High Country Times

BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University marks its 125th year by enrolling 21,570 Mountaineer students in fall 2024, a 1.5% increase over last fall.

"Our steady growth is supported by intentionally managed enrollment at the Boone campus and significant growth in both the Hickory campus and App State Online student populations," App State Interim Chancellor Heather Norris announced.

Norris added, “At Appalachian State University, we are maintaining strong enrollment and positive return on investment for every North Carolina student. We remain focused on our commitment to student success — to retaining and graduating students who are prepared to make meaningful contributions to our state, nation and world — which has been a hallmark of our university since its inception.”

The university’s consistent growth helps support the myFutureNC goal of ensuring that 2 million North Carolinians will have a postsecondary degree or credential by 2030 that meets the demands of the state’s businesses and industries.

“We are working to ensure we’re responsive to changing enrollment demographics, the changing needs of students and the market demand,” said Norris.

This fall, App State enrolls 19,560 undergraduate students at the Boone and Hickory campuses and online — its largest undergraduate student population to date. This population includes 4,038 new first-year students, as well as 6,221 first-generation students who constitute 32% of the total undergraduate student population at App State. A student is considered “first-generation” if neither parent has completed a bachelor’s degree.

App State’s student retention and graduation rates — two measurements commonly used in higher education to measure student success — remain strong and are some of the highest in the nation. The university’s overall 2024 first- to second-year retention rate — a primary performance indicator for institutions across the country — is 83.7%, well above the latest national average of 76.5%.

At 58%, which is 2.5% higher than last year, the university's four-year graduation rate continues to be nearly 70% above the national average.

“Four-year graduation rates continue to be a primary focus and a key indicator of student success in the future,” Norris said.

Nearly 113,000, or 75%, of App State’s living alumni are located within North Carolina, where they make lasting and impactful contributions to their respective communities. In fiscal year 2021–22, the increased earnings and productivity of App State alumni generated $140.7 million in added income for the regional economy (Watauga, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell and Wilkes counties), according to an economic impact study by labor analytics firm Lightcast. Statewide, tens of thousands of App State grads employed across North Carolina generated $1.9 billion in added income.