ASU vs. UNC Charlotte

Should I go to Appalachian State University or University of North Carolina at Charlotte? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if ASU or UNC Charlotte is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Appalachian State University vs. University of North Carolina at Charlotte comparison
Appalachian State University University of North Carolina at Charlotte College 3 College 4
Appalachian State University University of North Carolina at Charlotte
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Overview

 ASU UNC Charlotte
Location Boone, NC Charlotte, NC
Setting Distant Town Large City
Enrollment 21,253 30,298
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #597 #547
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website appstate.edu uncc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 ASU UNC Charlotte
Tuition (In State) $4,242 $3,812
Tuition (Out of State) $21,238 $18,474
Room & Board $12,258 $13,864
Avg Net Price $14,712 $13,768
Avg Grant Aid $7,677 $8,150
% Receiving Grant Aid 47% 58%

Admission

 ASU UNC Charlotte
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 24,001 22,699
Admitted 21,275 18,208
Acceptance Rate 88.6% 80.2%
Enrolled % 19.9% 24.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.96 3.57
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Average Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/27 21/27
SAT Range 1100/1280 1110/1320
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2026 Jun 1, 2026

Academics

 ASU UNC Charlotte
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 21:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Education (7%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

 ASU UNC Charlotte
Graduation Rate 65% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,600 $48,600
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 61%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $23,000
Median Loan Payment $211 $237

Diversity

 ASU UNC Charlotte
% Men 3% 8%
% Women 6% 13%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU No No
% White 85% 60%
% Black 3% 17%
% Hispanic 4% 9%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

 ASU UNC Charlotte
% In-State 87% 90%
% Out-of-State 13% 8%

Campus

 ASU UNC Charlotte
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of North Carolina at Charlotte is larger than than ASU based on total student enrollment (30,298 students vs. 21,253 students)

ASU vs. UNC Charlotte Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ASU or UNC Charlotte?

  • Appalachian State University is 11.3% more expensive to attend than UNC Charlotte for in-state tuition ($4,242.00 vs. $3,812.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 15% higher at ASU than University of North Carolina at Charlotte ($21,238.00 vs. $18,474.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of North Carolina at Charlotte than ASU ($13,768 vs. $14,712)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Appalachian State University are 13.1% lower than costs at University of North Carolina at Charlotte ($12,258 vs. $13,864)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of North Carolina at Charlotte than Appalachian State University (58% vs. 47%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of North Carolina at Charlotte students is 6.2% larger than aid received Appalachian State University ($8,150 vs. $7,677)

ASU vs. UNC Charlotte Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ASU or UNC Charlotte? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UNC Charlotte or ASU .

  • The average SAT score at Appalachian State University (1157) is 64 points higher than at UNC Charlotte (1093)
  • Incoming ASU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at UNC Charlotte (24)
  • Accepted freshman ASU students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at UNC Charlotte (3.57)
  • ASU has a higher acceptance rate (88.6%) than UNC Charlotte (80.2%)

ASU vs. UNC Charlotte Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, ASU or UNC Charlotte? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between UNC Charlotte and ASU.

  • The graduation rate at ASU is higher than University of North Carolina at Charlotte (65% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from University of North Carolina at Charlotte earn on average $7,000 more per year than ASU graduates after ten years. ($48,600 vs. $41,600)
  • Appalachian State University students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than UNC Charlotte graduates. ($20,500 vs. $23,000)
  • ASU graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than UNC Charlotte graduates. ($211 vs. $237)
  • More ASU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNC Charlotte students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 61%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/