ASU Transfer Student Guide: What You Need to Know

You're Not Starting From Scratch — But It Feels Like It

Transferring to ASU is different from starting as a freshman. You're bringing credits, maybe a few semesters of college experience, and a clearer sense of what you want to study. What you probably don't have is an established friend group, institutional knowledge of how ASU specifically works, or a sense of where things are.

This guide addresses the practical gaps — the stuff that takes transfer students months to figure out on their own.

Credit Transfer: Get This Right First

Before anything else, get clarity on which of your credits transferred and how they applied. ASU's transfer credit evaluation happens through the Transfer Credit Guide on MyASU, but the initial evaluation isn't always perfect.

A few things to know:

• Credits transfer in, but they may not count toward your specific degree requirements. A sociology course at your community college might transfer as free elective credit rather than fulfilling an ASU requirement. This matters for your graduation timeline.
• Request a meeting with your academic advisor in your department immediately. Don't wait until registration to find out a prerequisite wasn't accepted. Advisors can sometimes petition for substitutions if you bring documentation.
• If you completed courses at a Maricopa County Community College (Mesa CC, Scottsdale CC, GCC, etc.) through the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC), those credits have specific transfer agreements with ASU. These are generally more reliable than out-of-state transfers.

Housing for Transfer Students

Most ASU transfer students live off-campus, which is fine — but it means you're navigating the Tempe rental market, which is competitive and expensive.

Common areas where ASU transfers live:

• Apartments along University Drive and Rural Road (walking distance to campus)
• The neighborhood between Dorsey Lane and Price Road south of the light rail
• McClintock corridor (slightly cheaper, requires a bike or car or light rail)

Average costs (2026): A room in a shared 2-bedroom apartment near ASU runs $750–$1,000/month. Studios start around $1,100–$1,400. Living with 3–4 people in a larger unit is the most common budget solution.

Furnishing an off-campus apartment from scratch is expensive if you buy everything new. The ASU List is the right first stop — graduating students sell furniture, kitchen items, and dorm goods every May at significant discounts. If you're moving in August, start watching the listings in April–May.

The Social Reality

This is the hardest part of transferring that nobody talks about directly: everyone else already has friend groups.

ASU is a massive school — 80,000 students on Tempe campus — which means there are always people in your situation. But you have to actively create the conditions for connection rather than waiting for it to happen.

What actually works:

• Join clubs in your interest area immediately. ASU has over 1,000 registered student organizations. Joining something with regular meetings (not just a club fair signup) is how you meet people who share your interests. SunConnect on MyASU lists all organizations.
• Attend your college's transfer orientation. Many ASU colleges (Fulton, W.P. Carey, Barrett) run orientation events specifically for transfers. These are worth attending — the people in the room are all in exactly your situation.
• Use the physical spaces. Hayden Library, the MU, and college-specific study spaces are where repeated exposure leads to connections. Going to the same place regularly at the same time means you start seeing the same faces.

MyASU: The Hub for Everything

MyASU is where you access everything: schedule, grades, financial aid, degree audit (DARS), advisor appointments, software downloads, and more. If you haven't bookmarked it, do it now. Most administrative confusion at ASU is solved by knowing which part of MyASU to navigate to.

Key MyASU features for transfer students:

• DARS (Degree Audit Reporting System): Shows exactly which requirements you've completed and what's remaining. Check this yourself before every advising appointment.
• iPOS (Interactive Plan of Study): Your formal degree plan. Any changes to your plan go through here.
• Academic calendar: Finals dates, registration dates, and add/drop deadlines are all there.

Budget Reality for Transfers

Most transfer students are independent or near-independent financially. Tempe's cost of living has increased significantly. Between rent, groceries, transportation, and course materials, plan on $1,500–$2,000/month minimum in realistic living expenses.

Financial aid packages for transfers at ASU sometimes surprise students — run the net price calculator on the ASU financial aid website and review your full package carefully before assuming what you'll receive.

The ASU List and other student marketplaces are part of how you manage the cost — buying used textbooks and secondhand furniture rather than new significantly affects the budget math.

The Main Things to Do in the First Two Weeks

1. Confirm your transfer credits applied correctly — meet with an advisor
2. Set up MyASU MFA and register all your devices on ASU's network
3. Get your Sun Card (ASU student ID) — you need it for the SDFC, library, and most campus services
4. Join at least one student organization that meets weekly
5. Find your physical campus routine — the building where your classes are, the nearest good study spot, the closest dining or coffee option

Transferring is a fresh start. It takes a few weeks to feel oriented, but ASU Tempe is a genuinely easy place to find your footing if you're proactive about it.