How should I interpret Arizona State’s admissions rate when deciding if it’s a safety school?

Arizona State’s overall admit rate can be a useful starting point, but by itself it is not enough to decide whether ASU is a true safety for you.

A high admit rate usually means the school is broadly accessible, but your own odds depend much more on how your grades, course rigor, and test scores compare to ASU’s typical admitted student profile and, even more importantly, whether you meet any clearly published admission criteria.

When deciding whether ASU is a safety, I would look at four things: whether you meet ASU’s freshman admission requirements, whether your academic stats are above the usual range, whether your intended major has extra selectivity, and whether the cost is realistic for your family. A school is only a real safety if admission and affordability are both likely.