Welcome to Watts College

Academic excellence and accessibility

The Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions is home to ASU’s most diverse student body, with the highest percentages of minority, transfer and working students—and the largest community of first-generation college students. Among our student are nearly 300 veterans and international students from 59 countries. Last year, we awarded over 1,300 degrees. More than half of our students received financial assistance to further their endeavors. We continue to expand our programs to serve community needs. Our highly rated programs are available in person, online—and we have an established campus in Tucson. 

Local impact, social embeddedness

ASU is an anchor institution, vital to the metropolitan area. Located in downtown Phoenix, the Watts College of Public Service’s faculty and students are close to the partners that we serve. Public service is a cornerstone of our academic programs, research endeavors and student experiences. We bring a spirit of experimentation and systems-level thinking to the shared challenge of creating and maintaining public goods. 

Solutions-oriented research

Our research is use-inspired, integrating the theoretical and the applied approaches to find solutions to complex issues of urban living and governance. Our unique structure—with expertise in across a broad range of areas—complements our entrepreneurial approach. We are deeply embedded in the community forging partnerships to take on projects that have local, national and international impact.