App State acceptance rate, cost and outcomes
Appalachian State University · Public · Boone, NC · 19,405 undergraduates (IPEDS fall 2023)
App State admitted 88.6% of applicants for fall 2023, up from 63.2% in 2013. North Carolina residents pay $7,642 in tuition and fees for 2025-26; out-of-state students pay $25,932.
Admit rate, 2013 to 2023
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| Fall | Admit rate | Applicants | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 63.2% | 12,248 | 7,744 |
| 2014 | 62.7% | 13,506 | 8,463 |
| 2015 | 66.4% | 13,083 | 8,684 |
| 2016 | 68.3% | 13,202 | 9,020 |
| 2017 | 70.0% | 14,009 | 9,807 |
| 2018 | 69.5% | 16,154 | 11,221 |
| 2019 | 76.8% | 16,664 | 12,800 |
| 2020 | 79.5% | 18,178 | 14,453 |
| 2021 | 84.7% | 21,120 | 17,886 |
| 2022 | 83.1% | 22,255 | 18,489 |
| 2023 | 88.6% | 24,001 | 21,275 |
Applications went from 12,248 in fall 2013 to 24,001 in fall 2023. Admit rate = admitted ÷ applicants. Source: IPEDS fall admissions.1
What families actually pay
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| Family income | Net price / year, 2024-25 |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $11,070 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $10,994 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $12,977 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $19,354 |
| Over $110,000 | $22,753 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state (2025-26) | $7,642 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state (2025-26) | $25,932 |
| Cost of attendance (2024-25) | $24,140 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid (2024-25) | $16,082 |
Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants, for first-time full-time students with federal aid paying the in-state rate, 2024-25. Tuition is 2025-26. Source: College Scorecard.2
SAT and ACT
Middle 50% (25th to 75th percentile) of enrolled first-year students who submitted scores: 10% submitted the SAT, 24% the ACT. Source: IPEDS fall 2023.1
Similar public colleges
| College | Admit rate | Tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|
| ECU NC | 90.1% | $7,438 in-state |
| Western Carolina NC | 86.7% | $4,685 in-state |
| UNC Charlotte NC | 80.2% | $7,317 in-state |
Same state and type first, then the nearest admit rate. Fall 2023 and 2025-26 figures.
What the numbers say
Appalachian State received 24,001 applications for fall 2023 and admitted 21,275, which is 88.6% of applicants.1 A decade earlier, 63.2% were admitted, so the rate has risen 25.4 percentage points.1 Declines were uncommon, appearing in only 3 of the 10 yearly changes.1 Applications rose 96% from 12,248 to 24,001, while admitted students went from 7,744 to 21,275.1
Scores are optional at App State; 10% of enrolled students sent SAT scores and 24% sent ACT scores.1 Submitted SAT scores centered on 560 to 650 for reading and writing and 540 to 630 for math, and the ACT composite on 21 to 27.1
North Carolina residents pay $7,642 in 2025-26 tuition and fees, while students from other states pay $25,932.2 The in-state price is slightly higher than the $7,292 median of 16 public bachelor's colleges in North Carolina.2 In 2024-25 families earning $0 to $30,000 paid an average net price of $11,070, those earning $48,001 to $75,000 paid $12,977, and those earning over $110,000 paid $22,753.2
A graduation rate of 71% within 6 years for 2019 entrants compares with a 47% state median across 56 colleges, and retention was 84%.2 The median earnings figure 10 years after entry is $57,488. Federal borrowers hold a median debt of $19,500.2
Every number on this page, with its source field
| Figure | Value | File, field, year |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 24,001 | IPEDS ADM2023, APPLCN, fall 20231 |
| Admitted | 21,275 | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMSSN, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled first-years | 4,227 | IPEDS ADM2023, ENRLT, fall 20231 |
| Undergraduates | 19,405 | IPEDS DRVEF2023, EFUG, fall 20234 |
| Admission policy | Selective (not open admission) | IPEDS IC2023, OPENADMP, 2023-243 |
| Test policy | Test-optional | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMCON7, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 25th percentile | 560 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR25, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 75th percentile | 650 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR75, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 25th percentile | 540 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT25, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 75th percentile | 630 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT75, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 25th percentile | 21 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM25, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 75th percentile | 27 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM75, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting SAT | 10% | IPEDS ADM2023, SATPCT, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting ACT | 24% | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTPCT, fall 20231 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $7,642 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_IN, 2025-262 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $25,932 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_OUT, 2025-262 |
| Cost of attendance | $24,140 | College Scorecard, COSTT4_A, 2024-252 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid | $16,082 | College Scorecard, NPT4_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $0 to $30,000 | $11,070 | College Scorecard, NPT41_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $30,001 to $48,000 | $10,994 | College Scorecard, NPT42_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $48,001 to $75,000 | $12,977 | College Scorecard, NPT43_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $75,001 to $110,000 | $19,354 | College Scorecard, NPT44_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income over $110,000 | $22,753 | College Scorecard, NPT45_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Graduation rate within 6 years | 71% | College Scorecard, C150_4, 2019 entrants2 |
| First-year retention | 84% | College Scorecard, RET_FT4, fall 2023 entrants2 |
| Undergraduates with a Pell grant | 31% | College Scorecard, PCTPELL, 2024-252 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $57,488 | College Scorecard, MD_EARN_WNE_P10, 2022-232 |
| Median federal debt of graduates | $19,500 | College Scorecard, GRAD_DEBT_MDN, FY2024-252 |
| Median in-state tuition and fees, public colleges, North Carolina (N = 16) | $7,292 | College Scorecard, median TUITIONFEE_IN, public bachelor's institutions, 2025-262 |
| Median graduation rate within 6 years, North Carolina (N = 56) | 47% | College Scorecard, median C150_4, bachelor's institutions, 2019 entrants2 |
Sources
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS admissions files, fall 2013 to fall 2023 (IC2013, ADM2014, ADM2015, ADM2016, ADM2017, ADM2018, ADM2019, ADM2020, ADM2021, ADM2022, ADM2023). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard, Most Recent Institution-Level Data (Most-Recent-Cohorts-Institution (release of 15 Oct 2026)). Data years: 2019 entrants, 2022-23, 2024-25, 2025-26, FY2024-25, fall 2023 entrants. Checked 25 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Institutional Characteristics 2023-24 (IC2023.zip). Data years: 2023-24. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Fall Enrollment, derived variables, fall 2023 (DRVEF2023.zip). Data years: 2023. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
AdmitFacts is not affiliated with App State, the U.S. Department of Education or NCES. Missing values are shown as Not reported, never estimated. The file field behind each figure is listed under "Every number on this page". How we build each page