Arizona State University admission requirements for international students are among the most straightforward at any large U.S. research university. You need a secondary school GPA of 3.00 or higher (a B average), four years of maths up to a course beyond Algebra II, three years of laboratory science, official transcripts and an English test score that matches your chosen college. ASU asks for no essay and no recommendation letters, and the SAT and ACT are optional. You apply through ASU’s own application or the Common App and pay a $90 fee.
ASU admitted 88% of first-year applicants for fall 2025, and almost 90% of international applicants. The real questions for most families are cost and scholarships. The estimated 2026-27 budget for an international undergraduate is $69,906, and the New American University (NAMU) Scholarship is the main merit award open to international students. Apply by 1 November 2026 for priority admission to fall 2027, and in any case by 1 April 2027 if you want merit scholarship consideration. All figures here were checked on ASU’s own pages on 29 October 2026.
Arizona State University ranking
In the U.S. News 2027 Best Colleges edition, published on 22 September 2026, ASU tied at No. 121 among National Universities and at No. 58 among public schools, according to the Phoenix Business Journal’s report of the list. The same edition named ASU No. 1 for innovation for the 12th year running, ahead of MIT and Stanford. Where ASU stands out is in specific programmes.
| U.S. News 2027 edition ranking | ASU’s position |
|---|---|
| National Universities | No. 121 (tie, with the University of Arizona and others) |
| Top Public Schools | No. 58 (tie) |
| Most Innovative Schools | No. 1 |
| Supply chain management (undergraduate, all schools) | No. 1 |
| First-year experience (public schools) | No. 4 |
| Business analytics (public schools) | No. 4 |
| Computer science, computer systems (public schools) | No. 9 |
| Undergraduate engineering, doctoral (public schools) | No. 18 |
| Undergraduate business (public schools) | No. 19 |
ASU acceptance rate and class profile
ASU’s 2025-26 Common Data Set covers the class that started in fall 2025. It is one of the few universities that splits its numbers by residency, so you can see the international acceptance rate directly.
| Applicant group (fall 2025) | Applied | Admitted | Enrolled | Acceptance rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All first-years | 69,617 | 61,533 | 13,665 | 88.4% |
| Arizona residents | 20,323 | 18,291 | 9,239 | 90.0% |
| Out-of-state U.S. | 40,388 | 35,233 | 3,634 | 87.2% |
| International | 8,906 | 8,009 | 792 | 89.9% |
The campus-immersion undergraduate body was 64,662 in fall 2025. For fall 2026, ASU reports 11,500 international students from 174 countries, and in August 2026 local TV news reported that ASU’s international enrolment had fallen by about 20%. ASU’s Common Data Set does not publish SAT or ACT ranges for admitted students, because so few submit scores.
A high acceptance rate does not mean every major is open to you. Engineering, nursing and journalism set higher English minimums, and some programmes ask for higher grades.
ASU tuition for international students in 2026-27
ASU publishes a separate budget for international undergraduates. These are its 2026-27 figures for a student on the Tempe campus taking 12 credits a semester and living in university housing.
| Cost item (2026-27) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Base tuition | $39,062 |
| Tuition surcharge | $350 |
| Advanced technology fee | $200 |
| College fee (highest possible) | $2,190 |
| Student-initiated fees | $807 |
| International student fee | $400 |
| Housing and meals (on campus) | $18,819 |
| Books, course materials and supplies | $1,320 |
| Travel | $1,650 |
| Personal expenses | $2,343 |
| Health insurance (2025-26 rate, to be updated) | $2,765 |
| Total | $69,906 |
The college fee depends on your programme, so your bill may be lower than the $2,190 shown. The health insurance premium is last year’s rate, and ASU says the 2026-27 rate will be added later.
ASU scholarships for international students
International students cannot receive U.S. federal or Arizona state aid. ASU’s merit awards are the main source of help, and they are limited in number and competitive.
- New American University (NAMU) Scholarship: merit-based, for a limited number of high-achieving international first-years and transfer students on F-1 visas. ASU decides on it from your admission file once you are admitted.
- No separate form: ASU’s international aid FAQ says you need no extra scholarship application, but you should submit your admission application by 1 April.
- Renewal: NAMU awards renew for up to eight consecutive semesters if you keep meeting ASU’s renewal standards. Unused semesters can move to an ASU on-campus graduate programme if you finish early.
- College and departmental scholarships: amounts vary; you search them through ASU’s Scholarship Universe portal after admission.
- Private scholarships: some do not require U.S. citizenship or a Social Security number. You check each one’s rules.
ASU does not publish dollar amounts for international NAMU awards on the pages we could read, and its first-year scholarship estimator states that it does not apply to international students. For reference, ASU’s award page for out-of-state U.S. students shows the NAMU Provost’s Award at $15,500 a year ($62,000 over four years), and students on the West Valley or Polytechnic campus get an extra $4,000 a year. ASU does not say that international awards follow the same tiers, so treat your offer letter as the only reliable figure.
Arizona State University admission requirements for international students
Academic requirements
| Requirement | What ASU asks for |
|---|---|
| Grades | Minimum 3.00 GPA (B average) in secondary school |
| Years reviewed | Grades 9 to 11 if still in school; grades 10 to 12 if graduated |
| Diploma | Completed secondary school diploma or certificate |
| Maths | Four years: algebra I, geometry, algebra II and one higher course |
| Laboratory science | Three years, one year each from biology, chemistry, earth science, integrated science or physics |
| Essay | Not required |
| Recommendations | Not required |
| SAT or ACT | Optional; may help placement |
ASU wants official records sent straight from each school or exam board, with certified English translations. It does not accept photocopies, notarised copies, faxes or scans, so originals or attested copies with an official seal are the safe choice. ASU evaluates foreign credentials free of charge, though it also accepts reports from ECE, FCSA, ACEI or Scholaro.
English requirements
| Programme | TOEFL iBT (before 21 Jan 2026) | TOEFL iBT (from 21 Jan 2026) | IELTS | Duolingo | PTE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Most majors | 61 | 3.5 | 6.0 | 95 | 53 |
| Engineering (Fulton Schools) | 79 | 4 | 6.5 | 105 | 58 |
| Nursing (BSN) | 76 | 4 | 6.5 | 100 | Not accepted |
| Journalism (Cronkite School) | 100 | 5 | 7.0 | 120 | 73 |
Scores must be no more than two years old at your start date. ASU accepts IELTS Academic, Online, UKVI or Indicator, but not General Training, and it does not accept PTE Academic Online. Citizens of countries on ASU’s English-speaking list are exempt automatically. Students who earned their secondary diploma at a school where English was the only language of instruction can file the English Proficiency Exemption Form. If your grades meet the standard but your English does not, ASU offers conditional admission valid for up to three semesters, with study through Global Launch first.
ASU deadlines for fall 2027
| Step | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications open | Around 1 July 2026 (already open) |
| Priority admission date (first-year) | 1 November 2026 |
| Barrett, the Honors College early deadline | 1 November 2026; apply to ASU at least four to six weeks earlier |
| Regular admission date (first-year) | 15 January 2027 |
| International application priority date | 15 January 2027 (based on this year’s date; confirm on the official page when the call opens) |
| Submit admission application for international merit scholarship consideration | 1 April 2027 |
| Enrolment deposit | 1 May 2027 |
ASU reviews applications on a rolling basis once every document arrives, so an early, complete file gets a faster decision and an earlier I-20. Applications that miss the summer start are moved to fall automatically.
How to write your ASU application pieces, with a sample opening
ASU itself asks for no personal statement, so your transcript and course choices carry the decision. If you apply through the Common App, keep whatever essay you write for other colleges honest and specific, because it goes to ASU as well.
Barrett, the Honors College is different. It has its own free online application, which opens once you have an ASU ID, and it needs two recommendation letters. Barrett lists its written questions inside the application rather than on its public pages. Whatever it asks, write about a specific intellectual interest and connect it to something you would do at ASU, such as research in a lab or a thesis topic. Ask your two recommenders early, because the Barrett file is incomplete until both letters arrive.
A sample opening for illustration only: “My first solar charger produced exactly 0.3 volts, which was enough to prove the idea and nowhere near enough to charge my sister’s phone.” The rest should show how you improved it and what you want to build next.
What happens after you apply
- ASURITE ID: within one to three business days you get a login for My ASU, where you see missing items and your status.
- Documents: send transcripts and test scores; include your ASU ID on anything posted.
- Decision: ASU decides once your file is complete, on a rolling basis.
- Scholarship: merit offers appear after admission; check My ASU.
- Barrett: if you applied, track your letters and status in My ASU.
- Deposit and I-20: pay the enrolment deposit by 1 May 2027 (there is no separate Barrett deposit) and track your I-20 in My ASU before your F-1 visa interview.
Common mistakes international applicants make
- Sending scanned or notarised copies: ASU rejects them; send originals or attested copies.
- Using the wrong English minimum: engineering and journalism need much higher scores than the general 6.0 IELTS.
- Taking IELTS General Training or PTE Online: neither is accepted.
- Applying after 1 April: you may still be admitted but miss merit scholarship consideration.
- Submitting two applications: ASU processes one and cancels the duplicate, so do not apply on both platforms.
- Counting on U.S. federal aid: international students are not eligible.
Costs that scholarships do not cover
A NAMU award reduces tuition, but housing and meals ($18,819), health insurance ($2,765 at last year’s rate), books, personal costs and flights stay with you. Add the $90 application fee, the SEVIS fee, the visa fee and summer months. ASU’s payment plan splits tuition, housing and insurance into three monthly payments each semester, which helps cash flow but does not lower the total.
Majors and strengths
ASU offers more than 450 undergraduate degree programmes and majors, with a student-faculty ratio of 18 to 1. Its biggest strengths are business (W. P. Carey School, with No. 1 supply chain management), engineering and computing (Ira A. Fulton Schools), journalism (Cronkite School), sustainability and design. Barrett, the Honors College offers smaller classes and a thesis for students who want more depth.
Campus and city
Most international students study at the Tempe campus (about 51,200 students in fall 2026), next to Phoenix. Downtown Phoenix has about 10,800 students, Polytechnic 5,500 and West Valley 5,200. The Phoenix area has a desert climate with very hot summers, so plan your arrival and housing with that in mind.
ASU graduate admissions for international students
Graduate programmes set their own deadlines and requirements. ASU’s general minimum English scores for international graduate applicants are TOEFL iBT 80 (or 4 on the new scale), IELTS 6.5, PTE 60 and Duolingo 105. Some programmes set higher scores or do not accept every test. If you finish your undergraduate degree early, unused NAMU semesters can carry into an ASU on-campus graduate programme.
ASU compared with similar public universities
| University | U.S. News 2027 (National) | International acceptance rate | 2026-27 cost (international) | International merit aid | Essay required? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona State | No. 121 (tie) | 89.9% (fall 2025) | $69,906 | NAMU Scholarship (amount on offer) | No |
| University at Buffalo | No. 85 | 94.4% (fall 2025) | $61,030 | Flagship Scholarship, up to $15,000 a year | Yes |
| Indiana University Bloomington | No. 73 (2026 edition) | 66.8% (fall 2024) | $61,156 | Global Engagement, typically $1,000 to $11,000 a year | Yes, 200 to 400 words |
| Stony Brook | No. 59 | Not published | $58,799 plus insurance | Global Excellence; #YouAreWelcomeHere 50% tuition | Yes |
See our full guides to University at Buffalo, Indiana University Bloomington and Stony Brook University. Another Arizona option is covered in our University of Arizona guide.
Who should apply to ASU
ASU suits you if you have at least a B average, want a large university with strong business, engineering or journalism programmes, and can fund most of a $69,906 budget. It is also a sensible safety option alongside more selective schools, because international admission rates have been close to 90%.
It is a poor fit if you need full funding. ASU offers no need-based aid to international students and its merit awards are partial. If cost is the deciding factor, compare it with the cheaper public options above and with the awards in our best American scholarships for international students list.
FAQ on ASU admission for international students
What is the ASU acceptance rate for international students?
ASU admitted 8,009 of 8,906 international first-year applicants for fall 2025, a rate of 89.9%. The overall rate was 88.4%.
Does ASU require IELTS for international students?
You need an English test unless you are from a country on ASU’s English-speaking list or studied only in English. The general minimum is IELTS 6.0, with 6.5 for engineering and nursing and 7.0 for journalism.
How much is ASU tuition for international students?
Base tuition is $39,062 for 2026-27, and the full estimated cost of attendance is $69,906 including housing, food and insurance.
Does ASU give scholarships to international students?
Yes. Admitted international first-years can receive the New American University Scholarship, a merit award with no separate application, if they apply for admission by 1 April.
Sources and updates
Admission rules, document rules and deadlines come from ASU Admission Services, including the international first-year page and the undergraduate English proficiency page. Costs and scholarship rules are from ASU’s international cost and aid page, the NAMU pages at tuition.asu.edu and ASU’s international aid FAQ. Admission numbers are from ASU’s 2025-26 Common Data Set (campus immersion). Rankings are from ASU News (21 September 2026) and the Phoenix Business Journal report republished by the Arizona Technology Council; the U.S. News profile could not be opened. Enrolment by campus is from ASU Facts and Figures and ASU News (18 August 2026). Checked on 29 October 2026.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
