Appalachian State: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially Appalachian State University · Boone, North Carolina · Public · Open access · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-optional
- 22,184
- Applicants
- 20,827
- Admitted94%
- 3,993
- Enrolled
- 19%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Open access94% admittedRanked #4 in Regional Universities South; Business Programs #176 (tie), Computer Science #319 (tie), Nursing #135 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Appalachian State University (see the source), read on 2026-02-17.
Is Appalachian State a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Appalachian State against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Appalachian State is a public university in Boone, North Carolina that admits about 94% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $16,836 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Psychology, General, Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness and Business Administration, Management and Operations, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 71% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 1.1 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Appalachian State is a public institution located in Boone, North Carolina. For the most recent reporting cycle, Appalachian State admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 94%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1190 and an ACT composite around 27. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $16,836 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Appalachian State?
54% of enrolled students at Appalachian State had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.8, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
Compare Appalachian State with the other schools on your list
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What does Appalachian State weight in admissions?
Appalachian State reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
3- Rigor of secondary school record
- Class rank
- Academic GPA
Important
7- Standardized test scores
- Interview
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Level of applicant's interest
Considered
3- Application essay
- Character/personal qualities
- First generation status
Not Considered
5- Recommendations
- Alumni/ae relation
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Religious affiliation/commitment
SAT and ACT scores Appalachian State typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 550–620, with an EBRW midpoint near 610. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 21–27. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | 1110 |
| 50th percentile | 1190 |
| 75th percentile | 1270 |
| % submitting SAT | 7% |
| 25th percentile | 20 |
| 50th percentile | 23 |
| 75th percentile | 27 |
| % submitting ACT | 20% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Test-optional, but first-year applicants with a weighted GPA below 2.8 must submit SAT or ACT scores.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Appalachian State's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 9% |
| Top 25% of class | 30% |
| Top 50% of class | 67% |
| % submitting class rank | 84% |
How much does Appalachian State actually cost?
Published tuition is $7,579 for in-state students and $25,212 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $12,868 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $16,836 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 26% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | — |
| Room and board | — |
| Average net price (after aid) | $16,836 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 55% |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $65 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Appalachian State
| Reply deadline | 2026-05-01 |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
Will my child graduate from Appalachian State?
These predict outcomes at Appalachian State better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Appalachian State
The most popular undergraduate programs at Appalachian State, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Psychology, General, Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness and Business Administration, Management and Operations. Across all programs, Appalachian State confers roughly 1,711 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Psychology, General program report a median income of about $42,768 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology, General | 309 | $42,768 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 274 | $54,550 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 250 | $60,338 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 229 | $46,027 |
| Marketing | 190 | $59,640 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 158 | $55,221 |
| Biology, General | 156 | $67,233 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 145 | $46,827 |
Is Appalachian State safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Appalachian State disclosed 22 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 1.1 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 2 violent offenses and 17 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
Other colleges in North Carolina parents ask about
- East Carolina University89% acceptance
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte80% acceptance
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro89% acceptance
- Davidson College13% acceptance
- Elon University66% acceptance
- High Point University75% acceptance
- University of North Carolina at Pembroke93% acceptance
- University of North Carolina Wilmington64% acceptance
Next steps for Appalachian State
Common questions parents ask about Appalachian State
What GPA do I need for Appalachian State?
54% of enrolled students at Appalachian State had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.8, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Appalachian State typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 550–620, with an EBRW midpoint near 610. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 21–27.
How much does Appalachian State actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Appalachian State after grants and scholarships is $16,836 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $7,579 and $25,212 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is Appalachian State realistic for my child?
Appalachian State admits 94% of applicants, so 550–620 SAT Math is target range and below 550 is a reach. Then check the $16,836 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Appalachian State?
Appalachian State accepts about 94% of applicants out of roughly 22,184 who apply each year. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is Appalachian State test-optional?
Yes. Appalachian State is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered. Test-optional, but first-year applicants with a weighted GPA below 2.8 must submit SAT or ACT scores.
What is the graduation rate at Appalachian State?
About 71% of students at Appalachian State graduate within six years, and 55% finish in four years. 84% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does Appalachian State look for in applicants?
Appalachian State rates course rigor, class rank and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Appalachian State a public or private school, and where is it located?
Appalachian State is a public institution located in Boone, North Carolina.
What are the most popular majors at Appalachian State?
The largest undergraduate majors at Appalachian State by annual graduates are Psychology, General, Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness and Business Administration, Management and Operations. The school awards about 1,711 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Appalachian State safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Appalachian State reported 22 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 1.1 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Appalachian State University, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers