High Country Times

White students were the most represented ethnicity among students at Watauga County's only university in the 2022-23 school year, according to the latest disclosure from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Of the 18,558 students attending the only institution in the county at the time, 81% were white. This is an increase of less than 0.1% in enrollment numbers, compared to the previous year.

Hispanic students comprised the second largest ethnic group in the county, followed by multiracial students.

Countywide, the number of undergraduates attending the only university in the county during the 2022-23 school year grew by less than 0.1%.

Graduation rates reveal a significant achievement gap among different ethnicities. While white students graduate at a rate of 62.1%, Black and Hispanic students graduate at a rate of around 40%.

Ethnic Group	% of Total Student Body
White	81%
Hispanic	8%
Multiracial	5%
Black or African American	3%
Asian	2%
Unknown	1%
U.S. nonresident	1%