University of North Carolina Asheville
#5 Best Psychology Colleges in North Carolina- Graduation Rate
- 55% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $44,030 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $12,250 B-
- 29% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 92% D
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 22.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $22.3 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Best Psychology Colleges in North Carolina.
Every $1 spent returns $22.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,042,558.
What The Data Says
-
A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Every $1 invested returns $22.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why University of North Carolina Asheville Matters
University of North Carolina Asheville is a public liberal arts college in Asheville, NC and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 2,910
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Visual & Performing Arts, Psychology, Business & Marketing, Social Sciences
Why students choose University of North Carolina Asheville
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 92% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1170–1360. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $12,250 a year after grants and scholarships — 29% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $44,030 ten years after enrolling — 8% above the typical college, against $20,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.7% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 91% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.46 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
At the University of North Carolina Asheville, we find a welcoming community with an acceptance rate of 92%. This school is a great fit for students passionate about the arts or social sciences, as it has strong programs in Visual & Performing Arts, Psychology, and Business & Marketing. With an enrollment of around 2,910, it feels like a close-knit environment where individual passions can be nurtured.
Looking at life after graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $44,030 within ten years of completing their degree. This figure reflects the opportunities available to graduates, particularly in fields like Psychology and Biology. Affordability is also a key factor here. The net price after financial aid is about $12,250, making it accessible for many students. While the graduation rate stands at 55%, those who do complete their degrees often find good job prospects.
When we consider the financial aspect, students typically graduate with a median debt of $20,500. This manageable amount is especially important for those who want to minimize their financial burden after college. Students who thrive at UNC Asheville tend to be those who appreciate a supportive environment and are eager to engage in their studies, whether in the creative arts or the sciences.
Rankings
- #5 Best Psychology Colleges in North Carolina
- #9 Best Colleges in North Carolina
- #9 Best Communications Colleges in North Carolina
- #10 Best Bachelor's Programs in North Carolina
- #10 Best Master's Programs in North Carolina
- #10 Best Computer Science Colleges in North Carolina
- #10 Best Data Science Colleges in North Carolina
- #12 Most Affordable Colleges for English
Can I Get In?
How selective University of North Carolina Asheville is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of North Carolina Asheville? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Asheville, North Carolina, University of North Carolina Asheville admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 92%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,251. The graduation rate is roughly 55%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 92%
- Retention Rate
- 72%
- SAT Average
- 1251
- ACT Midpoint
- 26
- SAT Range
- 1170–1360
- ACT Range
- 23–29
- Full-Time Faculty
- 83%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,155
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.46
- First-Gen Students
- 22%
- Applicants
- 4,278
- Admitted
- 3,179
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard University of North Carolina Asheville is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds.
- Submitted SAT
- 7%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 17%
- of enrolled freshmen
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 24% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of North Carolina Asheville? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of North Carolina Asheville is $24,849, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,250. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,219 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $7,501
- Out-of-State
- $24,849
- Avg Net Price
- $12,250
- Median Debt
- $20,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 32%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 39%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $8,219
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $8,735
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $11,570
- Family Income $110K+
- $18,786
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at University of North Carolina Asheville — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University of North Carolina Asheville Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of North Carolina Asheville report median earnings of $44,030, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $36,947
- 8 Years
- $41,255
- 10 Years
- $44,030
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.47x
- Earning > $25K
- 56%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (298)
- 47%
- 100% (298)
- 47%
- 100% (298)
- 47%
- 100% (298)
- 47%
How University Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is University of North Carolina Asheville Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of North Carolina Asheville delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $12,250/year ($49,000 total). Graduates earn $44,030 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,091,558 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,042,558 (22.3× your investment). The median debt is $20,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 55% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $49,000
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,091,558
- Net Return
- $1,042,558
- ROI Multiple
- 22.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $12,250
- Median Debt
- $20,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 55%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does University of North Carolina Asheville Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of North Carolina Asheville is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.70%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 5.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 12.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $90,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.70%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 12.4%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 5.7%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $123,094
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $2,018,356
- Investment Income
- $804,129
Top Programs
The fields University of North Carolina Asheville awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Visual & Performing Arts 18% $30,413 early-career
- Psychology 14% $28,711 early-career
- Business & Marketing 10% $45,495 early-career
- Social Sciences 10% $50,714 early-career
- English & Literature 6% $27,870 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 6% $34,239 early-career
- Communications 5% $26,820 early-career
- Health Professions 4% $37,365 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of North Carolina Asheville's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of North Carolina Asheville? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Asheville, North Carolina, University of North Carolina Asheville admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 92%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,251. The graduation rate is roughly 55%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of North Carolina Asheville? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of North Carolina Asheville is $24,849, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,250. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,219 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,500 in federal student loans.
Is University of North Carolina Asheville Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of North Carolina Asheville report median earnings of $44,030, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does University of North Carolina Asheville Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of North Carolina Asheville is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.70%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 5.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 12.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $90,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is University of North Carolina Asheville? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of North Carolina Asheville. Its economic connectedness score is 1.46, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 18% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does University of North Carolina Asheville offer Early Decision?
No. University of North Carolina Asheville does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2024-25 Common Data Set).
Is University of North Carolina Asheville really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 24% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at University of North Carolina Asheville (2024-25 Common Data Set).
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of North Carolina Asheville.
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- Emporia State UniversityEmporia, KS · Close peer55% grad $47,601 earn 98% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Missouri Southern State UniversityJoplin, MO · Close peer40% grad $42,620 earn 97% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of North Carolina Asheville? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of North Carolina Asheville. Its economic connectedness score is 1.46, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 18% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note