For a full ten years running, Arizona State University (ASU) has been named the most innovative school in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, a distinction that holds as the only university to consistently clinch the top spot since the inception of the category. According to a report by ASU News, this year's award was followed by reputable institutions including Georgia Institute of Technology and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Despite being recognized for its innovation, ASU experienced a decline in the overall university rankings, dropping from No. 105 to No. 121, according to ABC15. In contrast, its state rival, the University of Arizona, improved its position, moving up to No. 109, a gain of six spots.
ASU President Michael M. Crow expressed pride in the university's distinctive achievement, stating, "Receiving the top innovation ranking from our peers for a decade is significant, as it affirms that our enterprise-wide innovation mindset is deeply tied to our institutional identity," as mentioned in the ASU News report. The university holds a range of significant awards, including consistent No. 1 rankings in sustainability, impact areas, and global standings associated with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
ASU's achievements are diverse, covering a wide range of areas from space exploration—highlighted by the launch of the NASA-led Psyche mission—to substantial grants for international development and efforts to reduce gender-based violence. The university's ability to address the impacts of extreme heat was formally recognized with the passage of a law in Arizona inspired by ASU's Knowledge Exchange for Resilience. Additionally, in early 2024, ASU initiated its first collaboration with OpenAI, utilizing its ChatGPT technology for more than 200 ongoing projects, as reported by ASU News.
Further reinforcing its standing in academia, ASU achieved notable rankings across various subjects in the U.S. News & World Report's Best Colleges for 2025. The W. P. Carey School of Business was particularly recognized, ranking No. 2 in supply chain management and logistics, with several other programs in both the business school and Fulton Schools of Engineering listed in the top 20 nationwide. Additionally, ASU saw an improvement in rankings for its nursing and undergraduate psychology programs, as reported by ABC15.
