Appalachian was founded in 1899. The pioneering spirit necessary to overcome the mountains’ hardships quickly characterized the institution, giving Appalachian a special niche in higher education that continues today. After more than a century, students still feel the pull of this unique place to transform their lives.
We bring people together in inspiring ways. The transformational Appalachian experience develops individuals who are eager to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, to embrace diversity and difference, and to become contributing members of society.
Appalachian’s location in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina provides unique opportunities for research and scholarship. Passionate and creative faculty come here to stay, and students learn in academically challenging settings under their close mentorship. Small communities, access to diverse natural resources and significant weather patterns combine with a university culture that supports innovative, interdisciplinary pedagogy, making our location one that is not only stunningly beautiful, but also intellectually stimulating.
The Career Development Center serves all students and alumni pursuing various future professional endeavors. Our services include resume reviews, career coaching, job and internship search assistance, and other tools to achieve life and professional success.
There are lots of ways for international students and globally-minded US students to get involved on campus. Some of the opportunities we offer:
University Housing is committed to meeting the needs of all students, to the best of its ability, by providing an inclusive, respectful and safe living environment. University Housing takes these concerns very seriously.
ITS continues to make security one of our top priorities, and we encourage you to set up connections to our Secure WiFi Network for all devices you use to connect to the Internet. Our Secure WiFi provides encryption for all online interactions. Each device must be registered in order to connect to the Secure ASU Network.
Each year, Appalachian State University’s Division of Student Affairs hosts events during Health, Wellness and Safety Week to highlight and promote the diverse needs of enrolled students, providing the opportunity to enhance students’ knowledge of on- and off-campus support services and resources for health and safety efforts.
At Appalachian, campus life amplifies what you learn in the classroom. You will find hundreds of programs designed to enhance your cultural, intellectual, leadership, personal and professional development. We call these cocurricular experiences, because they support — and are supported by — the classroom learning experience.
More than 450 student-athletes compete in 20 NCAA Division I varsity sports at Appalachian State University, and dedicated fans love to cheer them on. App State was a dominant force in the Southern Conference for more than 40 years. On July 1, 2014, Appalachian State moved to the Sun Belt Conference - one of 10 conferences that are members of the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). All varsity teams compete in the Sun Belt Conference, except for field hockey and wrestling.
Clubs and organizations are an important part of the Appalachian experience. Part of the mission of ASU is to help students develop skills so they will become good citizens and strong contributors in the communities they join. Joining a business-oriented club further develops students as professionals and, along with their major coursework, helps orient members to their fields of choice.
Appalachian State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate, master’s, intermediate, and doctoral degrees.
Studyportals ranking look at the scores of the most used ranking systems and present you with one number of how well this University performs.
By U.S. News & World Report
Dropped 280 places compared to 2025
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 1636 | 1881 | 2161 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Based on 80 reviews
I love the online program! It's great collaborating with other professional professionals in the industry as well
The Hayes School of Music can be everything—if you let it. The opportunities, faculty, and resources are there, but it’s up to you to show up, ask questions, and use them. What you put in is exactly what you get out!
Studying Cybersecurity at Bowen University has been a good experience overall. The lecturers are approachable and genuinely want you to understand what you�re learning, not just cram it. I�ve learned a lot about coding, networking, and how to think critically about online security. One thing I really like is how the school encourages discipline and balance � you grow both academically and personally. But one major downside is that during exams, we have to write out our codes by hand instead of running them on a computer. It makes it harder to test and debug our work properly. I really hope this changes soon so we can get more hands-on experience. Still, Bowen has a peaceful environment, a close community, and a supportive system that helps you stay focused. I�d recommend it to anyone who wants to study Cybersecurity in a calm, value-driven atmosphere.
The Global Student Satisfaction Awards empower students across the globe to determine the best universities of 2025. Universities with a score above 4.0 (out of 5) in any of the 7 award categories, receive Badges of Excellence. Congratulations!
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