B
Good
Score: 64/100
Overall (traditional)
Appalachian State University
4-Year
Public
📍 Boone, North Carolina 28608
Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
21,253
Total Enrollment
73%
Graduation Rate
85%
Retention Rate
16.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
89%
Acceptance Rate
$14,712
Avg Net Price
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at Appalachian State University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
$51,836
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$43,663
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$20,231
Median debt at graduation
74.5%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,214
Average SAT
27
Median ACT
26.4%
Students receiving Pell grants
Typical debt at graduation equals about 39% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 51st percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (NC wage index 0.87). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at Appalachian State University
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $68,675 | $97,670 | -9% | #186 of 349 | #144 | $22,500 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $56,650 | $87,041 | +5% | #66 of 166 | #44 | $20,667 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $55,671 | $85,580 | +12% | #171 of 796 | #105 | $19,590 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $56,340 | $83,033 | -4% | #67 of 126 | #50 | $22,811 |
| Physics | — | $82,399 | +7% | #41 of 107 | #21 | $22,096 |
| Insurance | $55,611 | $82,306 | -7% | #13 of 21 | #13 | $17,875 |
| Construction Management | $59,809 | $80,257 | -16% | #54 of 57 | #48 | $18,750 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $69,420 | $78,943 | -11% | #764 of 966 | #624 | $12,500 |
| Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians | — | $76,914 | -10% | — | — | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $52,004 | $75,396 | -10% | #252 of 452 | #193 | $20,500 |
| International Business | $43,989 | $72,852 | +-0% | #64 of 115 | #50 | $26,691 |
| Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians | $47,333 | $69,956 | +6% | — | — | $22,156 |
| Marketing | $42,999 | $69,439 | +0% | #195 of 516 | #132 | $18,864 |
| Economics | $33,742 | $67,285 | -19% | #301 of 368 | #247 | $20,500 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $37,911 | $66,227 | +13% | #84 of 275 | #56 | $21,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $44,126 | $64,932 | -5% | #583 of 1176 | #417 | $18,750 |
| Mathematics | $40,856 | $62,271 | -10% | #237 of 309 | #184 | $16,500 |
| Apparel and Textiles | $36,945 | $58,516 | +2% | #28 of 57 | #16 | $22,700 |
| Chemistry | $40,488 | $58,329 | -10% | #169 of 209 | #147 | $23,894 |
| Geography and Cartography | $41,648 | $58,289 | +1% | #55 of 117 | #37 | $18,125 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $24,657 | $55,778 | +12% | #23 of 90 | #15 | $20,625 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $36,559 | $55,671 | -12% | #135 of 178 | #116 | $18,836 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $24,829 | $55,594 | +2% | #233 of 610 | #157 | $20,354 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $35,796 | $55,474 | +0% | #310 of 660 | #172 | $18,066 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $38,331 | $55,307 | -2% | #297 of 660 | #179 | $19,500 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $23,532 | $55,235 | +9% | #51 of 158 | #35 | $21,500 |
| Political Science and Government | $30,096 | $54,344 | -14% | #447 of 565 | #353 | $19,229 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $34,722 | $53,543 | +4% | #140 of 299 | #106 | $21,435 |
| Food Science and Technology | $38,743 | $53,369 | -25% | #28 of 29 | #28 | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $35,021 | $53,269 | -11% | #116 of 138 | #97 | $22,291 |
| Biology | $29,946 | $53,228 | -7% | #595 of 841 | #460 | $20,500 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $12,383 | $53,125 | -10% | #179 of 215 | #157 | $17,750 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | — | $52,440 | -26% | #216 of 253 | #198 | — |
| Social Work | $32,725 | $51,012 | -2% | #226 of 420 | #160 | $20,750 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $31,934 | $50,403 | -10% | #61 of 70 | #55 | $22,995 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $43,283 | $50,264 | +-0% | #104 of 177 | #76 | $24,096 |
| Public Health | $34,148 | $49,039 | -17% | #168 of 215 | #148 | $19,000 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $33,702 | $48,546 | -14% | #111 of 137 | #100 | $21,945 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $41,018 | $48,255 | -6% | #243 of 345 | #199 | $21,729 |
| Journalism | $27,116 | $48,243 | -14% | #148 of 187 | #126 | $20,222 |
| Psychology | $27,484 | $47,720 | -6% | #665 of 1027 | #446 | $20,294 |
| Sociology | $31,559 | $47,180 | -10% | #357 of 462 | #264 | $19,120 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $27,631 | $46,207 | -16% | #246 of 265 | #207 | $20,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $41,144 | $46,057 | -3% | #429 of 680 | #360 | $20,500 |
| English Language and Literature | $23,397 | $45,954 | -5% | #383 of 576 | #281 | $20,499 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $20,256 | $44,986 | +13% | #48 of 255 | #26 | $23,750 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | $28,357 | $44,297 | -8% | #29 of 43 | #27 | $23,487 |
| Anthropology | $19,624 | $42,107 | -10% | #140 of 188 | #113 | $21,531 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management | $29,646 | $41,052 | -19% | #53 of 55 | #52 | $19,500 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $22,120 | $41,002 | -1% | #229 of 423 | #148 | $22,267 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
🏆 Where Appalachian State University Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $4,242 | $21,238 |
| Room | $6,630 | |
| Board | $5,628 | |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $23,324 | $40,320 |
Financial Aid
70%
Receive Any Aid
24%
Receive Pell Grants
44%
Take Out Loans
$14,712
Avg Net Price
Net Price by Family Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $8,370 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,507 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,766 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,796 |
| $110,001+ | $21,991 |
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Psychology, General
370 grads/yr
Business Administration and Management, General
302 grads/yr
Marketing/Marketing Management, General
239 grads/yr
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
213 grads/yr
Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology
212 grads/yr
Elementary Education and Teaching
187 grads/yr
Social Work
163 grads/yr
Construction Management, General
143 grads/yr
Finance, General
131 grads/yr
Accounting
131 grads/yr
Computer Science
115 grads/yr
Criminal Justice/Safety Studies
107 grads/yr
English Language and Literature, General
104 grads/yr
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
99 grads/yr
Political Science and Government, General
99 grads/yr
Environmental Studies
90 grads/yr
Dietetics/Dietitian
86 grads/yr
Management Information Systems, General
86 grads/yr
Speech Communication and Rhetoric
85 grads/yr
Advertising
80 grads/yr
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from Appalachian State University's top programs commonly pursue.
Managers, all other
$137k/yr
1,333,700 jobs
Psychologists, all other
$118k/yr
55,300 jobs
Industrial-organizational psychologists
$110k/yr
5,600 jobs
Clinical and counseling psychologists
$96k/yr
76,300 jobs
Psychology teachers, postsecondary
$80k/yr
52,500 jobs
Social science research assistants
$58k/yr
40,600 jobs
Chief executives
$206k/yr
309,400 jobs
Compensation and benefits managers
$140k/yr
20,900 jobs
Student Demographics
21,253
Total Students
57%
Women
93%
Traditional Age (18-24)
2%
Off-Campus Renters
👥 Race & Ethnicity
White
81%
Hispanic
8%
Black
3%
Asian
2%
Two or More
4%
Non-Resident
1%
🏠 Living Arrangements
On Campus
98%
Off-Campus (Renters)
2%
With Family
1%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~319 students need off-campus housing
💻 Learning Mode
In-Person
47%
Hybrid (Some Online)
43%
Fully Online
10%
📊 Age Distribution
18-24 (Traditional)
93%
25-64 (Adult)
6%
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Appalachian State University?
Appalachian State University has an acceptance rate of 89%.
This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend Appalachian State University?
Tuition at Appalachian State University is
$4,242 for in-state students
and $21,238 for out-of-state students
.
However, the average net price after financial aid is $14,712.
What is the graduation rate at Appalachian State University?
The graduation rate at Appalachian State University is 73%.
This is a solid graduation rate, showing that most students who enroll successfully complete their degrees.
Is Appalachian State University a good school?
Appalachian State University has a Repit College Score of 64/100 (Grade: B).
Our rating evaluates five key factors:
- Outcomes (A): Graduation and retention rates
- Affordability (C+): Net cost and financial aid access
- Resources (C+): Class sizes and selectivity
- Experience (B+): Campus life and learning format
- Prestige (C+): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Appalachian State University?
Appalachian State University has a total enrollment of 21,253 students.
Most students (93%) are traditional college-age (18-24).
Is there rental demand near Appalachian State University?
Yes! Approximately 2% of students at Appalachian State University live off-campus (not with family).
That's roughly 319 students who need rental housing near campus.
Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Appalachian State University — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →
🎓 Similar Colleges to Appalachian State University
Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.
Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology