BOONE, N.C.—Appalachian State University is among LendEDU’s “30 Best Colleges for Outdoor Sports and Recreation” for 2017.

LendEDU is a marketplace for student loans and student loan refinance. Appalachian ranked 17th on a list that also includes two other schools in North Carolina: Warren Wilson College and Davidson College, which ranked 25th and 28th, respectively. See the list at https://lendedu.com/blog/best-colleges-outdoor-sports-recreation

LendEDU said it arrived at the list by analyzing and weighting the following factors as it researched 300 schools:

• Proximity to excellent off-campus outdoor experiences
• Frequent weather suitable for enjoying the outdoors
• Notable natural beauty on campus
• School-sponsored activities outdoors
• Opportunities for academic work in the natural world

Specifically, LendEDU said the Blue Ridge Mountains afforded Appalachian’s students “some of the best mountain sports in the country.” It also praised an environment conducive to studying such subjects as recreation and park management and outdoor experiential education. It mentioned “many non-academic ways for students who want to integrate the outdoors into their college careers, including Wilderness First Responder courses and volunteer opportunities with the Blue Ridge Parkway Corps.”

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

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