Regional university
#12 Best colleges in North CarolinaAppalachian State University
Boone, NC · Public · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid $16,836 a year
Median debt at graduation: $20,231 (all students)
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
- Best colleges for criminal justice in America#96 of 1,046
- Best colleges for social work in America#80 of 605
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in America#131 of 950
- Most affordable colleges with strong academics in America#101 of 690
- Best colleges for nursing in America#158 of 1,068
- Best colleges for accounting in America#170 of 1,132
Show 18 more
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in America#286 of 1,829
- Best colleges for marketing in America#137 of 834
- Best colleges for business in America#268 of 1,563
- Best colleges for education in America#228 of 1,318
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in America#224 of 1,238
- Best colleges for finance in America#143 of 744
- Best colleges for psychology in America#290 of 1,418
- Best colleges in America#382 of 1,829
- Best colleges for English in America#274 of 1,283
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in America#291 of 1,358
- Best test-optional colleges in America#332 of 1,481
- Colleges with the best earnings for the price in America#154 of 681
- Best colleges for art and design in America#273 of 1,187
- Best colleges for history in America#287 of 1,247
- Best colleges for mathematics in America#286 of 1,215
- Lowest net price for middle-income families in America#162 of 682
- Best colleges for music in America#264 of 1,063
- Best colleges for chemistry in America#291 of 1,162
In North Carolina
- Best colleges for criminal justice in North Carolina#3 of 39
- Best colleges for marketing in North Carolina#2 of 23
- Best colleges for accounting in North Carolina#4 of 34
- Best colleges for business in North Carolina#6 of 49
- Best colleges for social work in North Carolina#3 of 24
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in North Carolina#6 of 42
Show 17 more
- Best colleges for psychology in North Carolina#8 of 51
- Best colleges for finance in North Carolina#3 of 19
- Best colleges for education in North Carolina#8 of 47
- Best colleges for English in North Carolina#8 of 47
- Best colleges for history in North Carolina#8 of 45
- Best colleges for mathematics in North Carolina#8 of 45
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in North Carolina#9 of 50
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in North Carolina#10 of 55
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in North Carolina#8 of 42
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in North Carolina#8 of 42
- Best colleges for chemistry in North Carolina#8 of 41
- Best test-optional colleges in North Carolina#11 of 54
- Best colleges for music in North Carolina#9 of 44
- Best colleges for art and design in North Carolina#8 of 39
- Best colleges for nursing in North Carolina#7 of 33
- Best colleges in North Carolina#12 of 55
- Best colleges for economics in North Carolina#7 of 25
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.75%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.84%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,214 · ACT 24
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.16 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$8,690
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Full cost of attendance before aid: $23,169 a year.
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 19,405 |
|---|---|
| Men and women College Scorecard, fall 2023 | Men 45% · Women 55% |
| First-generation students College Scorecard | 25% |
| First-year students from another state IPEDS, fall 2023 | 13% |
| Total students | 21,253 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $16,836 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $23,169 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $20,231 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 75% |
| Graduation rate for Pell grant recipients College Scorecard, within 6 years | 70% |
| Graduation rate for first-generation students College Scorecard, within 6 years | 69% |
| Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years College Scorecard, within 3 years | 72% |
| First-year retention | 84% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $51,836 |
| Admission rate | 90% |
| Application fee IPEDS, 2023–24 | $65 |
| Priority filing deadline College website, 2026-27 | November 15 |
| Admission College website | Rolling admission |
| Typical rent HUD fair market rent, FY2026 | About $988 a month for a one-bedroom |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 26% |
| Average SAT | 1214 |
|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 570–660 |
| SAT math | 550–620 |
| ACT composite | 21–27 |
| Test policy | Considered but not required |
Value: Very good · Top 34% (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Computer science | |
| Management information systems | |
| Accounting | |
| Management science | |
| Physics | |
| Insurance | |
| Construction Management | |
| Nursing | |
| Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians | |
| Finance | |
| International business | |
| Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians | |
| Marketing | |
| Economics | |
| Health administration | |
| Business administration | |
| Mathematics | |
| Apparel and Textiles | |
| Chemistry | |
| Geography | |
| Linguistics | |
| Public relations | |
| Kinesiology and exercise science | |
| Criminal justice | |
| Communication studies | |
| Broadcasting | |
| Political science | |
| Design | |
| Food Science and Technology | |
| Geology and earth science | |
| Biology | |
| Speech-language pathology | |
| Allied health | |
| Social work | |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | |
| Special education | |
| Public health | |
| Hospitality management | |
| Secondary education | |
| Journalism | |
| Psychology | |
| Sociology | |
| Natural resources and conservation | |
| Teacher education | |
| English | |
| Theatre | |
| Arts management | |
| Anthropology | |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management | |
| Fine arts | |
| Family and human development | |
| History |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): Architectural Sciences and Technology, Area studies, City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning, Classics, Counseling and mental health, Dance, Ecology and evolutionary biology, Ethnic and gender studies, Film and video, Global studies, Graphic communications, Information technology, Liberal arts, Managerial economics, Music, Philosophy, Rehabilitation and therapy, Religious studies, Statistics, Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Business | |
| Biology | |
| Education | |
| Psychology | |
| Health professions |
Campus life
| Setting | Town |
|---|---|
| Part-time undergraduates | 7% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 6% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $12,868 |
| Sports | NCAA Division I · Sun Belt Conference |
| ROTC | Army |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 16 to 1 |
| Undergraduates registered with the disability office | About 6%IPEDS, 2023–24 |
| Disability services | Visit the office’s pageThe college’s own page |
| Faculty who are full-time | 78%College Scorecard, fall 2023 |
| Endowment per student | $9,685IPEDS, 2023, per student |
| Dorm space | For about 33% of studentsBeds per undergraduate; not who lives on campus |
| Nearest airport with airline service | Tri-Cities Regional TN/VA Airport (TRI)About 44 miles away · about 1 hour 35 minutes by car |
| Nearest major airport | Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)About 81 miles away |
| Town population | 20,032Census, 2020–2024 |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | Winston-SalemAbout 80 miles away · about 1 hour 55 minutes by car |
| Typical weather | 32°F in January · 68°F in JulyNOAA, 1991–2020, from Boone 1 SE, NC |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Campus safety reports
On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.
| Category | This campus | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rape | 0.19 | 0.07 |
| Robbery | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Aggravated assault | 0.02 | 0.04 |
| Burglary | 0.05 | 0.08 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 0.00 | 0.15 |
Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.
Questions families ask
- What is Appalachian State University’s Compass Score?
- Very good (grade B+). It ranks in the top 21% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does Appalachian State University cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is $16,836 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into Appalachian State University?
- Appalachian State University admitted 90% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do Appalachian State University’s graduates do?
- 75% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $51,836; the median federal debt at graduation is $20,231.
Ask the school
Something you want to know that isn’t on this page? Ask it here. We send it to the school, and their answer appears on this page. Your name is never shared.
Reviews
Personal experiences from signed-in readers. Reviews are moderated automatically and never change a school’s grades.
No reviews yet.
Sign in to write a review.
My rating and notes
Sign in or create a free account to rate this school privately, keep notes, and save it to your list.
About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 197869
- Carnegie classification: Master's university (larger programs)
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges d.b.a. Commission on Colleges and Universities (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
- Report an error or a newer source
- Respond as this school
Colleges like this one
The same kind of school first, then the closest in selectivity, size and cost.
Compare side by side: Appalachian State vs Eastern Washington · Appalachian State vs Kutztown University of Pennsylvania · Appalachian State vs Central Washington · Appalachian State vs California State University-Chico
More in North Carolina · North Carolina rankings