Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Appalachian State University is a public regional university located in Boone, North Carolina. Appalachian State University is very inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Appalachian State University is in the top 50% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $45,602 10 years after enrolling, 16th in North Carolina, and in the bottom 50% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Appalachian State University bachelor students earn 2% less than the national average. Appalachian State University is ranked 9th in North Carolina.
Appalachian State University’s median net annual cost of $13,989 and average years to graduate of 4.5 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Appalachian State University sorted by number of graduates - Psychology, Health & Fitness, Education, Business Administration, Design & Applied Arts, Marketing - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$13,989
Average years to graduate
4.5
Construction Mgmt.
Rank: #20
Economic score: 1.65
Finance
Rank: #42
Economic score: 1.66
Registered Nursing
Rank: #204
Economic score: 1.87
Advertising & PR
Rank: #28
Economic score: 3.51
Biology
Rank: #91
Economic score: 3.56
Criminal Justice
Rank: #115
Economic score: 3.62
Social Work
Rank: #42
Economic score: 3.65
Education (subject specific)
Rank: #66
Economic score: 3.74
Poli Sci/Government
Rank: #300
Economic score: 6.68
Natural Resource Conservation
Rank: #176
Economic score: 12.54
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at Appalachian State University - Educ. Administration, Social Work, Business Administration, Student Counseling, Public Administration, Accounting - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Library Science
Rank: #1
Economic score: 0.24
Educational media design
Rank: #24
Economic score: 0.43
Physics
Rank: #3
Economic score: 0.49
Curriculum and Instruction
Rank: #62
Economic score: 0.49
Industrial Engr. Tech
Rank: #3
Economic score: 0.59
Dietetics/Nutrition
Rank: #15
Economic score: 0.66
Communication disorder sciences
Rank: #84
Economic score: 0.71
Biology
Rank: #28
Economic score: 0.74
Health & Fitness
Rank: #100
Economic score: 0.75
Clinical / Counseling Psych
Rank: #28
Economic score: 0.78
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.5 years. 74% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Appalachian State University is 18% higher than the state average, and 16% above the average for all regional universities in the country.
At Appalachian State University, Pell Grant recipients represent 28% of the measured graduating class, 7% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Appalachian State University graduates within 4.5 years.
Appalachian State University is in the top 50% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Appalachian State University’s economic mobility score of 22.49 is calculated by adjusting the 1.8 economic score of lower-income students by the 28% pell grant recipients within the student body. Appalachian State University’s EMS of 22.49 ranks in the top 25% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 25%
The average Title IV recipient at Appalachian State University pays $13,989 a year, $6,203 less than the $20,192 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $13,989
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Appalachian State University, 54% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $13,989 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 46% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $6,810. This is 8% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,054
Pell grants
$4,899
State grants
$3,157
Institutional grants
$3,299
Appalachian State University offers 9 online bachelor programs, 8 of which are held exclusively online. At the master’s level Appalachian State University offers 14 programs, all of which are held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
23
Hybrid programs
1
Percentage of programs online
20%
Appalachian State University's very inclusive admissions are indicated by their 85% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 21,120 applicants, of which 17,886 were admitted and 4,099 enrolled. Appalachian State University doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
96%
83%
Female
57%
59%
First time
64%
59%
In-state
93%
68%
1st generation
25%
35%
White
81%
52%
Black
4%
14%
Hispanic
8%
15%
Asian
2%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
5%
12%