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Compare Appalachian State University vs North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Boone, NC · Raleigh, NC

Appalachian State UniversityNorth Carolina State University at Raleigh
Cost
Price after aid (average)$16,836/yr$17,303/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$9,325/yr$6,382/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$20,231$20,121
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$11,600/yr$8,758/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$15,204/yr$13,334/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$20,840/yr$20,087/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$22,382/yr$24,652/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$214/mo$213/mo
Room & board (on campus)$12,868/yr$14,332/yr
Room & board (off campus)$14,428/yr$14,332/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$800/yr$876/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$2,816/yr$3,230/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$23,169/yr$26,425/yr
Tuition (in-state)$7,579/yr$8,799/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$25,212/yr$32,847/yr
Students with Pell Grants26%20%
Students taking federal loans37%33%
Getting in
Students who get accepted90%42%
SAT range (middle 50%)1120–12801300–1470
SAT average12141376
ACT range (middle 50%)21–2728–32
ACT sections (middle 50%)English 20–27 · Math 19–26English 26–34 · Math 26–32
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received24,00140,049
Students accepted21,27515,958
Students who enrolled4,2275,728
Accepted students who enroll20%36%
Enrolled who sent SAT scores10%21%
Enrolled who sent ACT scores24%28%
High-school GPARequiredRequired
High-school transcriptRequiredRequired
EssayOptional (considered if sent)Required
Recommendation lettersNot consideredOptional (considered if sent)
Class rankOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
College-prep programRequiredRequired
Demonstrated competenciesNot consideredNot considered
Work experienceOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
English proficiency testRequiredRequired
Other admission testsNot consideredNot considered
Legacy consideredNot consideredNot considered
SAT/ACT policyOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate75%85%
Freshmen who come back84%94%
Typical earnings 10 years in$51,836/yr$68,758/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$36,495–$74,305$45,891–$99,809
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)75%85%
White students graduating76%86%
Black students graduating64%76%
Hispanic students graduating72%78%
Asian students graduating82%88%
Typical earnings 6 years in$43,663/yr$57,623/yr
Earn more than a HS grad75%82%
Graduate on time59%68%
Pell students who graduate67%79%
First-gen students who finish69%76%
Low-income students who finish64%72%
Students who transfer out18%9.5%
Typical earnings 8 years in$48,423/yr$65,113/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsBusiness, Management & Marketing 24% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 10% · Psychology 9%Engineering 24% · Business, Management & Marketing 16% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 9%
Most popular programBusiness, Management & Marketing — 24% of degreesEngineering — 24% of degrees
2nd most popular programBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 10% of degreesBusiness, Management & Marketing — 16% of degrees
3rd most popular programPsychology — 9% of degreesBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 9% of degrees
4th most popular programCommunication & Journalism — 7% of degreesAgriculture & Veterinary Science — 9% of degrees
5th most popular programEducation — 7% of degreesComputer & Information Sciences — 6% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Business Administration, Management and Operations — $72,310/yrComputer Software and Media Applications — $115,689/yr
Degrees in STEM18%43%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment19,44427,371
Students per professor16 : 115 : 1
Graduate students2,01010,042
Average professor pay$9,281/mo$12,820/mo
Full-time professors78%88%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited bySouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Median family income$56,100$64,900
SettingTown (distant)City (large)
LocationBoone, NCRaleigh, NC
RegionSoutheastSoutheast
Founded18991887
Public or privatePublicPublic
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationMaster's Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsDoctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students0.5%2.3%
Men45%50%
Women55%50%
White students79%66%
Black students3.1%5.9%
Hispanic or Latino students9.4%9.4%
Asian students1.7%9.8%
Two or more races4.8%5.1%
Other / not reported2%1.3%
Special typeNoneNone
First-generation students25%19%
Part-time students6.9%5.8%
Students age 25+5.8%4.5%
Spent on teaching per student$8,690/yr$18,060/yr
Endowment$217.2M$2.2B
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing6,31310,291
Required to live on campusNoNo
Room charge (campus housing)$6,630/yr$7,996/yr
Meal plan charge$5,628/yr$5,723/yr
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per week21 meals/weekVaries by week
Academic calendarSemesterSemester
Federal designationNoneLand-grant institution
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchNoYes
ROTCYes — ArmyYes — Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditNoNo
Credit for life experienceYesNo
Online classesYesYes
Whole degrees onlineYesYes
Weekend & evening classesNoNo
Teacher certificationYesYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesYesYes
On-campus day careYesNo
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesYesNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolNoYes
Credit for military trainingYesYes
Student veteran organizationYesYes
Tuition payment planNoYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionYesYes
Prepaid tuition planNoNo
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNCAA Division I-FBSNCAA Division I-FBS
Football teamYesYes
Varsity teams1418
Student athletes438542
Athletic scholarships$7.3M$12.2M
Athletics budget$45.0M$129.0M
Athletics revenue$45.0M$135.8M
Recruiting spend$987,399$3.4M

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.