Appalachian State University has been recognized as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright scholars and students for the 2025–26 academic year by the U.S. Department of State and Institute of International Education. The university is one of only seven colleges and universities nationwide to receive this honor, and it is the sole U.S. master’s institution named this year.
Three faculty members and three alumni from Appalachian State were awarded Fulbright grants for 2025–26 to study, teach, or conduct research abroad through the U.S. government’s international educational exchange program.
“At App State, we view the Fulbright program as a vital bridge between our university and the global community,” said App State Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Neva J. Specht. “By fostering these international partnerships, our scholars and students are not only advancing their own research and scholarship but are also contributing to a broader cultural exchange that addresses the complex, interconnected challenges of our modern world.”
This is the fourth time Appalachian State has been named a Top Producing Institution for both Fulbright students and scholars, and the seventh time it has earned recognition as a top producer of Fulbright scholars.
The university hosts an annual International Education Week with workshops designed to promote global engagement, cultural exchange, and international education. These events provide information about opportunities in the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program and Student Program, as well as guidance on preparing applications. The workshops are organized by Appalachian State’s Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships (NCS) and Office of International Programs.
Of more than 11,500 national applicants for the 2025–26 Fulbright Student Program cycle, fewer than 17% received awards. Since its founding, 21 students or alumni from Appalachian State have become Fulbrighters; 16 have been selected in just the last seven cycles.
The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 to foster mutual understanding between people in the United States and other countries. Funded primarily by an annual congressional appropriation to the U.S. Department of State, it has supported over 400,000 participants who have studied, taught, conducted research, exchanged ideas or contributed solutions to international issues.
Applicants undergo institutional review before moving on to national screening by experts in relevant fields or regions across U.S. institutions.
Each year over 800 faculty members or administrators at U.S. colleges and universities receive Fulbright grants alongside approximately 2,000 students; around 4,000 foreign students and visiting scholars also come to the United States annually through these programs.
Appalachian State University serves more than 21,000 undergraduate and graduate students across campuses in Boone and Hickory as well as online programs statewide (official website). Its facilities span approximately 1,200 acres designed for academic use along with residential and recreational purposes (official website). The university is part of the University of North Carolina System (official website) and offers over 150 undergraduate majors along with more than 80 graduate majors (official website).
Appalachian State has received national recognition for academics, value, innovation, and sustainability from outlets such as U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes (official website). The institution aims to prepare its students to become engaged global citizens aware of their role in building a sustainable future (official website).
