ASU Campus Comparison (Location Selection)
The best ASU campus is the one that offers your intended degree and required courses, fits your learning and commute needs, and makes sense after aid and living costs. Check the official degree map before choosing a location. Then compare admission rules, transfer credit, deadlines, and net cost for your start term.
Choosing a campus is not just choosing a place to live or study. It can shape your course schedule, commute, daily routine, and the time and money it takes to finish your degree. If you can use public transit, walk, or bike for some trips, that may also reduce transportation costs and your environmental impact. But those benefits matter only if your campus offers the academic path you need.
I use a simple order when helping students compare ASU locations: confirm the degree, check how it is taught, map the costs, and then weigh the campus experience. That order helps prevent a common mistake: choosing a location first and finding out later that key courses or the full degree plan do not fit.
How to choose an ASU campus
A campus choice should begin with your academic goal, not a general ranking or a favorite visit. ASU programs and courses can differ by location and delivery method. First narrow your options to campuses that support your intended degree, then compare admission requirements, learning needs, travel, housing, and net cost.
ASU’s main campus locations include Tempe, Downtown Phoenix, Polytechnic in Mesa, and West Valley in Glendale. The university also offers programs through other formats and locations, so do not assume every program is based at every campus. Use ASU’s official degree search and catalog to check the campus options for your specific program.
Start with these questions:
- What degree and major do you plan to pursue?
- Are you applying as a first-year or transfer student?
- Which term do you want to start, and are you an Arizona resident?
- Does the degree require labs, studios, clinical work, internships, or other in-person learning?
- Will you live on campus, commute, or study mostly online?
- What is your budget after grants and scholarships?
Build a short list only after you know where the degree is offered. For each option, check the program page and catalog entry for campus, course format, prerequisites, and any special admission rules. Then confirm the details with an ASU advisor, especially if your plan depends on taking required courses at one location.
ASU campus options at a glance
A campus comparison is useful when it connects place to program and daily routine. The table below gives a starting point for location research, not a claim that every degree is offered at each site. Verify the current program and course details before you apply or make housing plans.
| Location | City | Best comparison questions |
|---|---|---|
| Tempe | Tempe | Is your degree offered here, and do its required courses fit your schedule? What would your commute or housing plan cost? |
| Downtown Phoenix | Phoenix | Is the program based here? How will you reach classes, internships, or required activities across the city? |
| Polytechnic | Mesa | Does the degree map place your core classes here? Are labs or other in-person requirements available at this location? |
| West Valley | Glendale | Can you complete the full degree here, or would some required courses involve another campus or format? |
| Other ASU locations or online options | Varies | Does the delivery format meet your needs, and are any campus visits or in-person courses required? |
Do not treat “near home” as the same as “easy commute.” Check travel time at the hours you expect to attend class, including transfers, parking, and the distance from a transit stop to your classroom. If you expect to move between campuses, ask how often that happens in your degree plan.
Check the degree and course plan
A degree map shows the courses and sequence ASU recommends for a program. It helps you see whether classes have prerequisites, whether a course is tied to a particular campus, and how long the plan may take. The catalog is the official place to confirm degree requirements; a general program page may not answer every scheduling question.
For each campus you are considering, compare:
- The program’s official campus availability
- Required courses and their locations or formats
- Prerequisites and course order
- Labs, clinical placements, studios, internships, or capstones
- Any limited-access or major-specific admission rules
- Program-specific accreditation, where relevant
ASU is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. That status applies to the institution; professional or program-specific accreditation varies by degree. If accreditation matters for a license or career path, check the program page and the relevant accrediting body.
Most bachelor’s degrees require at least 120 credits, but that number alone is not a finish-time promise. A program may require specific upper-division courses, labs, or experiences, and some classes may be offered only in certain terms. Ask an advisor whether your intended campus and schedule allow you to follow the published map.
Admission, transfer credit, and graduation
Admission eligibility and program eligibility are not always the same. ASU publishes general admission standards, while some majors may have higher or additional requirements. Transfer students also need to know which credits ASU accepts and how those credits apply to their chosen degree, not just how many transfer.
For first-year applicants, ASU’s published general benchmarks have included a 3.00 GPA in competency courses or qualifying class rank or test scores. Published test-score alternatives have included ACT 22 or SAT 1120 for Arizona residents, and ACT 24 or SAT 1180 for nonresidents. Requirements can change, and a major may set a higher bar, so check ASU’s current admissions page for your term.
For transfer applicants, ASU generally lists a 2.50 cumulative transfer GPA for students with 12 or more transferable college credits. Requirements can vary by major and credit total. Before committing, request an official credit evaluation and check course equivalencies. A course that transfers may count as elective credit without meeting a required course in your major.
A practical transfer review should answer three questions:
- Which credits will transfer?
- Which credits satisfy specific degree requirements?
- How many credits and terms remain after transfer?
Ask for guidance in writing when a campus choice or housing decision depends on how credits apply. Also check the program’s degree map and prerequisites. This can help you avoid paying for repeated coursework or planning around a class that is not available at your selected location.
Compare total cost and daily travel
Net cost is the amount you may pay after grants and scholarships are applied. It is more useful than tuition alone because your actual budget may also include housing, food, books, transportation, and campus fees. Compare the same academic year and enrollment plan for each campus option.
Use ASU’s current tuition and cost tools, along with its net price estimate, to build a personal comparison. Include:
- Tuition and mandatory fees for your program and residency status
- Housing and food, if you plan to live away from home
- Transportation, parking, or public transit
- Books, supplies, and required equipment
- Grants, scholarships, and other aid you expect to receive
Complete the FAFSA by the applicable priority deadline and check ASU’s financial-aid pages for term-specific dates. Some scholarships or programs may require a separate application. Do not assume that a published scholarship amount or tuition figure applies to your circumstances; confirm eligibility, renewal rules, and deadlines.
A campus closer to home may reduce housing costs but increase daily travel time or transportation expense. A campus farther away may make campus housing attractive but raise the total cost. Compare both options with a monthly budget and a realistic commute plan. For an eco-conscious choice, consider whether transit, walking, or biking is practical for your actual class locations and schedule.
Campus experience, support, and career fit
Campus life can affect how easily you find support and take part in learning outside class. Compare academic advising, tutoring, student organizations, and access to program facilities at the location where you expect to study. Services and activities may vary by campus, so ask how students in your specific degree use them.
Career claims also need careful checking. Look for program-level information about internships, licensure preparation, career services, and outcomes, and ask how the figures were collected and which students they include. Do not use a campus-wide reputation as a substitute for evidence about your major.
I often help families turn broad preferences into questions they can verify. “I want a hands-on program” becomes: Which courses include lab or project work? Where are they taught? “I want to work while studying” becomes: Can the course schedule fit my job, and are required classes offered at workable times? Specific questions lead to useful answers.
Planning scenarios: how the comparison changes
These are illustrative planning scenarios, not reports about named students. They show how the same campus decision can change once a student checks degree availability, transfer credit, travel, and total cost. Use them as prompts for your own research, then confirm details with ASU.
| Student situation | First check | Decision risk to resolve |
|---|---|---|
| First-year student with a likely major | Confirm the major is offered at the preferred location and review its current admission rules | The general admission standard may not be enough for a specific major |
| Transfer student with prior credits | Request an official evaluation and map accepted credits to the degree | Transfer credits may not meet major requirements |
| Commuter comparing two locations | Check actual class locations, travel time, parking or transit, and schedule | A campus that looks closer may still require long or costly trips |
| Student choosing campus housing | Compare full-year housing and food costs with a commute budget | Housing decisions made before course locations are confirmed can add cost |
The key lesson is simple: do not commit to a location based only on an initial preference. Check the full academic path first, then decide whether the campus and cost plan work for you.
A step-by-step campus decision plan
A clear process can reduce last-minute changes. Use the same steps for each campus you are considering, and keep links or written answers from ASU together so your family can compare facts rather than impressions.
- Set your constraints. Write down your major, student type, start term, residency, commute or housing limit, and need for in-person classes.
- Confirm program availability. Check the ASU degree search, catalog, and program page for each campus option.
- Test the academic plan. Review the degree map, course sequence, prerequisites, facilities, and any special admission or accreditation needs.
- Check admission and transfer details. Review current requirements for your term. Transfer students should request a credit evaluation and confirm how courses apply.
- Compare net cost. Use current ASU cost tools, complete the FAFSA by the relevant priority deadline, and include living and travel costs.
- Confirm the completion plan. Before enrolling, meet with an academic advisor, plan degree-map courses, and track credit, GPA, and financial-aid renewal rules each term.
Frequently asked questions
Which ASU campus is best?
The best campus is the one that offers your intended degree and required courses, fits your learning and travel needs, and works with your net-cost budget.
Are all ASU majors offered at every campus?
No. Program and course availability can differ by location and format. Check the official ASU program page and catalog for your specific major.
Can I choose my campus before selecting a major?
You can explore campuses, but confirm degree availability before making a final choice. Your major may determine where required courses are taught.
What GPA do I need for ASU as a first-year student?
ASU’s published general benchmarks have included a 3.00 GPA in competency courses or other qualifying measures. Current rules and major requirements may differ, so verify them for your term.
What is the general transfer GPA requirement?
ASU generally lists a 2.50 cumulative transfer GPA for applicants with 12 or more transferable college credits. Requirements can vary by major and credit total.
Will all my transfer credits count toward my major?
Not necessarily. A credit may transfer but count only as elective credit. Request an official evaluation and confirm how each course applies to your degree.
How many credits does an ASU bachelor’s degree require?
Most bachelor’s degrees require at least 120 credits, but the cataloged program requirements control. Prerequisites and required experiences can affect your timeline.
When should I submit the FAFSA?
Submit it by the applicable priority deadline for your intended term. Check ASU’s current financial-aid calendar and any separate scholarship application deadlines.
Should I choose a campus based on tuition alone?
No. Compare net cost, including aid, fees, housing, food, and transportation. Tuition by itself does not show what your attendance may cost.
Can I change campuses after enrolling?
Options depend on your program, course availability, and ASU policies. Before changing locations, ask an advisor how the move affects your degree map, course access, and time to finish.
(This article was written by one of our staff writers, Christopher Langston. Visit our Meet the Team page.)
