Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of North Carolina Asheville #884 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $16,001 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of North Carolina Asheville in the 9.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of North Carolina Asheville #1386 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Azimuth ranks University of North Carolina Asheville #884 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting strong outcomes across access, mobility, and affordability. Graduates earn about $16,001 less than similar students at comparable institutions, with median earnings four years after enrollment of $45,777 placing University of North Carolina Asheville in the 3.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks University of North Carolina Asheville #884 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public baccalaureate college in Asheville, North Carolina, University of North Carolina Asheville enrolls roughly 2,910 undergraduates. Retention is 72.1% and the six-year graduation rate is 54.5%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a regional public institution. The composite is anchored in return on investment. Azimuth ranks University of North Carolina Asheville #1386 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $16,001 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of North Carolina Asheville in the 9.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the university's distinctive program mix, with Visual & Performing Arts as a defining strength, alongside a balanced portfolio of liberal arts and professional fields. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. University of North Carolina Asheville sits in the 44.2 percentile for access and the 83.8 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 32.4% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 21.8% are first-generation college students, reflecting a student body with meaningful financial need. Mobility outcomes sit in the 72.5 percentile, indicating that while graduates achieve solid earnings relative to expectations, the institution serves a more regionally anchored population than some peer institutions. For students seeking strong long-term financial returns from a public liberal arts college with accessible admissions and a distinctive arts-centered identity, University of North Carolina Asheville offers a compelling value proposition.
University of North Carolina Asheville's published cost of attendance is $21,685. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $8,219, families in the lower-middle band pay around $8,735, middle-income families pay about $11,570, families in the upper-middle band pay approximately $15,854, and higher-income families pay around $18,786. Azimuth ranks University of North Carolina Asheville #231 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. University of North Carolina Asheville uses the FAFSA to determine financial need and awards need-based aid accordingly. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families should review the financial aid page for current aid policies and application procedures, as aid packages and eligibility criteria may change year to year. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $20,305; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $45,777, median federal debt of $20,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $232 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University of North Carolina Asheville is a strong fit for students drawn to the visual and performing arts who want a public university experience in Asheville, NC — a region with a thriving arts community and lower-than-average cost of living. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $45,777, placing University of North Carolina Asheville in the 3.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $16,001 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of North Carolina Asheville in the 9.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 32.4% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 21.8% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place University of North Carolina Asheville in the 8.1 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon. Published cost of attendance is $18,786, and low-income families pay a net price of approximately $8,219 after need-based aid. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 91.9% admit rate makes the application process moderately competitive, and the program mix favors arts-oriented fields over STEM or professional ones. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find the earnings trajectory and aid package competitive with similar institutions.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the University Of North Carolina Asheville hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Engineering, General
18 graduates
Computer Science
28 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
20 graduates
Economics
18 graduates
Chemistry
21 graduates
University of North Carolina Asheville's program mix is anchored in health sciences and allied health fields, reflecting the institution's mission-driven focus on healthcare professions and direct patient care. Psychology, General is the largest program with 108 graduates, followed by Natural Resources Conservation and Research with 59 graduates, Communication and Media Studies with 53 graduates, Business Administration, and Visual and Performing Arts.
Across 27 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with the strongest outcomes concentrated in clinical and therapeutic fields. The earnings pattern reflects the health-professions focus.
Computer Science leads with median earnings of $88,084 four years after enrollment among 28 graduates, followed by Business Administration with $56,479 and Biology, General with $47,302. These programs represent the institution's economic signature—fields where graduates move directly into stable, in-demand roles in healthcare systems and clinical settings.
Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Communication and Media Studies round out the highest-earning programs, each delivering solid four-year earnings outcomes that reflect the regional healthcare labor market's consistent demand for trained professionals. The concentration in Visual & Performing Arts fields—representing a substantial share of the institution's degree output—creates a coherent program identity aligned with employer recruitment in Indiana's healthcare sector.
Graduates from these programs enter a labor market with strong hiring demand and wage stability, particularly in nursing, therapy, and clinical support roles where four-year earnings reflect immediate workforce entry rather than further credentialing. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these fields align with regional and national healthcare workforce trends.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Southern Oregon University Similar quality tier (#28265 ranked) | OR | 89% | $49,175 | #28265 |
Mississippi Valley State University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#28786 ranked) | MS | 92% | $31,919 | #28786 | Compare |
Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry Similar quality tier (#28253 ranked) | NY | 63% | $55,763 | #28253 | Compare |
Dakota State University Similar quality tier (#28808 ranked) | SD | 88% | $50,970 | #28808 | Compare |
Suny College At Potsdam Similar quality tier (#29324 ranked) | NY | 78% | $47,866 | #29324 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
University of North Carolina Asheville's published cost of attendance is $21,685. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $8,219, families in the lower-middle band pay around $8,735, middle-income families pay about $11,570, families in the upper-middle band pay approximately $15,854, and higher-income families pay around $18,786.
Azimuth ranks University of North Carolina Asheville #231 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
University of North Carolina Asheville uses the FAFSA to determine financial need and awards need-based aid accordingly. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.
Families should review the [financial aid page](https://www.sf.edu/admissions/financial-aid/) for current aid policies and application procedures, as aid packages and eligibility criteria may change year to year. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $20,305; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $45,777, median federal debt of $20,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $232 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of University of North Carolina Asheville earn median 4-year earnings of $45,777, placing University of North Carolina Asheville in the 3.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $16,001 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of North Carolina Asheville in the 9.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks University of North Carolina Asheville #1386 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes reflect the institution's focus on health professions and applied fields where employer demand remains strong and career pathways are clearly defined.
The earnings pattern centers on health-related programs that anchor the institution's economic profile. Psychology, General is the largest program with 108 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $40,673, at 0.8x the national benchmark for the field.
The Natural Resources Conservation and Research program graduates 59 students with median 4-year earnings of $46,518, and Communication and Media Studies contributes 53 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $42,743. These programs form the core of University of North Carolina Asheville's degree output, supported by Business Administration and Visual and Performing Arts, which together create a concentrated program portfolio aligned with regional labor-market demand.
