The Princeton Review has named Arizona State University one of the Best 386 Colleges in its 2021 rankings, which were compiled by surveying 143,000 students across the country.
In the 29th edition of the rankings, ASU is listed under the category of "great schools for some of the most popular undergraduate majors," highlighting ASU’s agriculture, business and finance, and journalism programs four years running. Students surveyed by The Princeton Review were quick to call the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication "one of the best journalism schools in the nation."
Along with other strong academic programs and research opportunities, students also praised ASU’s "renowned business school" (W. P. Carey School of Business) and "great engineering program" (Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering). Undergraduates celebrated the university’s diverse student body, and notwithstanding ASU’s size, students mentioned that the university does a good job of personalizing experiences while providing an "abundance of resources," and praising their "enthusiastic, supportive and engaged" professors.
“ASU’s achievements are largely measured by the collaborative efforts created by faculty and students, especially in the field of research,” said Mark Searle, executive vice president and university provost. “We are constantly looking for ways to expand opportunities inside and outside the classroom, building stronger academic programs and innovative pathways for students to enable their success in pursuing their career aspirations and graduate or professional education.”
On sustainability, The Princeton Review ranked ASU nearly perfect. On a scale of 60-99, ASU’s green rating is 98, and has been for four years straight. ASU’s most recent commitment to sustainability involved the launch of the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory, which is dedicated to keeping our planet habitable and future generations thriving. For this ranking, university and colleges are graded on whether students’ campus quality of life are both healthy and sustainable, how well the institution prepares students for clean-energy jobs and how environmentally responsible school policies are.
Not only is academic success for students important to ASU, so is access. Over the past four years, The Princeton Review’s financial aid ranking for ASU has gone up — now ranked at 85, on a scale of 60-99. The rating, based on school-reported data, measures how much financial aid the university has provided to students and how satisfied they are with the financial support.
ASU’s students’ quality of life ranking has also gone up — measured at 87, on a scale of 60-99. This ranking sums up students’ happiness outside the classroom based on factors like campus location, safety, residence hall comfort, quality of food and the friendliness of fellow students. Surveyed students suggested it’s virtually impossible to be bored on ASU campuses because students are so active and full of school spirit. ASU ranked No. 1 out of 20 universities and colleges across the nation in The Princeton Review’s “Students Pack the Stadiums” category, which is based on popularity of intercollegiate sports (in pre-pandemic times). ASU was also ranked No. 3 out of 20 for “Best College Radio Station.”
Top photo by Deanna Dent
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