The Downtown Phoenix campus is located in the heart of the nation’s sixth-largest city, creating an exciting residential college environment with access to the resources of the state’s metropolitan core and professional sports and cultural venues.
For students in the School of Public Affairs, downtown Phoenix offers the perfect environment for study. Phoenix is the state capital, as well as the nation’s sixth-largest city, and the largest council-manager government, with a history of professionalism and innovation. Maricopa County is one of the largest counties in the U.S. by both population and area, and there are many cities throughout the Valley with close ties to our school and great opportunities for internships and employment. As a diverse and thriving metropolitan area, Phoenix is also an important site for research related to public policy, public administration and local and metropolitan governance.
The School of Public Affairs is located across from Civic Space Park, with its light rail, Metro Valley transit hub and student center. The downtown campus includes student housing at the modern Taylor Place complex, as well as restaurants and theaters within walking distance. Other colleges downtown include journalism, nursing and health innovations, health solutions and the new law school. The surrounding area boasts many restaurants, cafes, theaters, museums, major league sports and a burgeoning arts district.
The Downtown Phoenix campus is home to more than 80 student clubs ranging from Undergraduate Student Government Downtown to the Programming Activities Board and from the Student Nutrition Council to the Society of Professional Journalists. These student organizations, along with academic disciplines, the Office of Student Engagement, residential colleges, intramural sports and others, provide ample opportunities for students to get involved and stay engaged outside of the classroom.
Downtown students also are enthusiastic supporters of ASU athletics. Sun Devil football and basketball games, as well as many other ASU sporting events, are just a light-rail ride away on the Tempe campus. Downtown students have won spirit awards for attendance at games.
The campus that opened in 2006 now boasts more than 10,000-plus students and is continuing to grow, with an expanded park, the new Sun Devil Fitness Complex, including a rooftop pool, and a student center with space for club meetings and relaxing.