Best Study Spots at ASU Tempe That Aren't the Library
Tired of Hayden Library? Here are the best alternative study spots on and around ASU's Tempe campus that most students overlook.
Sometimes You Just Can't Do the Library
Hayden Library is great. It's also sometimes packed, occasionally loud in places it shouldn't be, and the particular energy of hundreds of stressed students can make your own stress worse. You're not obligated to study there.
Here are the spots that actually work — and the conditions under which they work best.
Noble Library
Noble is criminally underused compared to Hayden. It's on the south end of campus, quieter, and has a completely different vibe. If you're in engineering, math, or sciences, Noble is your spot — it's adjacent to those buildings and most of your classmates who need group study rooms will also be nearby. The upper floors have windows and decent natural light. Worth the extra walk.
Design Library
If you haven't been to the Design Library in the Design building on the north side of campus, go. It's small, the collections are specific, but the space itself is genuinely calm. It draws a different crowd — arts and design students who tend to work quietly and intently. Good energy if you need to actually focus. Bring headphones either way.
The Memorial Union Quiet Zones
The MU has areas that most students treat as social space, but there are corners that are legitimately productive. The upper floors are less trafficked than the main level. Get there before 10am and you can usually find a solid spot. Bonus: you're close to food when you need a break.
Starbucks on Campus — But Strategically
The on-campus Starbucks locations are noisy during peak hours (9–11am, 1–3pm). But go at 8am or after 4pm and they clear out significantly. You get the white noise effect without the chaos. Same applies to any of the coffee shops in the MU.
Cartel Coffee Lab in Tempe
If you need to leave campus entirely to get work done — which is sometimes the right call — Cartel Coffee on Mill is where serious students go. It's not a hangout spot; people go there to actually work. The coffee is genuinely excellent, the WiFi holds up, and the aesthetic is more focused than the average coffee shop. Expect to spend a few dollars; that's the entry price for the seat.
Press Coffee
Press Coffee has a location that works well for studying. It's not as loud as some chain options and the layout gives you more table space than most. Good for solo sessions. Not ideal for groups.
The Patio Outside Coor Hall
When the weather is under 90 degrees (November through March, basically), the outdoor areas around Coor Hall are underrated study spots. There's natural light, some shade, and a surprising amount of quiet if you pick your spot right. Not for everyone, but if you do your best thinking outside, put this on your list.
Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building (ISTB4)
The atrium in ISTB4 is airy, has decent seating, and is less chaotic than most common spaces on campus. It works particularly well for afternoon sessions when the morning rush has cleared out.
Changemaker Central
Not a traditional study spot, but if you do project work or need a space to spread out and think, Changemaker Central in the MU has open collaboration areas that are legitimately functional. They're designed for working, not just existing.
What Actually Makes a Good Study Spot
Everyone is different. Some people need total silence; others work better with background noise. Some need a desk and a power outlet; others do fine on a couch. Figure out what conditions produce your best work, then find the location on this list that matches.
Also: if a spot isn't working on a given day — wrong crowd, wrong energy, too loud — just leave. The sunk cost of getting there is not worth two hours of distracted non-work.
One More Thing
Before you haul your laptop and textbooks across campus, check if you actually have everything you need for the study session. Textbooks especially — prices at the campus bookstore are brutal. Check ASU List first. Plenty of students sell their books at the end of each semester, and you can often find exactly what you need for a fraction of the retail price.
Ready to buy or sell?
Join thousands of ASU students on the marketplace built for Sun Devils.