ASU ranked a top university for access, affordability, outcomes
Washington Monthly calls ASU 'one of the most important institutions in American higher education'

By Mary Beth Faller, ASU News
September 11, 2025

Arizona State University has ranked eighth in the country among public national institutions for “2025 Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars.”

The ranking, determined by the recently published Washington Monthly annual College Guide and Rankings, placed ASU ahead of the University of California, Los Angeles, the University of Wisconsin and the University of Illinois in the public national university category.

The magazine bases its ranking on four equally weighted measures: access, affordability, outcomes, and community and national service. The top-ranked colleges must be excellent in all four categories.

The magazine called ASU “one of the most important institutions in American higher education.”

ASU ranked 18th overall among all U.S. national universities — public and private.

The top-ranked public institution is California State University, Fresno, and the overall top-ranked university is Berea, a private liberal arts college in Kentucky that provides free tuition in a work-study model.

In addition, in the category “Best National Universities for Access,” which measures how universities provide access to low-income students, ASU placed seventh among public national universities, ahead of the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Illinois and Ohio State University.

“This recognition reflects the work of our faculty and staff who are deeply committed to ensuring that every student who chooses ASU has the opportunity to succeed,” said Nancy Gonzales, executive vice president and university provost.

“We are proud to be acknowledged for advancing access and affordability while delivering outcomes that change lives," she said. “These rankings affirm that our relentless focus on the principles of the ASU Charter serves both our students and the broader public good.”

The magazine also published a list of “25 Best in Class Colleges” that includes ASU. The category is meant to highlight institutions “… that show what’s possible when colleges put students and the public good first.”

“ASU is one of the largest and most ambitious public universities in the country," the publication wrote. "Forty-two percent (of students) are the first in their families to attend college, and 31% receive Pell Grants. The school admits almost all students who meet basic requirements and maintains a relatively low net price of $10,638. Median student debt at graduation — $19,926 — is well below the national average ... ASU has grown into the opposite of an ivory tower.

“It has a sprawling physical presence, a diverse student body, and a research engine that ranks 26th in the nation in producing STEM PhDs ... affordable, flexible, career focused, and rich in opportunity. Few schools can say the same at ASU’s scale."

This story originally appeared on ASU News.