TU vs. ASU

Should I go to Towson University or Appalachian State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if TU or ASU 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

UNCW ECU UMBC WCU University of North Carolina at Asheville Maryland NC State UNC Charlotte Salisbury UNC Chapel Hill JMU Tennessee
Towson University vs. Appalachian State University comparison
Towson University Appalachian State University College 3 College 4
Towson University Appalachian State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 TU ASU
Location Towson, MD Boone, NC
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 19,527 21,253
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #375 #597
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website towson.edu appstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 TU ASU
Tuition (In State) $7,382 $4,242
Tuition (Out of State) $24,402 $21,238
Room & Board $15,644 $12,258
Avg Net Price $15,064 $14,712
Avg Grant Aid $11,565 $7,677
% Receiving Grant Aid 62% 47%

Admission

 TU ASU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 18,948 24,001
Admitted 15,689 21,275
Acceptance Rate 82.8% 88.6%
Enrolled % 19.2% 19.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.69 3.96
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/28 21/27
SAT Range 1050/1270 1100/1280
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 Apr 1, 2026 Feb 1, 2026

Academics

 TU ASU
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

Outcomes

 TU ASU
Graduation Rate 64% 65%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,500 $41,600
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,750 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $183 $211

Diversity

 TU ASU
% Men 4% 3%
% Women 12% 6%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 61% 85%
% Black 18% 3%
% Hispanic 6% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

 TU ASU
% In-State 90% 87%
% Out-of-State 9% 13%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Appalachian State University is larger than than TU based on total student enrollment (21,253 students vs. 19,527 students)

TU vs. ASU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, TU or ASU?

  • Towson University is 74% more expensive to attend than ASU for in-state tuition ($7,382.00 vs. $4,242.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 14.9% higher at TU than Appalachian State University ($24,402.00 vs. $21,238.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Appalachian State University than TU ($14,712 vs. $15,064)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Appalachian State University are 27.6% lower than costs at Towson University ($12,258 vs. $15,644)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Towson University than Appalachian State University (62% vs. 47%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Towson University students is 50.6% larger than aid received Appalachian State University ($11,565 vs. $7,677)

TU vs. ASU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Appalachian State University (1157) is 76 points higher than at TU (1081)
  • Incoming ASU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at TU (23)
  • Accepted freshman ASU students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at TU (3.69)
  • ASU has a higher acceptance rate (88.6%) than TU (82.8%)

TU vs. ASU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, TU or ASU? 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 ASU and TU.

  • The graduation rate at ASU is higher than Towson University (65% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from Towson University earn on average $11,900 more per year than ASU graduates after ten years. ($53,500 vs. $41,600)
  • Towson University students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than ASU graduates. ($17,750 vs. $20,500)
  • TU graduates are paying $28 less per month on federal student loans than ASU graduates. ($183 vs. $211)
  • More ASU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former TU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 69%)

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