Appalachian State University (ASU)

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:

• Accounting
• Anthropology
• Criminal Justice
• Environmental Science
• Philosophy

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

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

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