Arizona State University  (commonly referred to as ASU or Arizona State) is a public flagship metropolitan Research University located on five campuses across the Phoenix, Arizona, metropolitan area, and four regional learning centers throughout Arizona. The 2016 university ratings by U.S. News & World Report rank ASU No. 1 among the Most Innovative Schools in America.

ASU is the largest public university by enrolment in the U.S. Current ASU President Michael Crow introduced the concept of “One university in many places” in 2004 to reflect the university’s growth. ASU now comprises 16 colleges and schools that offer more personalized experiences for students, while offering opportunities to collaborate across disciplines and campuses.

ASU’s charter, approved by the board of regents in 2014, is based on the “New American University” model created by Crow. It defines ASU as “a comprehensive public research university, measured not by whom it excludes, but rather by whom it includes and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities it serves.”

ASU is classified as a research university with very high research activity (RU/VH) by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Since 2005 ASU has been ranked among the top research universities, public and private, in the U.S. based on research output, innovation, development, research expenditures, number of awarded patents and awarded research grant proposals. The Centre for Measuring University Performance currently ranks ASU 31st among top U.S. public research universities. ASU was classified as a Research institute in 1994, making it one of the newest major research universities (public or private) in the nation.

ASU offers over 250 majors to undergraduate students, and more than 100 graduate programs leading to numerous masters and doctoral degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, design and arts, engineering, journalism, education, business, law, nursing, public policy, technology, and sustainability. These programs are divided into 16 colleges and schools which are spread across ASU’s six campuses. ASU also offers the 4+1 accelerated program, which allows
students in their senior year to attain their master’s degree the following year. ASU uses a plus-minus grading system with highest cumulative GPA awarded of 4.0 (at time of graduation). Arizona State University is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.