Arizona State University
On the 12th of March 1885, the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature passed an act to create a normal school to train teachers for the Arizona Territory. The institution opened its doors on the 8th of February 1886, with just 33 students attending classes in a single four-room schoolhouse. This original campus sat on a 20-acre plot largely donated by Tempe residents George and Martha Wilson. The school began as the Territorial Normal School at Tempe, serving as one of about 180 such institutions founded in the late 19th century to support rapidly growing public common schools.
The curriculum evolved over decades while the name changed multiple times to reflect shifting educational goals. It became known as the Tempe Normal School of Arizona from 1889 to 1903, then simply the Tempe Normal School until 1925. Under President Arthur John Matthews, who served from 1900 to 1930, the school gained all-college student status and constructed the first dormitories built in the state in 1902. Matthews also planted 110 Mexican Fan Palms along what is now Palm Walk, creating a century-old landmark that still defines the campus today.
In 1923, the school stopped offering high school courses and added a high school diploma to admissions requirements. By 1925, it had become the Tempe State Teachers College, offering four-year Bachelor of Education degrees alongside two-year teaching certificates. The institution was renamed the Arizona State Teachers College in 1929 after the 9th Arizona State Legislature authorized Bachelor of Arts in Education degrees. A final vote by the state's voters in 1958 approved the name change to Arizona State University with a 2, 1 margin.
Michael M. Crow assumed office as the university's 16th president on the 1st of July 2002, outlining a vision to transform ASU into a New American University. His strategy focused on making the institution open and inclusive while setting goals to meet Association of American Universities criteria. Crow initiated the transformation of ASU into One university in many places, creating a single institution comprising several campuses that share students, faculty, staff, and accreditation.
During his tenure, hundreds of millions of dollars in donations funded years-long research facility capital building efforts. These investments led to the establishment of the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University and the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability. Since 2002, the university's research expenditures have tripled, adding more than 1.5 million square feet of space to its research facilities. Five Nobel Laureates joined the faculty during this period of rapid growth.
The economic downturn beginning in 2008 caused large cuts to ASU's budget, forcing the university to cap enrollment and close some four dozen academic programs. Administrators combined departments and consolidated colleges to reduce costs. By 2011, with economic recovery underway, the campaign continued to expand the West Valley and Polytechnic Campuses. In September 2024, ASU announced further cuts including the closure of the Lake Havasu City campus due to state budget constraints.
Arizona State University currently operates 16 colleges and schools offering over 350 undergraduate majors and more than 100 graduate programs. The institution serves 160,051 students enrolled across its four campuses and four regional learning centers throughout Arizona. Of that total, 81,541 students attend online courses through ASU Online, which holds headquarters at SkySong in Scottsdale.
In 2025, U.S. News & World Report ranked ASU tied for 1st among most innovative schools nationwide. The same publication placed it tied for 192nd globally and 57th among public universities in the United States. The Wall Street Journal ranks ASU 5th in the nation for producing best-qualified graduates based on a nationwide poll of corporate recruiters. The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism has been named one of America's top 10 journalism schools by national publications for more than a decade.
The university admitted 88% of all freshman applicants during the 2022, 2023 academic year with an average high school GPA of 3.54. Barrett, The Honors College enrolls 7,236 students including 719 National Merit Scholars. International students comprise 14.3% of the total student population representing more than 150 nations. In June 2022, the institution was designated a Hispanic-serving institution after Hispanic students comprised over 25% of undergraduate enrollment for the first time.
ASU functions as a NASA designated national space-grant institute and became a member of the Association of American Universities in 2023. The university spent $673 million in fiscal year 2020 on research activities, ranking it 43rd nationally. Faculty members include five Nobel Laureates, 11 MacArthur Fellows, 10 Pulitzer Prize winners, and numerous members of prestigious academies.
The Biodesign Institute conducts biomedical research while collaborating with Mayo Clinic to diagnose and treat diseases. This institute has attracted more than $760 million in external funding and generated 35 spinout companies based on its research. During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Biodesign developed a rapid saliva-based testing option that reached one million tests by October 2021. Professor Charles Arntzen's work enabled production of Ebola antibodies in modified tobacco plants used to create the therapeutic ZMapp.
NASA selected Lindy Elkins-Tanton of ASU in 2017 to lead a deep space mission to Psyche, a metal asteroid believed to be a former planetary core. The $450 million project represents the first NASA mission led entirely by the university. Researchers at the Flexible Display Center created the world's largest flexible full-color organic light-emitting diode measuring 14.7 inches in 2013. The Army Research Laboratory extended funding for this center with a $50 million grant in 2009.
ASU maintains four campuses in the Phoenix metropolitan area including Tempe, West Valley, Downtown Phoenix, and Polytechnic. The Tempe campus spans approximately 419 acres and serves as the university's research and graduate school center. It houses 55,312 students enrolled as of fall 2025 and features landmarks like Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
The institution generates over 24 megawatts of electricity from on-campus solar arrays across 88 photovoltaic installations containing 81,424 solar panels. An additional 29 MWdc solar installation was dedicated at Red Rock in January 2017 bringing total capacity to 50 MWdc. Six wind turbines installed on the roof of the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability building have operated since October 2008 producing enough electricity to power approximately 36 computers under normal conditions.
In 2021, ASU researchers installed passive radiative cooling film on local Tempe bus shelters to cool temperatures during daytime without energy use. The film produced by 3M cooled shelter temperatures by 4 degrees Celsius. The university has embraced ambitious sustainability goals including reducing water consumption rates by 50% and achieving carbon neutrality for Scope 1, 2, and non-transportation Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions.
Sparky the Sun Devil became the official mascot after being named by student vote on the 8th of November 1946. His routine includes performing pushups after every touchdown scored by the team while aided by Sparky's Crew male yell leaders who meet physical requirements. Female members form the Spirit Squad categorized into dance lines and spirit lines that compete annually at ESPN Universal Dance Association College Nationals.
A letter A has existed on the slope of Tempe Butte since 1918 with the current version constructed of reinforced concrete in 1955 following destruction by pipe bombs in 1952. The Lantern Walk tradition dates back to 1917 marking work done by those associated with ASU throughout history. Participants walk through campus following a path up to A Mountain to light up Tempe culminating with fireworks displays held week before Homecoming which began in 1924.
The Sun Devil Marching Band created in 1915 received the Sudler Trophy from John Philip Sousa Foundation in 1991 making it one of only 28 bands nationally earning this designation. The band performs at every football game played in Sun Devil Stadium including appearances in Fiesta Bowl Rose Bowl Holiday Bowl and Super Bowl XLII. Students participate in traditions like guarding the A mountain by camping on the mountainside before games with rival schools.
Football programs founded in 1896 under coach Fred Irish have appeared in 29 bowl games with records showing wins in 1970 and 1975 for NCAA Division I FBS National Football Championship titles. The team has participated in Fiesta Bowl five times between 1971 and 1983 winning three of those contests plus victories in 1987 Rose Bowl and 1997 Rose Bowl.
ASU plans to expand athletic facilities through public-private investment strategies creating an amateur sports district accommodating Pan American Games operations as Olympic Training Center. This includes $300 million renovation of Sun Devil Stadium featuring new football facilities remodeled press boxes and offices completed in 2012. Athletic director Ray Anderson replaced Steve Patterson who was appointed position in 2012 replacing Lisa Love former Senior Associate Athletic Director at University of Southern California.
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Common questions
When was Arizona State University founded and how many students attended the first classes?
Arizona State University opened its doors on the 8th of February 1886 with just 33 students attending classes in a single four-room schoolhouse. The institution began as the Territorial Normal School at Tempe to train teachers for the Arizona Territory.
Who is the current president of Arizona State University and when did he assume office?
Michael M. Crow assumed office as the university's 16th president on the 1st of July 2002. He outlined a vision to transform ASU into a New American University focused on openness and inclusivity while meeting Association of American Universities criteria.
How many campuses does Arizona State University operate and where are they located?
Arizona State University maintains four campuses in the Phoenix metropolitan area including Tempe, West Valley, Downtown Phoenix, and Polytechnic. The Tempe campus spans approximately 419 acres and serves as the university's research and graduate school center.
What is the enrollment size and student demographics of Arizona State University as of fall 2025?
The institution serves 160,051 students enrolled across its four campuses and four regional learning centers throughout Arizona. Of that total, 81,541 students attend online courses through ASU Online which holds headquarters at SkySong in Scottsdale.
When was Sparky the Sun Devil named the official mascot of Arizona State University?
Sparky the Sun Devil became the official mascot after being named by student vote on the 8th of November 1946. His routine includes performing pushups after every touchdown scored by the team while aided by Sparky's Crew male yell leaders who meet physical requirements.