Public · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Distant town

Appalachian State University

Boone, North Carolina. 19,444 undergraduates. Admits 90% of applicants.

North Carolina colleges Official websiteIts net price calculator
71%Graduation rate17 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$16,082Average net price per year19% below the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$57,488Median earnings 10 years after startingAbout the same as the national median for similar colleges
$19,500Median debt at graduation10% below the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($19,500) equals 34% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($57,488).

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$11,070
$30,000–$48,000$10,994
$48,001–$75,000$12,977
$75,001–$110,000$19,354
Over $110,000$22,753

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $7,642 in-state, $25,932 out-of-state.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate71%54%
Return for second year84%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$48,228$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$57,488$58,912
Median debt at graduation$19,500$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

123 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Computer Science87$70,140$105,809$22,250
Insurance42$56,954$94,143$18,193
Management Information Systems and Services86$58,137$91,083$18,480
Construction Management143$61,641$88,285$19,750
Accounting and Related Services101$56,438$87,549$17,000
Physics25$43,284$85,413—
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods13—$85,145—
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing90$77,166$81,089$18,154
Finance and Financial Management Services131$56,909$80,894$18,656
International Business20—$80,481—
Economics—$60,061$77,989—
Health and Medical Administrative Services66$44,646$73,404$21,000
Marketing239$51,885$69,869$17,750
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians45$47,866$68,586$23,000
Geography and Cartography22$39,131$67,974$19,500
Chemistry59$48,061$67,655$23,157
Mathematics30$42,940$66,495$19,000
Business Administration, Management and Operations320$52,247$66,070$16,250
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences22$48,465$64,496$18,984
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services27$27,600$60,220$23,224
Biology, General193$34,395$60,103$20,500
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness67$32,585$59,908$20,345
Design and Applied Arts120$42,862$59,135$20,500
Apparel and Textiles14$41,250$59,103$20,761
Political Science and Government90$35,645$58,869$20,652
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services74$30,229$58,325$19,250
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services46$34,745$56,671$20,500
Criminal Justice and Corrections107$44,238$56,251$16,487
Hospitality Administration/Management11$42,147$55,366$21,960
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication145$41,187$54,597$18,500
Communication and Media Studies85$40,170$54,248$19,500
International/Globalization Studies7—$53,774—
Journalism30$37,849$53,674$14,750
Food Science and Technology6$39,756$51,641—
Music8—$50,635—
Psychology, General363$34,275$50,339$20,000
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management19$31,342$49,680$18,691
Social Work95$42,136$49,617$16,750
Public Health54$37,011$49,580$19,375
Special Education and Teaching22$45,386$49,413$21,902
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas113$45,032$49,326$21,500
Natural Resources Conservation and Research124$35,937$48,025$19,500
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication62$31,804$47,590$18,250
History46$26,906$47,567$19,750
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods238$43,890$47,106$19,382
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology——$46,746—
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft28$21,688$46,070$25,428
Sociology32$35,695$45,442$20,500
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services37$39,869$44,806$21,500
English Language and Literature, General89$27,547$44,392$19,500
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management67$33,157$44,290$20,200
Fine and Studio Arts63$26,848$43,756$21,000
Anthropology46$31,402$43,231$20,500
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities21$39,150—$28,500
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians3———
City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning6———
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies6———
Graphic Communications15———
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences198———
Philosophy14———
Religion/Religious Studies6———
Dance6———
Film/Video and Photographic Arts1———
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions9———
Business/Managerial Economics34——$17,000

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

90%Admission rate
1,214Average SAT of admitted students
21–27ACT middle 50%
16:1Students per faculty member
31%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

Similar colleges in North Carolina

University of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotte · net price $15,142 · grad rate 68%East Carolina UniversityGreenville · net price $16,880 · grad rate 63%University of North Carolina School of the ArtsWinston Salem · net price $14,859 · grad rate 80%North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleigh · net price $16,486 · grad rate 85%University of North Carolina WilmingtonWilmington · net price $19,570 · grad rate 72%Catawba CollegeSalisbury · net price $15,993 · grad rate 48%

Compare colleges side by side

Quick answers

How much does Appalachian State University cost per year?
The average net price at Appalachian State University, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $16,082 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do Appalachian State University graduates earn?
Former Appalachian State University students earn a median of $57,488 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at Appalachian State University?
71% of Appalachian State University students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do Appalachian State University graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from Appalachian State University is $19,500. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.