10-yr median earnings
$51,836
Federal aid recipients only
Public · Boone, North Carolina
Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University is a public institution in Boone, North Carolina. as a public institution, published Scorecard outcomes are the federal Title-IV cohort view of former students — not every graduate and not a guarantee for any one enrollee.
- $16,836
- Avg net price / yr
- $51,836
- 10-yr median earnings
- 73.8%
- 150%-time completion
- 90.1%
- Acceptance rate
The verdict
Appalachian State University pairs above-median former-student earnings with open admission.
According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
- Top 26%
- former-student earnings, US
- 90.1%
- acceptance rate
- 73.8%
- 150%-time completion
- +19%
- earnings, 6→10 yrs
Town: Distant
Carnegie: Master's (L)
Institution data retrieved July 2026; field-of-study data retrieved March 2026.
How to read this Appalachian State University profile
Figures above come from IPEDS institution records published through the College Scorecard (retrieved July 2026 for institution fields; March 2026 for field-of-study). Peer groups and cost cohorts follow IPEDS ownership sector, Carnegie class ("Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs"), and locale, not an editorial shortlist.
Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients. It is a defined cohort average, not a personalized price; income-band fields add context but do not replace the school's current net-price calculator.
Earnings use Treasury-linked records for federally aided former students who were working and not enrolled in the measurement year (completers and noncompleters). IPEDS completion and retention use separate first-time, full-time cohorts, so those denominators are not the earnings cohort. Read cost, completion, and earnings as distinct historical measures, not a causal verdict or individual forecast.
College Value Score
C+
College Value Score
64/100
Appalachian State University
A 6-metric composite of earnings, cost, and completion outcomes benchmarked against every reporting US college, not a ranking of teaching quality, campus life, or fit for any individual student. See the full methodology.
Earnings B
$51,836
10-year median former-student earnings
Net Price C-
$16,836
Average annual cost after grants and aid
Completion Rate B+
73.8%
Completion within 150% of normal time
Debt F
$20,231
Median federal debt at graduation
Loan Repayment A
79.8%
Borrowers repaying loans within 3 years
Retention B
83.7%
First-year students returning for year two
Each axis is the percentile score shown in the breakdown at left; the shape shows this school's overall profile at a glance.
Avg net price
$16,836
After grants and scholarships
150%-time completion
73.8%
Full-time, first-time cohort
150%-time completion vs portal median (57.1%) 73.8%
Four-year-institution cohort
College ROI Quadrant - Appalachian State University vs peers
Each dot is a college plotted by 10-year median earnings (x-axis) vs average net price (y-axis), colored by completion within 150% of normal time. Bottom-right = high earnings/lower price; top-left = lower earnings/higher price.
How Appalachian State University ranks nationally
Where this school's former-student earnings fall within the full national distribution of every US college that reports to the College Scorecard, not just its peer set.
Appalachian State University: former-student earnings vs. every US college
10-year median earnings, College Scorecard
$51,836 Top 26% higher than 74% of 5,103 US colleges
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals
| Metric | Appalachian State University | National rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-yr median earnings | $51,836 | #1332 of 5103 | 74th |
| Average net price | $16,836 | #2455 of 5020 | 51st (lower is better) |
| 150%-time completion | 73.8% | #1114 of 4858 | 77th |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 19,444 | #141 of 5462 | 97th |
National ranks count every operating US college reporting each metric to the College Scorecard, separate from the earnings histogram above.
Quick Facts
19,444
Undergraduate enrollment
90.1%
Acceptance rate
1,214
SAT average
73.8%
150%-time completion
$51,836
10-yr median earnings
83.7%
First-year retention
How Appalachian State University ranks in North Carolina
State rank among 147 reporting North Carolina colleges with College Scorecard data, a separate lens from the national distribution above.
| Metric | Appalachian State University | State rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-yr median earnings | $51,836 | #19 of 147 | 87th |
| Average net price | $16,836 | #86 of 146 | 41st (lower is better) |
| 150%-time completion | 73.8% | #14 of 142 | 90th |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 19,444 | #6 of 153 | 96th |
Highest former-student earnings in North Carolina
| # | School | 10-yr earnings | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duke University | $97,800 | $29,612 |
| 2 | Chamberlain University-North Carolina | $92,405 | $38,436 |
| 3 | Davidson College | $81,400 | $17,379 |
| 4 | Wake Forest University | $78,158 | $28,719 |
| 5 | Elon University | $74,545 | $41,555 |
| 6 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | $72,200 | $11,655 |
| 7 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | $68,758 | $17,303 |
| 8 | Carolinas College of Health Sciences | $64,624 | - |
| 9 | Galen Health Institutes-Asheville | $61,480 | $28,602 |
| 10 | High Point University | $61,389 | $38,707 |
| 11 | Cabarrus College of Health Sciences | $58,708 | $17,618 |
| 12 | Queens University of Charlotte | $57,673 | $30,857 |
| 19 | Appalachian State UniversityThis school | $51,836 | $16,836 |
Admissions
| Admission Rate | 90.1% |
| SAT Average | 1,214 |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 550 – 620 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 570 – 660 |
| ACT Average | 27 |
| ACT (25th-75th) | 21 – 27 |
Costs & Financial Aid
Net price by family income at Appalachian State University
Average annual net price after grants; Title IV recipient cohort by income bracket
- $0 – $30k
$0 – $30k
$9,325 net price / yr
- $30k – $48k
$30k – $48k
$11,600 net price / yr
- $48k – $75k
$48k – $75k
$15,204 net price / yr
- $110k+
$110k+
$22,382 net price / yr
What this shows Need-based aid pulls net price down at lower brackets at Appalachian State University - compare the bar for your income band, not the overall average alone.
Tuition & Net Price
| In-State Tuition | $7,579 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $25,212 |
| Average Net Price | $16,836 |
26.4%
Pell Grant Rate
36.6%
Federal Loan Rate
$20,231
Median Debt
$214/mo
Monthly Payment
What students pay at Appalachian State University rose +29.6% since 2013
Average net price for the reported Title IV-recipient cohort went from $12,725 in 2013 to $16,487 in 2023, a rise of $3,762 in nominal dollars. Across the 4,315 colleges measured over the same 2013–2023 span, the median change was +14.6%.
11 reported years. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation.
2013 · $12,7252023 · $16,487
Over the same years, enrollment went +21.9% (15,840 → 19,304 students).
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, per-year fields (2013–2023). Net price is the average cost after grant and scholarship aid for federally-aided undergraduates.
Student Demographics
Race & ethnicity
Student body at a glance
57.5%
Female
25.0%
First Generation
Outcomes
83.7%
Retention Rate
$43,663
Median Earnings (6yr)
64.1%
Earning Over $25K
79.8%
Loan Repayment, Completers (3yr)
Outcomes & debt snapshot
| Measure | Cohort / horizon | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Completion within 150% of normal time | First-time, full-time | 73.8% |
| First-year retention | First-time, full-time freshmen | 83.7% |
| Median earnings | 6 years after entry | $43,663 |
| Median earnings | 10 years after entry | $51,836 |
| Share earning over $25,000 | Working, not enrolled | 64.1% |
| Loan repayment rate | Completers, 3 years after leaving | 79.8% |
| Median federal student debt | At completion | $20,231 |
| Estimated monthly payment | Standard 10-year plan | $214/mo |
Programs & Earnings
Field-of-study summary by credential
| Credential | Programs | Award count | Avg earnings | Top earnings | Avg debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 57 | 4,282 | $58,792 | $97,670 | $20,642 |
| Master's | 25 | 642 | $71,270 | $111,173 | $26,392 |
| Graduate Certificate | 4 | 84 | $64,363 | $104,433 | $30,755 |
| First Professional | 2 | 0 | $69,830 | $69,830 | $27,350 |
| Doctoral | 1 | 12 | $91,173 | $91,173 | - |
| Certificate | 1 | 0 | $50,551 | $50,551 | $17,558 |
Top programs at Appalachian State University by completer earnings
Median earnings of program completers, College Scorecard field-of-study file
- Physics
Physics
$111,173 median earnings
- Computer Software and Medi…
Computer Software and Media Applications
$107,500 median earnings
- Computer Software and Medi…
Computer Software and Media Applications
$104,433 median earnings
- Computer Science
Computer Science
$97,670 median earnings
- Industrial Production Tech…
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
$96,218 median earnings
- Business Administration, M…
Business Administration, Management and Operations
$94,138 median earnings
- Accounting and Related Ser…
Accounting and Related Services
$93,013 median earnings
- Educational Administration…
Educational Administration and Supervision
$91,173 median earnings
What this shows The highest-earning programs at a school are not necessarily its most popular ones - a small specialized program can post strong median earnings without reflecting the outcome most students here actually see.
| Program | Credential | Completers | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physics | Master's | 17 | $111,173 | - |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | Master's | 18 | $107,500 | - |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | Graduate Certificate | 11 | $104,433 | $24,814 |
| Computer Science | Bachelor's | 67 | $97,670 | $22,500 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | Master's | 8 | $96,218 | - |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Master's | 59 | $94,138 | $27,533 |
| Accounting and Related Services | Master's | 34 | $93,013 | $17,978 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | Doctoral | 12 | $91,173 | - |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Master's | 18 | $87,377 | - |
| Management Information Systems and Services | Bachelor's | 88 | $87,041 | $20,667 |
| Accounting and Related Services | Bachelor's | 73 | $85,580 | $19,590 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | Bachelor's | 17 | $83,033 | $22,811 |
| Physics | Bachelor's | 22 | $82,399 | $22,096 |
| Insurance | Bachelor's | 40 | $82,306 | $17,875 |
| Construction Management | Bachelor's | 103 | $80,257 | $18,750 |
Nearby Schools
Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese Medicine
Sugar Grove, NC
Lees-McRae College
Banner Elk, NC
873 students
Western Piedmont Community College
Morganton, NC
1,339 students
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute
Hudson, NC
2,393 students
Wilkes Community College
Wilkesboro, NC
1,355 students
Explore Data-Matched Colleges
Matches use Scorecard measures among reporting colleges — not state-system recommendations or geographic proximity.
Similar Enrollment and Sector
Other Public institutions closest in reported enrollment, preferring the same Carnegie classification.
California State University-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
19,562 students · 118 apart
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA
21,996 students · 2,552 apart
Weber State University
Ogden, UT
16,360 students · 3,084 apart
CUNY Hunter College
New York, NY
16,289 students · 3,155 apart
Similar Reported Net Price
Other Public institutions with the nearest reported average net price.
Central Connecticut State University
New Britain, CT
$16,857 net price · $21 apart
University of Maine at Farmington
Farmington, ME
$16,857 net price · $21 apart
Metropolitan State University
Saint Paul, MN
$16,863 net price · $27 apart
Texas State University
San Marcos, TX
$16,805 net price · $31 apart
Similar 2013–2023 Net-Price Trend
Same-sector institutions with the same direction and nearest fitted annual change; only series with R² of at least 0.40 qualify.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Appalachian State University? ▼
Appalachian State University is a public institution in Boone, North Carolina. The acceptance rate is 90.1%. The average SAT score is 1,214. Undergraduate enrollment is 19,444 students.
How much do Appalachian State University former students earn? ▼
Federally aided former students at Appalachian State University who were working and not enrolled had median earnings of $51,836 ten years after entry; the cohort is not limited to graduates. Six years after entry, the corresponding median is $43,663.
How much does Appalachian State University cost? ▼
The average net price at Appalachian State University is $16,836. In-state tuition is $7,579 and out-of-state tuition is $25,212. Median student debt at graduation is $20,231.
What is the graduation rate at Appalachian State University? ▼
Appalachian State University has a 73.8% completion rate within 150% of normal time at a four-year institution (typically six years for a bachelor’s program). The first-year retention rate is 83.7%.
Is Appalachian State University worth the student debt? ▼
The median student debt at Appalachian State University is $20,231, while former students earn a median of $51,836 ten years after enrollment. That debt represents about 39% of those annual earnings. Among borrowers who completed their program, 79.8% are repaying their loans within 3 years. Estimated monthly loan payment is $214.
Sources & methodology
Public-college profiles lean on IPEDS enrollment and Scorecard Title-IV outcomes. State appropriations are outside this page; the figures below are the federal cohort measures only.
Every number is read live from the Mar–Jul 2026 Scorecard/IPEDS retrievals. Public institutions often enroll large Title-IV cohorts, so medians can be stable — still cohort averages, never a personal forecast. Read the full methodology for how the data is sourced, computed, and verified.
- College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education - former-student earnings, cost & completion (collegescorecard.ed.gov).
- IPEDS, National Center for Education Statistics - enrollment, admissions, Carnegie class & demographics (nces.ed.gov/ipeds).
- U.S. Treasury / IRS earnings linkage - median earnings 6 & 10 years after enrollment for federal-aid recipients (irs.gov).
- College Scorecard, Field of Study - program-level (credential) earnings & debt (collegescorecard.ed.gov).
- Federal Student Aid (Title IV / NSLDS) - U.S. Department of Education - net price, student debt & aid-recipient repayment outcomes (studentaid.gov).
Where to go next from Appalachian State University
- Compare Appalachian State University against schools with similar outcomes at a lower average net price.Find similar schools that cost less
- Browse every reporting college in North Carolina side by side.Browse North Carolina
- See how fields of study differ on former-student earnings and debt.Explore programs
Public-college Scorecard figures are historical Title-IV cohort averages — confirm current tuition, aid, and admissions rules with the institution before deciding.
Every figure on PlainCollege is rendered directly from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard data, no number is typed in by an editor. Public-institution profiles compile Scorecard Title-IV earnings, IPEDS enrollment/admissions, and Treasury linkage fields — no editor-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Review the public data changelog. Data current as of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals.