🎯 Key facts: scale, scope and credibility
• Very large-scale online university
- ASU Online offers over 300 degree programs (undergraduate, graduate, and certificate). ASU News+2ASU News+2
- As of 2024, ASU Online had surpassed 100,000 graduates. ASU News
- Online courses at ASU are taught by the same faculty as on-campus classes, using identical curricula and learning outcomes. ASU News+2edplus.asu.edu+2
- The online degree is indistinguishable on the diploma from the traditional, on-campus degree: e.g. graduates don’t get “Online B.A.” — just “B.A., Arizona State University.” ASU News+2cms.asuonline.asu.edu+2
• Recognized nationally & globally for online quality
- In 2025, ASU earned a Gold rating from the Times Higher Education (THE) Online Learning Ranking — one of only a few global universities awarded that distinction. ASU News
- According to U.S. News & World Report (2024 rankings), ASU’s online bachelor’s programs rank among the top 5– 10 nationwide, and its online business bachelor’s program ranks very near the top. ASU News+2ASU News+2
- Many individual online degrees — especially business, education, engineering — consistently land in top-10 lists. ASU News+2ASU News+2
Bottom line: ASU Online is not a “second-tier” or “deal” online university — it is a major, flagship public research university that has invested heavily in its digital learning infrastructure.
✅ What ASU Online does well (strengths)
Flexibility, accessibility, and inclusion
- Courses are often fully asynchronous — you don’t have to log in at set times. This is especially valuable if you’re working, traveling, or in a different time zone. asuonline.asu.edu+2edplus.asu.edu+2
- As an online student, you still get access to many of the same supports as traditional students: tutoring, academic advising, career counseling, mental-health resources, and more. edplus.asu.edu+2cms.asuonline.asu.edu+2
- Online students can often participate in extracurricular activities — join clubs, attend certain events, access campus facilities — under certain conditions. cms.asuonline.asu.edu+1
- For many, online delivery removes geographical or time-constraint barriers: people who cannot relocate, those with jobs, caretakers — all can access a major university’s credentials without uprooting their lives.
Breadth of programs, including STEM and technical fields
- The more than 300 programs cover a wide range: humanities, social sciences, business, education, engineering, health sciences, technical fields, etc. ASU News+2cms.asuonline.asu.edu+2
- Notably, ASU offers lab-science and engineering programs online — a nontrivial offering for a large university’s distance-learning branch. cms.asuonline.asu.edu+2ASU News+2
- The quality is (by most publicly available metrics) roughly equivalent to on-campus offerings. edplus.asu.edu+2cms.asuonline.asu.edu+2
Affordability for many students
- ASU Online states for many of its programs that there is no out-of-state tuition penalty for online students. Tuition+2cms.asuonline.asu.edu+2
- Since tuition and fee models are different than standard campus enrollment, online students may benefit from cost savings compared to moving/residing on campus (no housing/food/commute costs).
- Financial aid — including federal aid for eligible students — is available and encouraged. asuonline.asu.edu+1
Outcomes & degree value
- With over 100,000 graduates, ASU Online has produced a substantial alumni pool. ASU News+1
- The fact that top-ranked programs (business, education, engineering) are offered online — and recognized nationally — tends to support employer acceptance of those credentials. ASU News+2ASU News+2
⚠️ What to check carefully (trade-offs, caveats, potential drawbacks)
Not all majors are equal: quality and suitability vary by discipline
- While many programs — including STEM ones — are offered fully online, some fields (especially lab-intensive, hands-on, or certification-heavy ones) may not translate well to fully remote learning. Even when labs are “simulated” online, certain practical skills or experiences might be harder to achieve compared to an in-person program. Several online-student reports from Reddit reflect this concern: “in a lot of fields you have to get certifications… the online program just wanted their money.” Reddit
- Online learning in general demands self-motivation, strong time management, and discipline. Without these, students may struggle — especially in technical or demanding disciplines.
Mixed feedback from student/community reviews
- Some online students praise the flexibility and support: “The discords are lively ~ fellow online student.” Reddit
- Others complain about quality, instructor engagement, and cost: “I am currently doing Software Engineering online at ASU … I would say ASU online is overpriced for what you get. … the school’s name is well known.” Reddit
- As with big online universities in general, experiences are uneven — much depends on the specific program, instructor, and a student’s own commitment.
Cost can still accumulate — and clarity matters
- Although ASU Online may not charge out-of-state tuition for online classes, tuition is still billed per credit hour, especially for non-resident students. catalog.asu.edu+2cms.asuonline.asu.edu+2
- Extra fees may apply (depending on program, credit load, and additional services). catalog.asu.edu+1
- Living, materials, certification/licensing costs, and — where relevant — costs of hands-on training or lab-equipment can still add up (especially for international or remote students).
Social / networking / campus-life tradeoffs
- While ASU Online offers clubs, online social events, and access to some campus resources, the online student experience will inevitably differ from the on-campus student experience — especially regarding hands-on labs, in-person networking, spontaneous interactions, campus life, etc. cms.asuonline.asu.edu+2asuonline.asu.edu+2
- For fields where local/regional accreditation or practical licensing matters (e.g. engineering, health, certain professions), ensure you check: does your country or region accept an online-earned degree + licensing from a U.S. university?
📈 Who benefits most from ASU Online — and what type of student fits best
ASU Online tends to deliver greatest value for students who:
- Need flexibility — working full-time, living abroad/in another country, having family or other commitments.
- Want a recognized credential from a major research university but cannot relocate or study on campus.
- Are self-motivated, organized and disciplined, especially for more demanding or technical programs.
- Are entered in career-driven disciplines (e.g., business, computing/IT, management, education, certain sciences) where a brand-name degree + self-study skills + certificates matter.
- Appreciate access to support services: advising, tutoring, career counseling, flexible scheduling, asynchronous courses.
Less ideal when you:
- Need lots of hands-on training, labs or in-person practicum for your field.
- Prefer in-person social/campus life, networking, peer interaction.
- Need to stay within a strict local accreditation/licensing system that doesn’t favour online-only degrees.
- Want a “traditional campus college experience.”
📌 What to check before enrolling (if you’re really evaluating whether ASU Online is worth it for you)
If you are seriously considering ASU Online, you should do this homework first:
- Program-level research — find the exact online degree (major, concentration), check whether it uses fully online, hybrid, or requires labs/in-person components.
- Accreditation/licensing relevance — particularly for engineering, health, or regulated professions. Confirm that online credentials are recognized where you plan to use them.