Below is a detailed, up-to-date guide to admission requirements at Arizona State University (ASU) for first-year (freshman), transfer, graduate, and international applicants. I used ASU’s official admissions pages as primary sources — the most important facts are cited inline so you can verify them immediately.
Quick overview
- ASU evaluates applicants holistically, but minimum academic criteria differ by applicant type (first-year, transfer, graduate).
- SAT/ACT scores are optional for admission; they may be submitted for placement or as supplemental material.
- Some colleges or programs (and honors programs like Barrett) have additional or separate application requirements.
1) First-year (freshman) applicants — what ASU expects
Core academic requirements (competency)
To be eligible, first-year applicants must satisfy ASU’s competency requirements — these can be met with high-school coursework, college coursework, or approved test scores. Minimum: a 2.0 GPA in each competency area; ASU may admit students with one deficiency in no more than two areas, but certain paired deficiencies (math + lab science) are not acceptable. The standard course pattern ASU lists is:
- 4 years of English (non-ESL/ELL, composition/literature based)
- 4 years of math (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II and a course requiring Algebra II as prerequisite)
- 3 years of laboratory science (biology, chemistry, earth science, integrated sciences, or physics — typically one year each from those areas)
- 2 years social science (including one year of American history)
- 2 years of the same world language
- 1 year fine arts or 1 year career & technical education (CTE).
Academic thresholds (typical)
ASU publishes multiple pathways for admission. Historically common thresholds used as reference (ASU considers multiple factors and may admit students who meet at least one of several criteria): being in the top 25% of your high-school class, a 3.00 GPA in competency courses, or certain benchmark test scores. Note again: standardized test submission is optional.
Application steps & platform
- Apply using either ASU’s own online application or the Common Application (ASU accepts only one application per student). Self-reporting grades in the application speeds decisions; ASU does not require an essay/personal statement for the general undergraduate application (some programs may request additional materials).
2) Transfer applicants — what changes
Minimum GPA & transferable credits
- Transfer applicants are grouped by transferable credit hours:
- 12–23 transferable credits: minimum 2.50 transfer GPA and must meet first-year competency requirements.
- 24 or more transferable credits: minimum 2.50 cumulative transfer GPA.
- Applicants who already hold an associate degree from a regionally-accredited institution: minimum cumulative GPA 2.00 (Arizona residents) or 2.50 (nonresidents).
Transfer credit acceptance
- ASU accepts college-level courses (not remedial) with a grade of C- or better from regionally accredited institutions. Pass grades may transfer if the transcript indicates equivalence to C- or better, but pass grades generally are not calculated into the transfer GPA used for admissions.
3) Graduate applicants (master’s & doctoral)
University minimums & program variance
- ASU requires applicants to meet university minimum requirements first, but each graduate program sets its own admissions standards and may require higher GPAs, test scores, writing samples, portfolios, GRE/GMAT, or professional experience. Always check the specific program page in ASU’s Degree Search.
Typical GPA guideline
- Competitive applicants typically have a B average (≈ 3.00/4.00) in the last 60 semester hours (or 90 quarter hours) of undergraduate coursework. Departments can — and frequently do — require higher averages. If your GPA is below the guideline, many programs will still consider the full application (experience, references, statement, and program fit can matter).
4) International applicants — additional requirements
Academic documents
- International applicants must submit official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions and meet the equivalent degree requirements (e.g., a bachelor’s degree equivalent is required for graduate admission). Check the program page for how to submit official foreign transcripts.
English language proficiency
- If your native language is not English, you must demonstrate English proficiency. ASU accepts TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, Duolingo, Cambridge exams (and other approved ways) and requires tests to be taken no more than two years before your ASU start date. Some applicants qualify for automatic exemptions — check the exemptions page and submit any exemption forms after you apply.
Visa & financial documentation
- International graduate applicants should also be prepared to show financial documentation for visa issuance (when admitted) and meet health insurance rules; specifics depend on program and visa category.
5) Other documents commonly required (all applicants)
- Official transcripts (high school and colleges as applicable).
- Application fee (waivers available in certain cases).
- Test scores (optional SAT/ACT for undergrad; some programs require/give weight to GRE/GMAT).
- Supplemental materials: portfolio, audition, resume/CV, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation — program-dependent.
- Proof of English proficiency for international applicants (see above).
6) Special notes and practical tips
- Test-optional policy: ASU does not require SAT/ACT for admission (they can still be submitted for placement or as supplemental evidence). However, some scholarship considerations or very selective programs may still use submitted scores. Always verify specific scholarship or program policies.
- Barrett, The Honors College: requires a separate application and additional materials — you may apply to Barrett after submitting your ASU application.
- Self-reporting: When applying as a first-year student, self-reporting your grades can lead to a faster admission decision. Official documents are typically required later for enrollment.
- Program pages matter: Graduate and professional schools (engineering, business, law, medicine, Barrett, design, arts) often have program-specific requirements, deadlines, and portfolios — check the program’s admissions page early.
Final advice
ASU has flexible entry pathways and accepts a large number of applicants across campuses and ASU Online. Because program and college requirements can differ significantly (especially for graduate and selective undergraduate programs), always check the specific program page in ASU’s Degree Search or the college’s admissions page before applying. If you tell me which exact program or campus (Tempe, West, Downtown Phoenix, Polytechnic, ASU Online) you’re targeting, I’ll pull the precise, program-level admission checklist and any upcoming deadlines for you right now.