We believe the most important goal Appalachian State University can achieve is to open possibilities — for our App State Community, our society and our planet — by empowering human potential.

A premier public institution and national leader in higher education, App State has been cultivating students’ personal and professional growth for 125 years through small classes, individual attention and mentoring, as well as institutional values, practices and policies.

App State has established five-year strategic performance metrics as part of the University of North Carolina System 2022–27 strategic plan, titled “Higher Expectations,” which was refreshed in the 2021–22 academic year. These campus-based performance metrics include a strong emphasis on degree efficiency and reducing student debt.

The university’s performance is being assessed using the following six metrics:

• The institutional four-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time bachelor’s degree-seeking students
• Undergraduate degree efficiency — the number of undergraduate degrees awarded by an institution per 100 full-time equivalent (FTE) undergraduates
• Average credits earned per year for full-time bachelor’s degree-seeking students
• First-time students’ debt at graduation
• Transfer students’ debt at graduation
• Education and related expenses per degree

Learn more about App State’s progress in and goals for these areas.

Learn about App State’s approaches to ensure student success.