About 42,900 new first-year transfer and graduate students will begin classes at Arizona State University on Thursday, the first day of fall classes. The number, a 5% increase from last fall, sets a record, according to an ASU release.

Officials said a main reason for the increase is ASU attracting more in-state students. A record 9,800 first-year students come from Arizona high schools, the release stated. That is a 3% hike from the prior year.

Barrett, the Honors College, reports a 4.7% enrollment increase from fall 2024, which is a university record.

The average weighted GPA of the incoming students is 4.2, according to the university.

“ASU’s projected growth for fall 2025 is also thanks to historic demand for online degree programs,” the release stated, noting more than 79,000 students are projected to be enrolled through ASU Online this fall, an 8% increase from fall 2024.

ASU also is poised to host a projected 14,600 international students.

“International students are economic contributors, scientific collaborators and cultural ambassadors,” ASU President Michael Crow said.

“The are essential to the very goals the nation is trying to achieve - a growing economy, technological leadership and strengthened democratic alliances around the world.”

We would like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments, pro or con, on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.