Acceptance Rate
92%
Avg. SAT
1360
75th percentile
“The UNC system's sole public liberal arts college, where Blue Ridge Mountain views fuel creative minds and rigorous seminars.”
Asheville, NC
Location
Small City
Campus Setting
Founded in 1927 as a teachers college and joining the UNC system in 1967, UNC Asheville stands apart as the system's only undergraduate liberal arts university, emphasizing depth over breadth in a compact campus of about 3,700 undergrads. Students who thrive here love small discussions, outdoor adventures, and blending ideas across disciplines; independent thinkers who prioritize personal growth over big-school spectacle fit best, while those seeking vast major options or Division I sports might look elsewhere. The campus hugs the edge of Asheville, a city buzzing with street art, craft breweries, and live music venues that spill into student life.
Nestled amid the Blue Ridge Mountains, the university draws hikers and artists who hike trails before class, but the area's higher cost of living means budgeting carefully for off-campus eats or apartments. Housing guarantees spots for freshmen, though upperclassmen often seek spots in town amid limited on-campus options. Weather brings crisp falls and snowy winters alongside rainy springs, shaping a rhythm of indoor debates and spontaneous mountain escapes.
Photo Gallery
+18
+10
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
Classes lean seminar-style with small groups dominating upper-level courses, fostering debates where you'll wrestle with texts alongside peers and professors who know your name. Strengths shine in environmental studies, atmospheric sciences, and humanities, with undergrads tackling research on climate patterns or literary archives early on. The liberal arts core pushes you to connect dots across fields, from philosophy to biology, though popular programs like psychology fill quickly, requiring solid planning.
Introductory lectures can draw 100-plus in shared UNC system spaces, but most courses keep ratios low for hands-on work. Research opportunities abound through funded summer projects, mirroring private college access at public prices, yet the smaller size limits specialized labs compared to larger research giants.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
3,032 undergrad • 24 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
74%
Black / African American
5%
Hispanic / Latino
9%
Asian
1%
Other / Multi-racial
10%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Asheville, NC
Varsity Athletics
A typical week mixes dawn hikes on campus trails, afternoon clubs like ultimate frisbee or the literary magazine, and evenings at Asheville's music haunts or dorm game nights. The social scene skews low-key creative—think open mics and farmers markets over frat bashes—with traditions like the spring Dogwood Festival featuring student art exhibits. Residential halls cluster freshmen together for easy bonds, while upperclassmen apartments foster independence amid the mountain backdrop.
Outdoors clubs lead weekend rafting or climbing trips, tying into the area's natural draw, but persistent rain can dampen plans. The compact campus feels intimate yet connected to Asheville's walkable downtown, where students grab coffee amid buskers, though housing scarcity pushes some into pricier rentals.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
NCAA
ROTC & Veteran Support
Veteran’s Programs Available
Credit for military training
Yes
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
Yes
Recognized student veteran organization
Yes
Member of DoD Voluntary Educational Partnership MOU
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
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Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
72%
4 Years Graduation Rate
51%
6 Years Graduation Rate
64%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$44,030
72% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at University of North Carolina at Asheville and return in the fall. 51% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 64% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
51%
4-5 years
13%
6-8 years
1%
Non-grad
35%
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Key Statistics
Type
Public
Tuition
$4,122
Acceptance
92%
Undergrads
3,032
4-Year Grad Rate
51%
Endowment
$71M
Asheville, NC 28804-8510