Appalachian State University — College Profile

About

Nestled in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains of Boone, North Carolina, Appalachian State University is a thriving public institution renowned for its commitment to undergraduate teaching, sustainability, and outdoor engagement. Academically, the university is anchored by strong divisions such as the Walker College of Business and the Reich College of Education, along with distinctive specialty programs in environmental science, building science, and fermentation sciences. Student life combines a close-knit, active mountain culture with passionate school spirit, highlighted by spirited Sun Belt Conference football games and easy access to hiking, climbing, and skiing.

Wikipedia:Appalachian State University, or App State, is a public research university in Boone, North Carolina, United States. It was founded as a teachers' college in 1899 by brothers B. B. and D. D. Dougherty and the latter's wife, Lillie Shull Dougherty. The university expanded to include other programs in 1967 and joined the University of North Carolina System in 1971. It is classified as "R2: High Research Spending and Doctorate Production" for research activity.

Location

Boone, NC, 28608 · Town campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

RDU · Raleigh-Durham

163 mi away

Open in Google Maps View official campus map

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition & fees$7,579$25,212

Housing & food (on campus)$12,868$12,868

Books & supplies$800$800

Cost of attendance$23,169$45,791

Average net price$16,836Not published

Out-of-state prices

Tuition & fees$25,212

In-state: $7,579

Housing & food (on campus)$12,868

Books & supplies$800

Cost of attendance$45,791

In-state: $23,169

Average net priceNot published

In-state: $16,836

Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: financialaid.appstate.edu

How it’s made up · out-of-state, 2025-26

Appalachian State University’s own figures for 2025-26, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.

Tuition$27,259

Housing$7,578

Food$5,966

Books & supplies$800

Personal expenses$2,138

Transportation$1,958

Total published by the school$45,791

Source: financialaid.appstate.edu · checked Sep 28, 2026

Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24

$0–30k

$9,325

$30–48k

$11,600

$48–75k

$15,204

$75–110k

$20,840

$110k+

$22,382

Your family's actual price → Appalachian State University net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Merit aid · 2024-25

Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.

Average award$2,419

First-years who got one453

Source: Appalachian State University's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures.

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

74%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

59%

Back for yr 2

84%

Transferred

18%

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

74% graduated · 19% transferred · 6% left or unknown · none still enrolled

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$43,663

10 yrs after entry$51,836

Debt

Median at graduation$20,231

Monthly payment$214

Middle 50% owe$7.2k–$25k

90th percentile$30,123

Green marks a figure above the typical Master's (larger programs): 54% graduate within 6 yrs.

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

90%

Test policy

Test optional

Per College Scorecard

SAT average

1214

R 570–660 · M 550–620

ACT midpoint

Comp 21–27 · E 20–27 · M 19–26

SAT middle 50%: 1120–1280

40080012001600

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Essay prompts

How much essays count at Appalachian State University: Considered (one of four levels: very important · important · considered · not considered)

Source: Appalachian State University's Common Data Set for 2024-25 — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures.

If Appalachian State University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body

Gender

Men 45%Women 55%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

16 : 1

Pell grant

26%

First-gen

25%

Family income

$56,100

Independent

13%

Veterans

Age at entry

21.0

Part-time

Race & ethnicity

White

79%

Hispanic

Black

Asian

Two or more

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division I-FBS · EADA 2024-25

Baseball
Men's
Basketball
Men's · Women's
Field Hockey
Women's
Football
Men's
Golf
Men's · Women's
Soccer
Women's
Softball
Women's
Tennis
Women's
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
Men's · Women's
Volleyball
Women's
Wrestling
Men's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$43,663

After 10 yrs

$51,836

Psychology, General317

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness255

Business Administration, Management and Operations251

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods250

Marketing204

Biology, General165

Criminal Justice and Corrections143

Design and Applied Arts131

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication111

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas111

Construction Management105

Natural Resources Conservation and Research104

Social Work103

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing100

Political Science and Government98

Finance and Financial Management Services91

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$217M

Full-time faculty

78%

Faculty salary

$9,281/mo

Teaching spend

$8,690

per student

Federal loans

37%

Classification

Carnegie type

Master's (larger programs)

Research activity

R2 — high research

$11M research spending · 20 research doctorates a year

Undergraduate profile