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Appalachian State University

⌖ Boone, NC · 83 reportable field-and-credential outcomes

MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff

−$180,064 over 10 years

Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.

At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.

36.8 yrsModeled economic break-even
−73%Modeled 10-year ROI
$51,728Observed earnings · year 5
Economic ROI includes direct price and earnings forgone during study · $45,000 comparison earnings · values held flat · see the formula
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK

Estimated payoff over ten years.

The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.

10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
−$180,064at year 10
Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
−$247,3440
2
4
6
8
−$180,06410
Years after graduationBreak-even: 36.8 years
FEDERAL COST DATA

Four ways to read college price.

Annual college-wide figures from the current College Scorecard release. Average net price covers full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving federal aid; public-college figures use in-state students. Program tuition and individual aid offers may differ.

Published in-state tuition$7,579
Sticker price
Published out-of-state tuition$25,212
Sticker price
Average net price$16,836
Title IV student average
Cost of attendance$23,169
Tuition + living budget
PRICE SOURCECollege reported · annual amount · federal dataset
OBSERVED FEDERAL MEASURES

Cost, completion and earnings context

$16,836Average net price / year
$23,169Cost of attendance
$51,728Median earnings · year 5 after completion
74.5%Completion rate
90.1%Admission rate
19,444Student size
NATIONAL CONTEXT

How this college compares

Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.

66thEarnings percentile
74thCompletion percentile
EARNINGS PATH

Reported earnings over time

$37,893Year 1
$54,010Year 4
$51,728Year 5

Separate federal cohorts may underlie different measurement years.

PROGRAM PAYOFF SPREAD

The college average is not the whole story.

Observed earnings vary substantially by field and credential at the same institution.

1Physics · Master's Degree$111,1732Computer Software and Media Applications · Master's Degree$107,5003Computer Software and Media Applications · Graduate/Professional Certificate$104,4334Computer Science · Bachelor's Degree$97,6705Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians · Master's Degree$96,2186Business Administration, Management and Operations · Master's Degree$94,1387Accounting and Related Services · Master's Degree$93,0138Educational Administration and Supervision · Doctoral Degree$91,173

Observed year-4 earnings · compare like fields and credentials before deciding

BUILD A REAL SHORTLIST

Comparable colleges in NC

Currently operating public institutions with the closest combination of annual net price and observed year-5 earnings. Similarity is descriptive—not a quality ranking.

Cullowhee, NC

Western Carolina University

Annual net price
$13,315
Observed earnings · year 5
$51,153
Modeled 10-year ROI
-74%
Open college profile →Wilmington, NC

University of North Carolina Wilmington

Annual net price
$20,109
Observed earnings · year 5
$54,234
Modeled 10-year ROI
-65%
Open college profile →Greenville, NC

East Carolina University

Annual net price
$15,739
Observed earnings · year 5
$56,743
Modeled 10-year ROI
-52%
Open college profile →Durham, NC

North Carolina Central University

Annual net price
$15,359
Observed earnings · year 5
$46,355
Modeled 10-year ROI
-94%
Open college profile →
ALL REPORTABLE PROGRAM CATEGORIES

Explore exact field-and-credential outcomes

Federal fieldCredentialEarnings, year 4Federal debt
PhysicsMaster's Degree$111,173Not available
Computer Software and Media ApplicationsMaster's Degree$107,500Not available
Computer Software and Media ApplicationsGraduate/Professional Certificate$104,433Not available
Computer ScienceBachelor's Degree$97,670$22,500
Industrial Production Technologies/TechniciansMaster's Degree$96,218Not available
Business Administration, Management and OperationsMaster's Degree$94,138Not available
Accounting and Related ServicesMaster's Degree$93,013Not available
Educational Administration and SupervisionDoctoral Degree$91,173Not available
Health and Medical Administrative ServicesMaster's Degree$87,377Not available
Management Information Systems and ServicesBachelor's Degree$87,041$23,551
Accounting and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree$85,580$23,262
Management Sciences and Quantitative MethodsBachelor's Degree$83,033$24,250
PhysicsBachelor's Degree$82,399$22,096
InsuranceBachelor's Degree$82,306$18,625
Construction ManagementBachelor's Degree$80,257$20,280
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingBachelor's Degree$78,943$20,000
Energy Systems Technologies/TechniciansBachelor's Degree$76,914Not available
Finance and Financial Management ServicesBachelor's Degree$75,396$21,267
International BusinessBachelor's Degree$72,852$26,930
Clinical, Counseling and Applied PsychologyMaster's Degree$72,547Not available
Environmental Control Technologies/TechniciansBachelor's Degree$69,956$23,250
Educational Administration and SupervisionFirst Professional Degree$69,830Not available
MarketingBachelor's Degree$69,439$19,500
EconomicsBachelor's Degree$67,285$21,894
Health and Medical Administrative ServicesBachelor's Degree$66,227$24,125
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition ServicesMaster's Degree$65,206Not available
Business Administration, Management and OperationsBachelor's Degree$64,932$21,497
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesMaster's Degree$63,464Not available
Biology, GeneralMaster's Degree$62,942Not available
Educational Administration and SupervisionMaster's Degree$62,704Not available
MathematicsBachelor's Degree$62,271$17,500
Public AdministrationMaster's Degree$62,027Not available
Library Science and AdministrationMaster's Degree$59,631Not available
Apparel and TextilesBachelor's Degree$58,516$26,000
ChemistryBachelor's Degree$58,329$24,949
Geography and CartographyBachelor's Degree$58,289$17,750
Educational/Instructional Media DesignMaster's Degree$58,140Not available
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied ProfessionsMaster's Degree$57,614Not available
Curriculum and InstructionMaster's Degree$57,340Not available
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and ServicesBachelor's Degree$55,778$23,342
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationBachelor's Degree$55,671$21,500
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessBachelor's Degree$55,594$21,000
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsBachelor's Degree$55,474$18,750
Communication and Media StudiesBachelor's Degree$55,307$21,500
Radio, Television, and Digital CommunicationBachelor's Degree$55,235$23,250
Student Counseling and Personnel ServicesMaster's Degree$55,225Not available
Social WorkMaster's Degree$54,939Not available
Political Science and GovernmentBachelor's Degree$54,344$21,500
Design and Applied ArtsBachelor's Degree$53,543$21,500
Student Counseling and Personnel ServicesGraduate/Professional Certificate$53,406Not available
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessMaster's Degree$53,371Not available
Food Science and TechnologyBachelor's Degree$53,369Not available
Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesBachelor's Degree$53,269$22,853
Biology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$53,228$23,000
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesBachelor's Degree$53,125$19,875
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsBachelor's Degree$52,440Not available
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied ProfessionsGraduate/Professional Certificate$52,086Not available
Social WorkBachelor's Degree$51,012$22,184
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasMaster's Degree$50,822Not available
Geography and CartographyUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma$50,551$17,750
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition ServicesBachelor's Degree$50,403$25,025
Special Education and TeachingBachelor's Degree$50,264$25,000
Public HealthBachelor's Degree$49,039$20,361
Hospitality Administration/ManagementBachelor's Degree$48,546$24,323
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasBachelor's Degree$48,255$21,614
JournalismBachelor's Degree$48,243$21,000
Psychology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$47,720$21,444
Special Education and TeachingGraduate/Professional Certificate$47,528Not available
SociologyBachelor's Degree$47,180$20,606
Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchBachelor's Degree$46,207$23,125
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsBachelor's Degree$46,057$21,500
English Language and Literature, GeneralBachelor's Degree$45,954$21,430
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftBachelor's Degree$44,986$24,755
Arts, Entertainment, and Media ManagementBachelor's Degree$44,297$24,412
AnthropologyBachelor's Degree$42,107$23,250
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities ManagementBachelor's Degree$41,052$19,706
Fine and Studio ArtsBachelor's Degree$41,002$21,985
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree$40,461$18,935
HistoryBachelor's Degree$40,371$20,400
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesBachelor's DegreeNot available$24,977
International/Globalization StudiesBachelor's DegreeNot available$22,991
PhilosophyBachelor's DegreeNot available$17,500
MusicBachelor's DegreeNot available$26,000

Earnings, price, completion and enrollment are observed federal measures. ROI, payoff and break-even are modeled scenarios built from those measures and fixed assumptions. College payoff is not the payoff of every degree at this school; use the program table for a more precise comparison.