ASU sets new records with fall 2022 enrollment

Angel Gutierrez is all packed and ready to begin life as a Sun Devil. The first in his family to go to college, Gutierrez worked hard to get here by doubling up on classes his senior year. All that hard work paid off for him as he earned the largest scholarship available to an Arizona resident to begin his college journey studying business law at Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business.

“It’s very exciting because I’ll be the first in my family to go to college. A little nervous too, because no one tells me how to be the first, but I think I’ll be fine,” said Gutierrez, from Glendale, Arizona. 

The son of a single mom, he shares that it was once his mother’s dream to attend Arizona State University.

“She immigrated here and wanted to go here so I’m doing it for her — in a way, I accomplish her dreams, too.” 

As Gutierrez joins his fellow students for the start of the fall semester on Thursday, he will be part of a record number of Sun Devils: 140,759 undergraduate and graduate students are registered for classes this fall, an increase of 5,871 students compared with fall 2021.

Highlights of ASU’s projected record enrollment include:

• 79,232 students will be enrolled across ASU’s campuses and other locations, compared with 76,765 last year — an increase of 3.2%.

• 61,572 students will be enrolled through ASU Online, compared with 57,573 last year — an increase of 6.9%.

• 29,933 graduate students will be enrolled in on-campus and online degree programs, compared with 28,121 last year — a 6.4% increase.

• 13,374 international students from 158 countries will be enrolled in on-campus and online degree programs, compared with 10,821 last year, a 23.6% increase.

• One in three students enrolled at ASU are first-generation college students.

“ASU is growing because there is high demand for knowledge and a need for creative and effective solutions to the challenges facing our nation and our planet,” said ASU President Michael M. Crow. “Students who are ready and eager to expand their intellect and to make a positive impact have a place at ASU. We welcome learners of all backgrounds, perspectives and interests, and we look forward to helping them thrive.”

Among the total number of students enrolled at ASU this fall, nearly 1 in 3 are new to the university. In total, 40,746 new first-year, transfer and graduate students enrolled this fall will be beginning their ASU journey in a campus or online degree program. Among them are a record on-campus, first-year student class of 15,115 students, with an additional 2,721 new first-year students beginning their ASU journey enrolled online.

Highlights of the projected on-campus, new first-year cohort include:

• 8,750 Arizona residents, the largest Arizona new, first-year cohort representing nearly 60% of the class.

• 5,315 students from out of state, an 8.9% increase from the record set in fall 2021, including 1,510 students from California, a 1.5% increase from last fall.

• 1,050 international students from 79 countries, an increase of 44.4% from a year ago.

• A class that is one of the most academically prepared to join ASU, with an average weighted high school GPA of 3.88.

• Nearly 7,000 new first-year students who identify as being from underrepresented populations, representing 46% of the cohort.

A contributing factor to ASU’s growing enrollment is the increase in international students joining the university this fall, with growth in enrollments from countries including Brazil, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Mexico and Vietnam.

One such student is Kushagra Dashora, a new Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering undergraduate from Udaipur, India, who will study robotics.

“I am looking forward to starting my journey with ASU, and I am sure that I will be able to fulfill my aspirations and goals,” Dashora said. “As ASU is known for innovation, the knowledge I gain will positively impact the world and society. I want to utilize my hidden potential to bring out solutions to day-to-day issues faced by humankind through the right use of technology, innovation and solution-based approaches.”

The growth in international enrollment is the result of a considerable enrollment outreach effort that did not slow down during the pandemic, as well as ASU's growing academic reputation abroad.

“ASU’s reputation as a top global university has grown considerably around the world over the past years, particularly in India,” said Matt López, associate vice president of Academic Enterprise Enrollment and executive director of Admission Services. “Once international travel opened up this past year, members of our university leadership team and faculty in our business, design and engineering programs traveled abroad to continue to tell the ASU story. 

“We also have admission staff living around the world building relationships with schools, parents and prospective students, and a number of virtual experiences for students who cannot travel to visit our campuses. This personal and technology-enabled approach is critically important, especially for families and students who make the decision to travel across the globe to achieve their academic and career goals.” 

Another highlight of the new first-year cohort is the record number of Hispanic students. More than 3,900 new first-year campus students identify as Hispanic/Latino — representing a quarter of new first-year students joining ASU on campus. This record comes on the heels of ASU being named as a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education in June.

For Gutierrez, one of the reasons he chose ASU was because he felt at home. 

“I felt ASU was always promoted, and I see how inclusive it is with the Hispanic community,” he said, adding, “There’s lots of resources.”

Nancy Gonzales, executive vice president and university provost, said the university is excited to welcome Sun Devils to the classroom, both on campus and online.

“It is inspiring to see so many students starting or returning to their academic journey this week,” Gonzales said. “And it’s humbling to work alongside the dedicated faculty and academic staff who, year after year, demonstrate a steadfast commitment to the classes they teach, the research they conduct and the services they provide to our enrolled students. It’s because of their work that ASU is prepared to have another successful academic year. Students, the entire Academic Enterprise welcomes you to ASU — we are here to support you throughout your academic journey.”

That journey begins with a week’s worth of welcome activities designed to build community among new and returning students. The activities range from job fairs to carnivals. 

Signature welcome events include:

Sun Devil Welcome and InfernoFest
Tuesday, Aug. 16
7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe campus

Passport to ASU
Wednesday, Aug. 17
4–9 p.m.
Memorial Union, Tempe campus

Sparky’s Carnival
Wednesday, Aug. 17
6–9 p.m.
Civic Space Park and A.E. England building, Downtown Phoenix campus

Sparky’s Day of Service
Wednesday, Aug. 17
9:30 a.m. breakfast; event runs 10 a.m-noon
Student Union (check-in and breakfast)
Cooley Ballroom and Garden Commons, Polytechnic campus

Westfest & Rock the Rec
Thursday, Aug. 18
5–9 p.m.
Sun Devil Fitness Center, West campus

Echo from the Buttes (Update: Canceled due to weather)
Saturday, Aug. 20
8–10 a.m.
“A” Mountain (College Avenue and Fifth Street), Tempe

Find more events at eoss.asu.edu/welcome/events and the ASU Events website.

Read more student stories behind ASU’s record enrollment

• Ohana brings Hawaiian students to ASU
• An education worth waiting for
• A heart of maroon and gold in service and caregiving
• Flight of fancy: Polish student eager to start aviation school

Nikai Salcido, Gabriella Kemp and Kevin Kovaleski contributed to this article. Top photo: (From left) Qamar Outley, Neha Satish, Olivia Radack and Masen Barnes — all first-year students from Arizona — take a stroll on Palm Walk on Monday. Photo by Armand Saavedra/ASU