Sustainability), nursing and health, and journalism at the Walter Cronkite School. The university is a leader in online education too, but international students on an F-1 visa must study mainly on campus. STEM majors qualify for the 24-month OPT extension.
Admission and scholarships
ASU's undergraduate acceptance rate is about 88%, which makes it one of the most accessible major US universities — but competitive programmes (engineering, business, computer science) are harder to enter. The New American University Scholarship is the main merit award open to international students and can reduce tuition substantially for high achievers. The priority date for Fall 2027 was 1 November 2026; apply by 15 January 2027, and in any case by 1 April 2027, to be considered for merit scholarships. International students are not eligible for US federal or state financial aid.
Campus life
Tempe is a sunny desert city next to Phoenix, with more than 300 days of sunshine a year and summer temperatures well above 40°C — plan for the heat. The Tempe campus is large, modern and very international, with students from more than 150 countries. Phoenix's job market is strong in technology, semiconductors, finance and healthcare, which helps with internships and OPT employment. ASU's scale means enormous choice: hundreds of clubs, Division I sports (the Sun Devils), and research opportunities from the first year.
Frequently asked questions
Is ASU easy to get into? Relatively, yes — about 88% undergraduate acceptance — but engineering, business and computer science are more competitive, and scholarships go to the strongest applicants.
What is the Fall 2027 deadline? Priority 1 November 2026; merit scholarship consideration by 15 January 2027; final deadline 1 April 2027.
Does ASU offer scholarships to international students? Yes — the New American University Scholarship is the main merit award; the amount depends on your grades and test scores.
To be confirmed: the 2026-27 health insurance premium (ASU notes it will be updated) and the exact 2027-28 tuition rate — confirm on the official ASU cost pages.
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Sources and verification: Arizona State University official 2026-27 cost of attendance (base tuition US$39,062; total US$69,906 for an international undergraduate) and Kaplan/ASU tuition pages, as reported October 2026. Fall 2027 deadlines (priority 1 November 2026; merit by 15 January 2027; final 1 April 2027) as reported 29 October 2026.