
About
Appalachian State University, located in Boone, North Carolina, was founded in 1899 by Blanford B. Dougherty and his brother Dauphin as the Watauga Academy. The initial enrollment of 53, the school was purposed with providing education for teachers within the mountains of Northwest North Carolina. By 1929 the school became a four year institution and was renamed Appalachian State Teachers College, and had a grown enrollment of 1,300. The school grew in size and scope in the following years, obtaining accreditation in 1939 and 1942. The school attained university status in 1967 which doubled its enrollment within 3 years. Since that time the school has increased in size, scope, offerings, and enrollment, providing a variety of programs and opportunities to students through cutting edge programs and quality faculty. The school has become a nationally recognized leader in business education, and its undergraduate programs is noted for being comprehensive well ranked.
Academics
Appalachian State University offers a number of degrees resulting in a number of majors, taking approximately four years to complete. Programs may result in a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree. Major programs require students to complete general education courses, lower and upper division courses related to their major, and to take elective courses outside of their major, allowing for education in areas outside of one's major. Students may also take on a minor degree. Minor degree programs allows for additional study in a secondary field, with less overall coursework, in areas that may be separate from or accentuate one's major. Graduate programs are also available for students wishing to continue their education at either the master's or doctoral degree level. Graduate programs have separate admissions requirements, requiring a lesser degree to be earned, appropriate graduate exam scores, and academic proficiency from their previous studies.
Programs offered include:
Admissions and FInancial Aid
Individuals interested in enrollment at Appalachian State University must submit an application for admission, along with test scores, transcripts, recommendations and essay. The school will review all documents submitted and render a decision on admission based on multiple criterion on a student by student basis.Once a final decision has been made, the school will notify the student, and if admitted, provide information regarding housing, registration, financial aid and tuition costs.
Financial aid is available in the form of loans, grants, work study programs and scholarships. Students in need of financial assistance must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the resulting information from which will be used by the school's financial aid department to identify the students financial needs, aid program eligibility and monetary awards package. Students are required to reapply for financial aid prior to each academic year due to the possibility of changing financial circumstances. Additionally, students may be asked at random to provide additional financial information to verify the FAFSA's accuracy as per new federal regulations.
Athletics
The Appalachian State University Mountaineers participate in intercollegiate athletics through the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I. Intercollegiate athletics provide students an opportunity to experience healthy competition in a controlled setting, developing physical skills and mental skills, such as good health, teamwork, discipline and leadership. all of which may be applied to one's personal, professional and academic life. Students interested in joining one or more of the many teams fielded by the school must try out, seeking additional information such as tryout dates and times and entry forms through the school's athletics department. Individuals participating in intercollegiate athletics must balance their schoolwork with their team sports, making time for both while maintaining a GPA that allows continued participation in athletics.
Athletic programs offered include:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Field Hockey
- Football
- Golf
- Indoor Track and Field
- Outdoor Track and Field
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
Admission Requirements & Details
The admissions information below may give an overview of the applicants Appalachian State University accepts. The details may include admissions application requirements and recommendations, as well as any college or dual credits that may be transferred.
College Credits Accepted
- Dual Credits
- Life Experience Credits
- AP Course Credits
Student Enrollment
Appalachian State University has a total student population of about 18,000. The student body is made up of 91% undergraduate students and 17% graduate students.
Estimated Costs & Financial Aid
The average "out of pocket" cost of attendance, after any grants and scholarships are considered, is around $11,500. In order to calculate a more accurate and detailed cost of attendance check out their cost calculator here. There is also a $55 application fee for those applying to a program. The figures listed below are for informational purposes only and do not represent current or future tuition, fees, and expenses.
Tuition & Fees Information
- Annual tuition range estimates:
- In-State: $4,000-$4,800
- Out-of-State: $18,000-$21,340
- Part-time students are charged:
- In-State: $130-$150 per unit
- Out-of-State: $570-$690 per unit
Financial Aid Details
The financial aid table below details the types of financial aid, along with the percent of students receiving aid, and on average the amount of aid per student per year.
Percent of Students | Average Amount | |
---|---|---|
Any Financial Aid | 68% | - |
Receiving Grants & Scholarships | 38% | $8,180 |
Receiving Student Loans | 50% | $5,770 |
Academics & Student Services
Student Services
To help support students, Appalachian State University may offer student services like:- Online course work available
- Remedial instructional courses
- Career path counseling
- Employing students to lower education costs
- Helping students find work after graduation
- Day care
Graduation Rates
ASU has an overall graduation rate which is around 69%.
Number of Year to Graduate | Percent of Entering Class |
---|---|
Students Graduating in 4 Years | 42% |
Graduating in 5 Years | 23% |
Graduating in 6 Years | 4% |
Specialized Programs & Accreditations
- Art and Design Program
- Dance Program
- Dietetics Program
- Music Program
- Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) Program
- Nursing (MSN, DSN) Program
- Speech-Language Pathology Program
- Elementary and Secondary School Teacher Education Program
- Theatre Program
Intercollegiate Athletics
Appalachian State University is a Member of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), with many of the sports belonging to the NCAA Division I-AA classification. The most popular sports played are listed below:
- Baseball (Sun Belt Conference)
- Basketball (Sun Belt Conference)
- Track and Field (Sun Belt Conference)
- Field Hockey
- Football (Sun Belt Conference)
- Golf
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
Programs Offered
The program list below is organized by areas of study. The programs that have a link will direct you to the program's profile page where you can learn more about education requirements and career pathways.

Get more information about the programs offered by Appalachian State University by clicking the request information to the right.
(C) Certificate or Award | (A) Associate's | (B) Bachelor's | (M) Master's Degree | (D) Doctorate (PhD,...)
Agriculture Operations
- Food Science and Technology (B)
Architecture
- Urban Planning (B)
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Biology (B, M)
- Ecology (B)
Business and Marketing Studies
- Business Administration (B, M)
- Accounting (B, M)
- Advertising and Marketing (B)
- Finance (B, C)
- Information Systems (B)
- Construction Management (B)
- Insurance (B)
- Hospitality Administration and Management (B)
- International Business (B)
- Risk Management and Insurance (B)
- Organizational and Nonprofit Management
Communications and Journalism
- Public Relations (B)
- Communications (B)
- Advertising (B)
- Radio and Television (B)
- Journalism (B)
Computer and Information Sciences
Education
- Elementary Education (B, M)
- Educational and Instructional Media Design (M)
- Higher Education Administration (C, M)
- History Teacher Education (B)
- Middle School Teacher (B, M)
- Secondary School Administration (C, M)
- College Student Counseling and Personnel Services (C, M)
- Music Teacher Education (B, M)
- English and Language Arts Teacher Education (B, M)
- Reading Teacher and Literacy Specialist (M)
- Education, Teaching Individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities (B)
- Physical Education (B)
- Mathematics Teacher Education (B, M)
- Kindergarten and Preschool Education (B, M)
- Educational Leadership and Administration (C, D)
- Business Teacher Education (B)
- Art Teacher Education (B)
- Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher Education (B)
- Drama and Dance Teacher Education (B)
- Guidance Counselor (M)
- Biology Teacher Education (B)
- Teacher and Professional Development (B)
- Technology Teacher Education Teacher Education (B)
- Spanish Language Teacher Education (B)
- Curriculum and Instruction (M)
- Health Teacher Education (B)
- Chemistry Teacher Education (B)
- Special Education (M)
- Social Studies Teacher Education (B)
- French Language Teacher Education (B)
- Teacher Education, Multiple Levels
- Teacher Education and Professional Development
Engineering Technology
- Solar Energy Technology (B)
- Industrial Technology (M)
- Environmental Engineering Technology and Environmental Technology
English Language and Literature
- English (B, M)
Ethnic Cultural and Gender Studies
- Area Studies (B, M)
- Women's Studies (B)
Family and Consumer Sciences
- Child Development (B)
- Apparel and Textiles (B)
Foreign Languages and Literature
- Spanish Language and Literature (B)
- French Language and Literature (B)
- Linguistic and Comparative Language Studies and Services
Health and Clinical Professions
- Nursing (B)
- Public Health Education and Promotion (B)
- Healthcare Administration (B)
- Communication Disorders (B)
- Speech and Language Pathology (M)
- Dietetics (B, M)
- Athletic Training (B)
- Marriage and Family Therapy (M)
- Music Therapy (B, M)
History
- History (B, M)
Interdisciplinary Studies
Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Liberal Arts (B)
Library Science
- Library Science, Librarianship (M)
Mathematics and Statistics
- Math (B, M)
- Statistics (B)
Natural Resources and Conservation
- Environmental Studies (B)
- Environmental Science (B)
Philosophy and Religious Studies
- Religious Studies (B)
- Philosophy (B)
Physical Sciences
Psychology
- Psychology (B, M)
- Clinical Psychology (M)
- Organizational Psychology (M)
- School Psychology (C, M)
- Counseling Psychology
Public Administration and Social Services
- Social Work (B, M)
- Public Administration (M)
Recreation and Fitness Studies
Security and Protective Services
- Criminal Justice (B, M)
Social Sciences
- Political Science (B, M)
- Anthropology (B)
- Sociology (B, C)
- Geography (B, C, M)
- Economics (B)
Visual and Performing Arts
- Graphic Design (B)
- Industrial Design (B)
- Commercial Photography (B)
- Music Management (B)
- Fine Arts and Studio Arts (B)
- Drama and Theatre Arts (B)
- Interior Design (B)
- Music Performance (B, M)
- Art Studies (B)
- Arts Management (B)
- Dance (B)
Other 4-Year Public Colleges
The list of schools below have been selected by researching which schools offer similar programs to Appalachian State University.
- East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, TN (39 miles away)
- University of North Carolina at Asheville in Asheville, NC (64 miles away)
- The University of Virginia's College at Wise in Wise, VA (71 miles away)
- Bluefield State College in Bluefield, WV (77 miles away)
- Winston - Salem State University in Winston-Salem, NC (81 miles away)
See a list of all the colleges and universities by clicking on one of the links below:
- Compare schools and see a list of all colleges in North Carolina
- Compare other North Carolina state universities