The establishment of The Territorial Normal School in 1886 was Arizona's first higher education institution. From a four-classroom building with 33 students to one of the largest universities in the country, ASU has grown in multiple ways.
But is it growing grey with age?
In the early 2000s, ASU had a heavy party school reputation. In 2002, it was ranked the No.1 party school in the nation by Playboy, according to an article by The State Press.
READ MORE: Playboy ranks ASU No. 1 party school
Ever since its first-place rank, ASU's party status has been on the decline. Ranking third in 2006, 15th in 2009, sixth in 2010 and third again in 2011. By 2012, ASU was dropped off Playboy's rankings entirely.
Since Playboy's shutdown in 2020, many have turned to Niche, a website that has profiles on every school and college in America, and a party school ranking sheet of its own.
In 2025, Niche ranked ASU 62nd among party schools in the U.S., a drastic difference from 2002.
The peak ranking in 2002 was also the year Michael Crow was inaugurated as the president of ASU. The Arizona Republic credits Crow with transforming ASU from its party status to No.1 in innovation for 11 years in a row.
Under Crow's tenure, ASU had established sites in Washington D.C. and Los Angeles. In 2019, The Arizona Republic reported over 100 buildings added to ASU's portfolio under Crow's leadership as well.
READ MORE: 'Real estate is king': How Michael Crow found a way to fund and expand ASU
In 2012, Crow told the Phoenix New Times ASU's party status "was more perception than reality anyway."
While many may not believe ASU still holds this status, some students come to the University to find that four-year bender experience.
Hannah Friedman, a sophomore studying nursing, said she believes ASU is still a large party school even though "they're definitely trying to make it more of a lowkey academic school."
"You can find somewhere to have fun almost every night," Friedman said.
READ MORE: Opinion: Nightlife around ASU is changing for the worse
Friedman said she finds herself enjoying the Greek Life scene, which is a "big thing here."
Her friends back home assume that attending ASU means she is partying more than going to class. But, Friedman said ASU's party reputation can sometimes overshadow the academics.
"Once you're actually here, the school definitely holds up (academically)," Friedman said.
Macy Frandrup, a sophomore studying nursing, said ASU has lost its party reputation in recent years. Frandrup toured the campus in her junior year of high school and said "It was all party" then.
Frandrup credits the party status as a "huge factor" in why she chose to attend ASU.
Social media portrays the party lifestyle more than the studious aspects, but being on campus feels more academic, Frandrup said.
She has enjoyed the separation of living in Tempe and having classes on the Downtown Phoenix campus. She said Tempe is where she can go to have fun and downtown Phoenix is where she can focus on studies.
While ASU remains a place for students to live the stereotypical wild lifestyle, others chose to come here strictly for academics.
READ MORE: Opinion: Dry, dry devils
Odalis Lopez, a senior studying healthcare administration, said she views ASU as a "research school" rather than a party school.
Lopez is planning to pursue a path in the medical field so "I don't really have an opportunity to engage myself with the party scene," she said.
Lopez's decision to attend ASU had nothing to do with its previous reputation but instead the programs available to help her succeed. Lopez said her major specifically partners with Mayo Clinic which helps her achieve her goals.
Most people now see ASU for their academics instead of its party scene and often think of the school as No. 1 in innovation before anything, she said.
Whether students come to ASU to perfect their shotgunning skills or to graduate summa cum laude, or both, ASU offers a little bit of everything.
"College experiences are very subjective and so are your opinions about it," Lopez said.
Edited by Senna James, Sophia Braccio and Natalia Jarrett.
Reach the reporter at nrodri74@asu.edu.
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Natalia is a sophomore studying journalism and mass communication with a minor in creative writing. This is her second semester at The State Press.
