Graduate earnings are in line with similar institutions.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
Appalachian State graduates experience steady earnings growth throughout their early career progression. Median earnings increase from $43,663 six years after enrollment to $48,423 at eight years and $51,836 at ten years, representing 18.7% growth from the six-year mark.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduate earnings fall below the peer average for similar institutions.
Financial justification for the investment.
Healthy debt burden. Most graduates can manage $20,231 in debt with typical earnings.
Appalachian State graduates carry median debt of $20,231, ranking at the 69.0th percentile nationally and falling $231 below the peer median of $20,000. Debt levels range from $7,217 at the 25th percentile to $25,000 at the 75th percentile, showing moderate variation in borrowing patterns.
Appalachian State's return performance ranks at the 30.9th percentile, placing it modestly below average in return on educational investment. Graduates earn $13,054 below expectations compared to similar students nationally, ranking at the 9.1st percentile for earnings beyond expectations.
Approximately 26.3% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, based on program mix analysis with high confidence. This continuation ra...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
Program-level earnings demonstrate significant variation across Appalachian State's academic portfolio. Information Resources Management leads earnings at $74,624, followed by Construction Management at $69,955 and Banking and Financial Support Services at $69,084.
These business-oriented programs consistently outperform the institutional median, indicating strong market alignment and career preparation. Health professions like Adult Health Nurse/Nursing produce $65,602 earnings from substantial enrollment of 183 students.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Earnings distribution at Appalachian State ranges from $36,495 at the 25th percentile to $74,305 at the 75th percentile, representing a 2.0:1 ratio between top and bottom quartiles. Low-income graduates earn $40,300, ranking in the top 50% nationally and demonstrating the university's effectiveness in supporting economic advancement for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
