Enrollment: 53298
Average SAT: 548
Average ACT: 23.5
Most Popular Majors: Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other,Nursing/Registered Nurse (RN, ASN, BSN, MSN),Psychology, General,
Student Faculty Ratio: 22:1

Undergraduate Receiving Need-Based Financial Aid: 519
Average Freshman Total Need-Based Gift Aid: $7,181.00

Dorms Like Dungeons
Party Schools
Students Study the Least

Students Say - Academics
"Arizona State University is energetic, exciting, an up-and-coming university, and the place to be" according to students at this large public university near sunny Phoenix, Arizona. With almost 53,000 undergraduates, "the opportunities are endless," but "you get exactly what you put into it." "The professors at ASU are typically approachable and care about their students' success." Class size ranges from small seminars of 10 students to lecture classes with hundreds, but "even though there are thousands of students here I've never had a professor that made me feel like a number." The Barrett Honors College in particular gets high marks from students: "Having access to the resources of a large university, combined with the individual access of outstanding honors college professors made [ASU] too great of a deal to pass up." ASU also has "all the research opportunities that a student could want." The business, architecture, construction management, journalism, and child psychology programs are all well-regarded, but with 250 undergraduate programs and majors to choose from, there is "something for everyone to get excited about." While the professors and academic programs have students' near-universal acclaim, ASU's administration gets mixed reviews. "The administration always seems to try to do what's best for the students," says one student; but, although it "handles issues well," "most of the decisions and policies are not favored by the students," says another. This year, a lot of students are worried about the economy and how the recession could affect their university. "ASU has a ton of potential," sums up one student, "the only thing that may stop any progress is the state's current financial crisis and the proposed budget cuts."

Students Say - Campus Life
"Life at ASU is about doing your work during the week to have fun on weekends," says one student. While ASU has earned its reputation as a party school, there are a wealth of options for students looking for more low-key recreation. "There is a lot to do in the city of Phoenix. It's always booming. You have to try real hard to be bored while going to ASU. " Intercollegiate sports-especially football-are very popular, and students can also "drive into Phoenix or Glendale for Cardinals games, Coyotes games, Suns games, or Diamondbacks games." In addition to sporting events, the university "is conveniently located if you're looking for down time." The Tempe campus is "walking distance from Tempe Town Lake, just a short drive to the mountain for hiking, and best of all-it's right off of Mill Avenue," the thoroughfare that runs along one side of Tempe campus and has "tons of shops, restaurants, and an awesome night life." And the weather's great too: "ASU is one of the few places where you can study by the pool all year long."

Students Say - Student Body
"ASU is the melting pot of the West Coast," says a student. "There are people from everywhere you can imagine, in and out of the U.S. The university reflects people's diverse backgrounds." "Whether you [are] a bookworm or a party animal or somewhere in between, there is something for everyone at ASU." Another student says: "I wouldn't know how to describe the typical student. We're such a large school with a diverse population that it would be like trying to describe the typical American." "The upside to this is that everyone can find a niche, whether it be with a group of friends or one of the hundreds of student organizations on campus." Many agree that "the students at ASU love to party!" However, "that is not the entire population. There are many dedicated students-such as those involved in different types of clubs and outlets on campus." Some students aren't quite so positive: "The typical student is by all accounts average: average grades, average ambition, average goals, average wants in a university." "Most students seem to be unaware of the world outside of the one they were raised in," complains another. All in all, though, "the typical ASU student is friendly and outgoing" and "seems intent on reaching the goals that they have set for themselves."

California State University--Long Beach
Northern Arizona University

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