Public · Asheville, North Carolina

University of North Carolina Asheville

University of North Carolina Asheville is a public institution in Asheville, 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.

$12,250
Avg net price / yr
$44,030
10-yr median earnings
54.7%
150%-time completion
91.9%
Acceptance rate

The verdict

University of North Carolina Asheville pairs above-median former-student earnings with open admission.

According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.

Top 42%
former-student earnings, US
91.9%
acceptance rate
54.7%
150%-time completion
+19%
earnings, 6→10 yrs
City: Small Carnegie: Bacc: A&S
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Institution data retrieved July 2026; field-of-study data retrieved March 2026.

How to read this University of North Carolina Asheville 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 ("Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus"), 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
52/100
University of North Carolina Asheville

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 C
$44,030
10-year median former-student earnings
Net Price B-
$12,250
Average annual cost after grants and aid
Completion Rate D
54.7%
Completion within 150% of normal time
Debt F
$20,500
Median federal debt at graduation
Loan Repayment C+
65.0%
Borrowers repaying loans within 3 years
Retention F
72.1%
First-year students returning for year two
University of North Carolina Asheville vs. the national benchmark
EarningsNet PriceCompletionDebtRepaymentRetention

Each axis is the percentile score shown in the breakdown at left; the shape shows this school's overall profile at a glance.

10-yr median earnings

$44,030

Federal aid recipients only

Avg net price

$12,250

After grants and scholarships

150%-time completion

54.7%

Full-time, first-time cohort

150%-time completion vs portal median (57.1%) 54.7%

Four-year-institution cohort

College ROI Quadrant - University of North Carolina Asheville vs peers

University of North Carolina Asheville positioned by earnings vs cost Two-by-two quadrant chart: x-axis median earnings 10 years after enrollment, y-axis average net price after financial aid. Each dot is a college, colored by completion within 150% of normal time (garnet ≥65%, amber 45-64%, red <45%). Net price increases upward, earnings increase rightward, so: bottom-right = best value (low cost, high earnings); top-right = premium (high cost, high earnings); bottom-left = community college tier (low cost, modest earnings); top-left = cost challenge (high cost, low earnings). Currently plotting 8 colleges. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard joined to Carnegie Classification. University of North Carolina Asheville posit… Carnegie Classification: Bacc: A&S Bacc: A&S COST CHALLENGE PREMIUM COMMUNITY BEST VALUE $16K $46K Median Earnings 10 Years After Enrollment ($) $2K $20K Avg Net Price ($) University of North Carolina Asheville (you are here): $44K earn · $12K net · 55% grad You are here - University of Nort… Catawba Valley Community College: $37K earn · $11K net · 35% grad Catawba Valley Com… Alamance Community College: $34K earn · $6K net · 38% grad Alamance Community… Wayne Community College: $34K earn · $2K net · 53% grad Wayne Community Co… Coastal Carolina Community College: $36K earn · $9K net · 46% grad Coastal Carolina C… Davidson-Davie Community College: $36K earn · $9K net · 44% grad Davidson-Davie Com… Central Carolina Community College: $34K earn · $5K net · 42% grad Center for Massage: $19K earn · $19K net · 91% grad Grad rate (4yr) ≥65% 45-64% <45%
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education

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 University of North Carolina Asheville 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.

University of North Carolina Asheville: former-student earnings vs. every US college

10-year median earnings, College Scorecard

$44,030 Top 42% higher than 58% of 5,103 US colleges

$0–$20,000: 169 US colleges (3%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 2,245 US colleges (44%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 1,897 US colleges (37%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 606 US colleges (12%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 134 US colleges (3%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 39 US colleges (1%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 11 US colleges (0%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 2 US colleges (0%). Above this entry. This college $0 $160,000 every US college, bucketed by value

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 University of North Carolina Asheville National rank Percentile
10-yr median earnings $44,030 #2124 of 5103 58th
Average net price $12,250 #1548 of 5020 69th (lower is better)
150%-time completion 54.7% #2616 of 4858 46th
Undergraduate enrollment 2,910 #1128 of 5462 79th

National ranks count every operating US college reporting each metric to the College Scorecard, separate from the earnings histogram above.

Quick Facts

2,910
Undergraduate enrollment
91.9%
Acceptance rate
1,251
SAT average
54.7%
150%-time completion
$44,030
10-yr median earnings
72.1%
First-year retention

How University of North Carolina Asheville 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 University of North Carolina Asheville State rank Percentile
10-yr median earnings $44,030 #40 of 147 73rd
Average net price $12,250 #65 of 146 55th (lower is better)
150%-time completion 54.7% #43 of 142 70th
Undergraduate enrollment 2,910 #32 of 153 79th

Highest former-student earnings in North Carolina

#School10-yr earningsNet price
1Duke University$97,800$29,612
2Chamberlain University-North Carolina$92,405$38,436
3Davidson College$81,400$17,379
4Wake Forest University$78,158$28,719
5Elon University$74,545$41,555
6University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill$72,200$11,655
7North Carolina State University at Raleigh$68,758$17,303
8Carolinas College of Health Sciences$64,624-
9Galen Health Institutes-Asheville$61,480$28,602
10High Point University$61,389$38,707
11Cabarrus College of Health Sciences$58,708$17,618
12Queens University of Charlotte$57,673$30,857
40University of North Carolina AshevilleThis school$44,030$12,250

Admissions

Admission Rate 91.9%
SAT Average 1,251
SAT Math (25th-75th) 570 – 660
SAT Reading (25th-75th) 600 – 700
ACT Average 26
ACT (25th-75th) 23 – 29
0%100%91.9%
Share of applicants admitted

Costs & Financial Aid

Net price by family income at University of North Carolina Asheville

Average annual net price after grants; Title IV recipient cohort by income bracket

net price / yr

What this shows Need-based aid pulls net price down at lower brackets at University of North Carolina Asheville - compare the bar for your income band, not the overall average alone.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard As of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Tuition & Net Price

In-State Tuition $7,501
Out-of-State Tuition $24,849
Average Net Price $12,250
32.4%
Pell Grant Rate
38.6%
Federal Loan Rate
$20,500
Median Debt
$217/mo
Monthly Payment

Net price at University of North Carolina Asheville swings rather than trends

Across 11 reported years between 2013 and 2023, the average net price here has ranged from $11,765 to $14,623 without settling into a rise or a fall. Comparing only the first and last years would read as +9.3%, but the years in between do not follow that line, so the honest summary is the range rather than a trend. Budget against the upper end, not the average.

Lowest year
$11,765
Highest year
$14,623
Most recent (2023)
$12,865
Average net price, 2013–2023

11 reported years. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

2013: $11,7652014: $12,4212015: $14,6232016: $12,1452017: $12,7992018: $12,7942019: $12,0612020: $12,5512021: $13,0692022: $13,6372023: $12,865
2013 · $11,7652023 · $12,865

Over the same years, enrollment went -16.0% (3,323 → 2,790 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

61.2%
Female
21.8%
First Generation

Outcomes

72.1%
Retention Rate
$36,947
Median Earnings (6yr)
55.7%
Earning Over $25K
65.0%
Loan Repayment, Completers (3yr)

Outcomes & debt snapshot

Measure Cohort / horizon Value
Completion within 150% of normal time First-time, full-time 54.7%
First-year retention First-time, full-time freshmen 72.1%
Median earnings 6 years after entry $36,947
Median earnings 10 years after entry $44,030
Share earning over $25,000 Working, not enrolled 55.7%
Loan repayment rate Completers, 3 years after leaving 65.0%
Median federal student debt At completion $20,500
Estimated monthly payment Standard 10-year plan $217/mo

Programs & Earnings

Top programs at University of North Carolina Asheville by completer earnings

Median earnings of program completers, College Scorecard field-of-study file

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.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard As of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals
Program Credential Completers Median Earnings Median Debt
Engineering, General Bachelor's 18 $88,346 $30,513
Computer Science Bachelor's 28 $88,084 $22,147
Accounting and Related Services Bachelor's 20 $69,472 $19,550
Economics Bachelor's 18 $66,736 $18,971
Chemistry Bachelor's 21 $60,021 $12,825
Business Administration, Management and Operations Bachelor's 50 $56,479 $18,856
Mathematics Bachelor's 19 $56,247 $24,000
Political Science and Government Bachelor's 28 $55,698 $21,718
Biology, General Bachelor's 38 $47,302 $22,228
Natural Resources Conservation and Research Bachelor's 59 $46,518 $22,354
Sociology Bachelor's 19 $44,824 $20,585
Communication and Media Studies Bachelor's 53 $42,743 $21,500
Public Health Bachelor's 40 $42,267 $21,500
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Bachelor's 22 $41,796 $18,000
Psychology, General Bachelor's 108 $40,673 $19,500

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at University of North Carolina Asheville?
University of North Carolina Asheville is a public institution in Asheville, North Carolina. The acceptance rate is 91.9%. The average SAT score is 1,251. Undergraduate enrollment is 2,910 students.
How much do University of North Carolina Asheville former students earn?
Federally aided former students at University of North Carolina Asheville who were working and not enrolled had median earnings of $44,030 ten years after entry; the cohort is not limited to graduates. Six years after entry, the corresponding median is $36,947.
How much does University of North Carolina Asheville cost?
The average net price at University of North Carolina Asheville is $12,250. In-state tuition is $7,501 and out-of-state tuition is $24,849. Median student debt at graduation is $20,500.
What is the graduation rate at University of North Carolina Asheville?
University of North Carolina Asheville has a 54.7% 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 72.1%.
Is University of North Carolina Asheville worth the student debt?
The median student debt at University of North Carolina Asheville is $20,500, while former students earn a median of $44,030 ten years after enrollment. That debt represents about 47% of those annual earnings. Among borrowers who completed their program, 65.0% are repaying their loans within 3 years. Estimated monthly loan payment is $217.

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.

Where to go next from University of North Carolina Asheville

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.