This school appears in our ranking Top 30 Online Master's in Liberal Studies Degree Programs.
Founded in 1886 as a normal school for teachers, Arizona State University was established 30 years before Arizona even became a state. Throughout its 130-year history, the school has transformed into one of the most well-reviewed universities in the country, boasting a "most innovative" ranking from U.S. News & World Report for three consecutive years. Other accomplishments include a top 10 ranking for employability from the Times Higher Education, a "Best Bang for Tuition Buck" award from the Princeton Review, fifth-place ranking in the nation for producing highly-qualified graduates from The Wall Street Journal, and designation as one of the top universities in the world by the Center for World University Rankings.
These rankings represent a small fraction of the varied awards that Arizona State has received. Over 98,000 students attend classes via six campus locations and online. The school boasts 17 distinct colleges, and students here can choose from over 350 undergraduate programs or 450 graduate programs, along with various certificates for professional or personal development.
In addition to a wide range of program options, students at Arizona State enjoy access to over 400 research opportunities. The school also offers a remarkably small class size ratio given its enrollment size. A student-to-faculty ratio of 22:1 creates a more personal environment for those who need greater attention and focus.
Arizona State University Accreditation Details
Arizona State University holds general accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges. In addition, 19 individual programs have been accredited by varying organizations. AACSB International, for instance, has awarded accreditation to five of the school's business programs, including the Master's of Business Administration, which is offered online. The Master's of Healthcare Innovation, also offered online, is accredited by the Arizona State Board of Nursing and the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education. Students who need accredited programs should check with individual departments to learn more.
Arizona State University Application Requirements
Due to its rigorous standards, Arizona State University requires strong academic competence for applicants. Incoming freshmen must meet one of the following requirements: a GPA of 3.0 or higher; a ranking in the top 25 percent of their high school class; or an ACT score of at least 22 for Arizona residents and 24 for non-residents, or an SAT Reasoning score of 1040 for Arizona residents and 1110 for non-residents. Applications can be submitted online with a nonrefundable application fee of $70, but official sealed transcripts and copies of test scores must be mailed to the school.
Graduate applicants need to hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited school as well as a 3.0 GPA for the last 60 hours or 90 quarter hours of their undergraduate program. Additional documentation for graduate programs might include:
- A current resume
- Letters of recommendation
- Official testing scores, such as the GRE or GMAT
- A personal statement
- Short-answer questions
- A personal statement
Transcripts should be sealed and mailed directly to the school. There's a $70 nonrefundable application fee for graduate students. Applicants should also check with individual programs for specific guidelines on application requirements. The school also encourages applicants to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid to determine eligibility for financing, scholarships, grants and other opportunities.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Students attending classes at Arizona State University benefit from an affordable education. The school was named a "best buy" by the Fiske Guide to Colleges. Online students take the same classes as those taught on campus, and Arizona State doesn't charge online students out-of-state fees, making these classes more cost-effective than many off-campus programs.
Undergraduates pay between $510 and $718 per credit hour, which includes program fees. Graduate students pay between $512 and $1,312 per credit hour, including program fees, depending on program type. Students seeking an online certificate pay between $490 and $1,132 per credit hour, and there are no additional program fees. These rates apply to all students regardless of residency status. The school provides a calculator on its tuition page for estimating yearly tuition costs by program.
Despite Arizona State's affordability, the cost of attending school can be daunting. Students enrolled here can pursue several options for funding their education, including grants, scholarships, loans and work-study opportunities. The university awards merit-based scholarships to incoming freshmen, but other opportunities may be available for students who meet certain criteria and who enroll in certain programs. During the 2012-2013 academic year, Arizona State awarded over $1 billion in financial aid of all types, $413 million of which was in grants and scholarships. More than 88 percent of students here receive some form of financial aid.
Online Degrees Available
Arizona State offers a broad range of online degree programs for students who can't or don't want to attend classes in person. The online Master's of Business Administration was recently ranked by U.S. News and World Report as second in the nation, superseding a third-place ranking in 2017. For the second year in a row, the school's online bachelor's programs ranked fourth in the nation while the master's degree in criminal justice ranked fifth.
Arizona State currently lists 151 online programs on its website: 72 bachelor's degrees, 55 master's degrees, three doctoral degrees, 19 graduate certificates and two undergraduate certificates. Highlights include the:
- Bachelor's of Science in Community Health
- Master's of Business Administration
- Doctor of Education in Leadership and Innovation
- Graduate certificate in Healthcare Innovation
- Undergraduate certificate in Homeland Security
Along with being accredited by AACSB International, the online Master's of Business Administration offers students the chance to take classes from a top-30 business school without having to attend physical classes. Courses take about five weeks each to complete, and there are 17 required classes totaling 49 credit hours. Students can start in January or August each year.
The doctorate in educational leadership requires 90 hours total, 30 of which are conferred from a student's master's degree. Each class takes around 7.5 weeks to complete. For undergraduate students, the Bachelor of Science in Community Health provides students with education and training in working with specific communities as health care advocates.
Whether they choose physical classes or an online degree program, students who enroll at Arizona State benefit from the lengthy history and respected reputation of one of the country's best schools. Flexible scheduling, affordable tuition and access to a bevy of services make Arizona State University a good choice for students who need to bolster their education and advance their careers.