Eligibility depends on level and intended degree
ASU does not apply one academic threshold to every applicant. International first-year admission, transfer admission and graduate admission use different records and standards; competitive or professionally accredited programmes may add requirements. Begin by locating the exact programme in ASU Degree Search, then match your status to the correct route. A high-school graduate with no extensive college work should review first-year credentials and school-subject competencies. Applicants with transferable credits should use the transfer route even if they have not completed a degree. Graduate applicants need an internationally recognized bachelor’s degree equivalent and must satisfy both university and department requirements. Meeting a published minimum is a floor for consideration, not a promise of admission, scholarship or a particular major. If your country’s credential format differs from U.S. transcripts, use ASU’s country-specific guidance rather than converting marks yourself.
Source: International first-year student
School-subject competencies for international high-school records
For international students who completed high school outside the United States, ASU lists four years of mathematics, including Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II and a further course requiring Algebra II as a prerequisite, plus three years of laboratory science. The listed science areas include biology, chemistry, earth science, integrated science and physics. This is a competency framework for the school record; it should not be mistaken for a universal requirement that every student take a specific subject sequence in the same national curriculum. Applicants whose prior high school was in the United States follow a broader subject list, including English, social science, foreign language and fine arts. ASU says some majors may set higher admission requirements or consider ACT/SAT results. Use the programme-specific page to identify those differences and ask Admission Services how a national credential maps when an exact subject title is not obvious.
Source: International transfer student
Transfer GPA is based on recognized college credits
ASU’s international transfer page distinguishes applicants by transferable credit volume. Students with 24 or more transferable credits need a minimum 2.50 cumulative transfer GPA; those with 12–23 credits need the same transfer GPA and must also satisfy first-year admission requirements. The page separately lists a 2.00 cumulative GPA for applicants who have earned an associate degree or higher from a regionally accredited higher-education institution. ASU notes that a “C-” or better is accepted for college-level courses, but how a prior course transfers and applies to a degree is a separate academic evaluation. A programme can require a stronger record than the general transfer minimum. Submit every high-school and college transcript, including records from institutions where you did not complete a degree, and use the transfer guide to assess individual courses rather than relying only on a cumulative GPA.
Source: International transfer student
Graduate eligibility combines degree equivalency and department rules
For master’s, certificate and doctoral admission, ASU’s general graduate requirements state that applicants need a bachelor’s degree or higher from a recognized institution, or an international equivalent officially recognized in the country where it was earned. ASU describes a B average, or 3.00 on a 4.00 scale, in the last 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours as typical for competitive applicants; it notes that a department may still consider applicants who do not meet a minimum GPA. Departments may weigh prior coursework, research preparation, GRE or GMAT results, letters, portfolio, writing sample or work experience. These are not universal documents: consult the actual programme entry and contact its academic unit when the academic background is nonstandard. An approved credential evaluation can add context but does not automatically substitute for official records or override departmental prerequisites.
Source: International graduate student
English proficiency and possible exemptions
ASU’s international undergraduate page accepts multiple English routes, including TOEFL, IELTS Academic, Pearson PTE, Duolingo and Cambridge English exams, as well as specific Global Launch pathways. For general undergraduate programmes it currently lists IELTS Academic 6.0, PTE 53, Duolingo 95 and Cambridge 170; it also has different thresholds for selected programmes such as nursing, engineering and journalism. The TOEFL scale changed for tests taken from Jan. 21, 2026, so applicants should not compare a newer score to the older 0–120 scale without checking the published conversion. ASU states that most listed exams must be no more than two years old by the start date. Some applicants may qualify for an exemption based on citizenship, English-medium schooling or U.S. college work, but ASU may require a form and supporting evidence. Check the route for your intended level: graduate English requirements are on a separate page.
Source: English proficiency for international undergraduate applicants
A checklist for resolving an unusual credential
Create a one-page record of your credential name, awarding authority, school years, grades, mathematics and laboratory science coursework, English test and prior college credits. Match each document to the ASU route and degree requirements; keep the original-language document alongside a certified translation. If a transcript uses a national grading scale or course label that does not map neatly to the published U.S.-style competency list, ask ASU to evaluate the actual record instead of converting it into a guessed GPA. For transfer applicants, identify courses with syllabi and course descriptions if you want a content-based credit review. For graduate applicants, ask the department whether the prior degree and prerequisite subject background are appropriate. This preparation is especially useful when a student has mixed schooling systems or a change in major; it does not guarantee a waiver or admission decision.
Source: International graduate student