Admissions·United States· 9 min read

How to Get Into Arizona State University (ASU)

A clear guide to Arizona State University admission: the ASU or Common App application and MyASU portal, ASU's assured-admission benchmarks, competency courses and deficiency rules, direct admission to your major, and rolling review.

Last updated 7 July 2026

Key facts

Application system: ASU application or Common App (no preference) + MyASU portal
Assured admission (one of): Top 25% class rank, 3.00 competency GPA, or qualifying ACT/SAT — verify current numbers
Major admission: Direct admission to nearly all majors; some have higher requirements
Test scores: Optional for admission and merit scholarships; encouraged for placement
Verify at: ASU Admission (admission.asu.edu)

Why ASU's admission works differently

Arizona State University (ASU) is a large public university in the Phoenix metro area and one of the biggest destinations for international and graduate students in the United States. What sets its undergraduate admission apart from many peers is that it publishes clear, benchmark-based admission criteria instead of a purely holistic, mystery process.

You can apply with either the ASU application or the Common App — ASU states it has no preference and does not require an essay for either, so you submit only one. After you apply, you track your file in MyASU, the university's student portal, where you can also pay the application fee. This benchmark-plus-portal approach makes ASU relatively predictable: if you clearly meet the published criteria for both the university and your major, and complete every step, you are in a strong position.

Always confirm the current criteria and steps on ASU's official admission website, since benchmarks and processes can change.

Apply with the ASU application or the Common App (no preference; submit only one)
Track your file and pay the fee in the MyASU portal
Published benchmark criteria make eligibility relatively transparent

ASU's assured-admission benchmarks

ASU publishes specific benchmarks for admission, and you generally need to meet one of them. The commonly listed paths are: ranking in the top 25% of your high school graduating class, a 3.00 unweighted GPA in the competency courses, or qualifying ACT/SAT scores (recently listed as ACT 22 or SAT 1120 for residents, and ACT 24 or SAT 1180 for nonresidents).

Because these are alternative paths, a student who does not hit one benchmark may still qualify through another. That is why ASU is often described as offering assured admission to applicants who clearly meet a published standard.

The exact numbers can change between cycles, so treat the figures above as recent examples and verify the current benchmarks on ASU's official first-year admission page before you rely on them.

Top 25% of your high school class, or
3.00 unweighted GPA in competency courses, or
Qualifying ACT/SAT (recently ACT 22 / SAT 1120 resident; ACT 24 / SAT 1180 nonresident) — verify current numbers

Competency courses and how deficiencies work

ASU expects a specific set of high school competency courses. The published list recently included four years of math, four years of English (non-ESL/ELL), three years of lab sciences, two years of social science (with a year of American history), two years of the same second language, and one year of fine arts or career-and-technical education.

ASU has a defined way of handling gaps. Admission may be granted with one deficiency in no more than two competency areas, and deficiencies cannot be in both math and laboratory science. Students are also expected to maintain a minimum grade in each subject area.

This is helpful for international applicants and students from varied curricula: rather than an opaque judgment, there is a concrete framework. Map your transcript against the current competency list on ASU's official page and note any gaps you may need to address.

Competency courses span math, English, lab science, social science, language, and arts/CTE
One deficiency allowed in no more than two areas; not in both math and lab science
Minimum subject-area grades apply — check the current framework on the official site

Direct admission to your major

ASU offers direct admission to nearly all of its majors. In practice, this means that if you meet the admission requirements for both the university and your chosen major and complete the application steps, you are admitted straight into that major rather than into a general pool.

Some degree programs carry higher aptitude requirements than the university baseline. Selective or specialized majors — for example, certain programs in engineering, nursing, or design — may expect stronger preparation or additional criteria. ASU's Degree Search lists the specific requirements for each major.

When you apply, choose your major deliberately and check its individual requirements. If a major has a higher bar, plan your coursework and, where relevant, test scores to meet it. Confirm each major's current criteria through ASU's official Degree Search.

Direct admission to nearly all majors when you meet university + major requirements
Some programs have higher aptitude requirements than the baseline
Check each major's specific criteria in ASU's Degree Search

Applying: portal, fees, and timing

After you submit the ASU or Common App application, you use MyASU to track your file and pay the application fee. Because ASU emphasizes applying before its published priority date, it operates in a way that rewards early, complete applications rather than a single hard cutoff for review.

Standardized test scores are not required for admission or for ASU merit-based scholarship consideration, but ASU encourages them because they can help with course placement. If you have strong scores, sending them can still be worthwhile.

Submit a complete file — application, fee or waiver, transcripts, and any scores — and monitor MyASU for outstanding items. Verify the current fee, priority date, and document requirements on ASU's official admission pages.

Apply via the ASU or Common App application; track and pay through MyASU
Test scores optional for admission and merit scholarships, but encouraged for placement
Apply early and complete; verify fee and priority date on the official site

An ASU application checklist

Start with your major: look it up in Degree Search and note its specific requirements, including any higher aptitude bar. Then check yourself against ASU's assured-admission benchmarks and the competency-course list, and identify any deficiencies to explain or address.

Submit the ASU or Common App application, activate MyASU, pay the fee, and send official transcripts. Decide whether to send SAT or ACT scores — not required for admission or merit aid, but useful for placement. International applicants should also complete English-proficiency and credential-evaluation requirements.

Because ASU rewards early, complete applications, aim to finish your file well before the priority date. Confirm the full, current checklist on ASU's official admission website.

Look up your major's requirements in Degree Search first
Check yourself against benchmarks and the competency list; note deficiencies
Submit early; international applicants add English-proficiency and credential steps

Frequently asked questions

What application does ASU use?

You can apply to Arizona State University with either the ASU application or the Common Application — ASU has no preference and does not require an essay for either, and you should submit only one. After applying, you track your file through the MyASU portal, where you can also pay the application fee. Confirm the current application steps on ASU's official admission website.

What are ASU's assured-admission requirements?

ASU publishes benchmarks and generally expects one of: ranking in the top 25% of your high school class, a 3.00 unweighted GPA in competency courses, or qualifying ACT/SAT scores (recently ACT 22 / SAT 1120 for residents; ACT 24 / SAT 1180 for nonresidents). These are alternative paths and can change — verify the current numbers on ASU's official first-year admission page.

What if I'm missing a required competency course?

ASU allows admission with one deficiency in no more than two competency areas, and deficiencies cannot be in both math and laboratory science, with minimum subject-area grades expected. Map your transcript against the current competency list on the official ASU page to see whether any gaps fall within the allowed framework.

Does ASU admit students directly to their major?

Yes. ASU offers direct admission to nearly all majors: meet the requirements for both the university and your chosen major, complete the steps, and you are admitted into that major. Some programs have higher aptitude requirements. Check each major's specific criteria in ASU's official Degree Search.

Are SAT or ACT scores required at ASU?

No. Standardized test scores are not required for admission to ASU or for ASU merit-based scholarship consideration, though ASU encourages them because they can help with course placement. If you have strong scores, submitting them can still be worthwhile. Verify the current testing policy on ASU's official admission page.

Official sources

This guide explains the process and is for guidance only. Eligibility, dates, fees and rules change every year — always confirm the current details on the official site before you act.

Verified against: ASU — First-year admission requirements; ASU — Apply; ASU — International first-year student; ASU Engineering — Undergraduate Admission Requirements; ASU — Admission FAQs.

Last verified: 7 July 2026.