Largest, most diverse student body enrolls at App State for fall 2023

Appalachian State University Welcomes Historic Enrollment for Fall 2023

BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University has welcomed 21,253 Mountaineer students for fall 2023 — a historic enrollment for the university and a 4% increase since last fall. This year’s class includes the largest first-year and online student populations to date and is the most diverse in App State’s 124-year history, with 19% of the total population being racially and/or ethnically underrepresented students.

Emphasis on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Appalachian State University is committed to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations. Through its enrollment growth and diverse student body, App State is contributing to SDG 4: Quality Education, by extending access to higher education and bettering the futures of all North Carolinians. The university’s mission aligns with SDG 4’s goal of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.

App State’s Mission to Extend Access to Higher Education

“In Boone and Hickory, and online, App State continues its mission to extend access to higher education, to serve our region and to better the futures of all North Carolinians,” said App State Chancellor Sheri Everts. “Our strong enrollment numbers signify that students recognize the value and high quality of an App State education and its power to change lives.”

MyFutureNC Goal

The university’s continued growth — through its Boone campus and newly opened Hickory campus, as well as through App State Online — helps support the myFutureNC goal of ensuring that 2 million North Carolinians will have a postsecondary degree or credential by 2030 that meets the demands of the state’s businesses and industries.

Hickory Campus Enrolls More Than 360 Students

This fall, App State’s Hickory campus, which opened Aug. 21, serves a total of 363 students who are enrolled in Hickory campus courses.

The Hickory student population comprises the following:

• 21% racially and/or ethnically underrepresented students.
• 58% first-generation, undergraduate students.
• 71% rural students.

With the opening of its Hickory campus, App State has expanded access to higher education in the Western North Carolina region ​​— in what was previously the largest metropolitan area in the state without a public university campus. The new campus provides more than 100 flexible and affordable educational programs. And, it aligns with both the university’s mission to increase access to higher education and with the University of North Carolina System Strategic Plan priorities of increasing access to underserved populations, maximizing affordability and expanding the UNC System’s contribution to the state’s critical workforces.

Underrepresented Student Enrollment Reaches All-Time High

For the ninth year in a row, App State has welcomed its most diverse student body in university history.

A total of 4,008 total students from underrepresented populations are enrolled at App State this fall, and these students compose 19% of App State’s total student population. This growth reflects a more than 6% increase in underrepresented students since last fall.

The Hispanic/Latine student population represents nearly half of App State’s racially and/or ethnically underrepresented students, with 1,800 Hispanic/Latine students enrolled at App State for fall 2023 — a 12% increase over fall 2022. Since Chancellor Everts arrived at App State in 2014, the Hispanic/Latine population has grown by 156%.

App State has a campus-based goal to increase the four-year graduation rate for Hispanic/Latine students, allowing the university to intensify its collective focus on serving one of the fastest-growing segments of the population — not only at App State, but also within North Carolina and the nation.

Record-Breaking Undergraduate Enrollment

Undergraduate student enrollment at App State has increased by nearly 5% since fall 2022, with 19,405 students composing the undergraduate population in fall 2023.

Of the total undergraduate population, 6,083 are first-generation students who represent more than 31% of the total undergraduate population. Since 2014, App State has experienced a more than 6% increase in first-generation students.

Largest First-Year Class at App State

This fall, the university is home to 4,227 new first-year Mountaineer students — the largest first-year class to date and a nearly 8% increase in first-year students since fall 2022. Among this student population are 818 underrepresented first-year students who compose more than 19% of the total first-year class, making this year’s first-year class the most diverse in university history.

App State Welcomes 2nd Largest Transfer Student Class

App State has enrolled its second largest transfer student class to date, with 1,591 new transfer students — on campus and online — joining the App State Community in fall 2023. This growth represents a 6% increase in new transfer students since last fall, with new transfer students composing more than 7% of the total fall 2023 student population at the university.

The university was recently honored as one of 208 higher education institutions nationwide named to Phi Theta Kappa’s 2023 Transfer Honor Roll, which recognizes four-year U.S. colleges and universities for developing dynamic and innovative pathways that lead to success among community college transfer students. App State has held its place on the honor roll for seven consecutive years.

Supporting NC’s Rural Students

For fall 2023, App State enrolls a total of 5,681 in-state, degree-seeking undergraduate students from rural populations, which is a 2% increase in this student population since last fall. These students represent 32% of the total population of in-state, degree-seeking undergraduate students at App State; 71% of App State Hickory campus students are from rural populations. Including graduate students,

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDG 4: Quality Education

• Target 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.
• Indicator: Increase in enrollment numbers and diversity of students at Appalachian State University, indicating improved access to higher education.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic, and public life.
• Indicator: Increase in the enrollment of female students at Appalachian State University.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Target 8.6: By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training.
• Indicator: Increase in enrollment numbers at Appalachian State University, indicating improved access to education and potential employment opportunities for students.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
• Indicator: Increase in enrollment numbers of racially and/or ethnically underrepresented students at Appalachian State University.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.
• Indicator: Increase in enrollment numbers of first-generation students at Appalachian State University, indicating improved access to higher education for students from low-income families.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: today.appstate.edu

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