Statements from President Crow

Arizona State University, as the prototype for a New American University, uniquely focuses on the simultaneous achievement of excellence, access and impact, with the success of our students as a principle priority.

Sun Devils are distinguished by their intellectual curiosity, competitiveness and dedication to excellence. Our primary objective is to produce “master learners:” individuals who are capable of learning anything and adjusting to our rapidly changing society. We offer learning environments that empower creative and entrepreneurial individuals to “learn how to learn” so they can acclimate to changing circumstances, become more engaged citizens and create a better, more prosperous future.

Our students, faculty and staff continue to advance the university in major ways as evidenced by the following sampling of achievements:

• ASU has been selected by U.S. News and World Report as the most innovative university in the United States for the second consecutive year, ahead of Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
• ASU ranked in the top 10 in the U.S. for employability by the Global
  University Employability Survey 2016, ahead of MIT, Columbia University and UCLA.
• U.S. News and World Report ranks ASU’s online bachelor’s degree program No. 4 in the nation, ahead of Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State University and the University of Illinois.

• ASU has been selected to lead the Psyche Mission, a $450 million grant which will be a deep-space NASA mission.

Our commitment to affordable access to the most innovative school in the country is unparalleled. Five years ago, we indicated we would not raise tuition more than three percent per year for resident students for 10 years. We have maintained that commitment. We have also increased access across every income level, with the greatest growth in lower and middle-income families.

The tuition request we have advanced to the Arizona Board of Regents for resident students for the 2017-2018 academic year is an increase of 1.5% ($150). This is approximately the level of the Higher Education Price Index change. The net result of this proposed increase would be the lowest incoming tuition rate for resident students in the Arizona higher education enterprise. Currently, net tuition paid (tuition paid after grants, gift aid and tuition benefits, no loans) for resident students is approximately $1,800 per year. We will continue our commitment to gift aid to ensure that our net tuition level stays in that range.

Our out of state requests and international requests are 3.5% and 4.5% respectively.  These increases are market driven and still keep ASU in the range of national averages, below many or our major public university competitors such as the University of Washington, University of Texas and UCLA (approximately $5,000 -$6,000 less); and far below many of our private university competitors such as the University of Southern California, New York University and Columbia University (approximately $25,000 less).

Our team at all levels has worked diligently to build and maintain an operating environment that allows us to maintain these tuition levels through diversification and prudent stewardship of all revenue sources.

We have made a commitment to the citizens of Arizona to fulfill the requirements of the Arizona Constitution to provide public education while seeking appropriate and fair public investment in the costs of education for Arizona resident students. We continue to work with the state legislature in this regard and believe that the tuition proposal under consideration is an appropriate and fair investment for students and their families. 

To read ASU’s complete 2017-18 tuition proposal, please click here.