BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University has earned its place among the nation’s and the Southeast’s best higher education institutions for the 2026–27 academic year, according to five notable publications, including U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review and Forbes magazine. Notably, App State earned the No. 1 spot among Southern universities on U.S. News’ new “Best Value Schools for In-State Students” rankings list.
Lauding the university for its academics, value, benefits for student veterans and other aspects, the publications have named App State to the following lists for the 2026–27 academic year:
- “Best Colleges” rankings for 2027 — U.S. News & World Report
- “The Best 392 Colleges” and “Best Colleges: Region by Region” lists for 2027 — The Princeton Review
- “America’s Top Colleges” rankings for 2027 — Forbes magazine
- “Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars” and “Best Colleges for Rural America” rankings for 2026 — Washington Monthly magazine
- “Best Colleges in America” for 2026 — Money.com
“With graduation and retention rates well above the national average and a positive return on investment for resident students in every degree program, App State serves our state, region and beyond by equipping students with high-quality educational experiences that lead to meaningful careers and prepare them for advanced study and lifelong achievement,” said App State Chancellor Heather Norris.
“These honors are proof of Appalachian State University’s long-standing distinction as a leader in higher education and its commitment to broadening educational access and elevating student success,” Norris added.
App State students are pictured on the Boone campus during the first week of fall 2026 semester classes. Visible in the background is App State’s Belk Library and Information Commons. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
A ‘Best College’ for 2027 — U.S. News & World Report
App State earned several top five positions in U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 “Best Colleges” rankings for regional universities in the South, released Sept. 22. Schools recognized in the publication’s Regional Universities rankings category offer a broad range of undergraduate programs and master’s programs but few doctoral programs.
In addition to being named the South’s No. 1 Best Value School for In-State Students, App State received these notable U.S. News rankings:
- No. 2 in Top Public Schools in the South, with App State earning this accolade for the fourth consecutive year.
- No. 3 in Best Colleges for Veterans among Southern universities — App State has held a top five ranking in this category for six consecutive years.
- No. 4 in Best Regional Universities of the South, with App State holding a top five ranking in this category for the fourth year in a row.
- No. 5 in the Best Undergraduate Teaching category among Southern universities, recognizing the high-quality instruction App State provides its undergraduate students. This is a seven-point advancement over the university’s 2026 ranking.
Additionally, the university was recognized among Southern universities for Top Performers on Social Mobility, which recognizes schools that are successful at advancing social mobility by enrolling and graduating large proportions of students receiving the Pell Grant. App State was also ranked among the top institutions nationwide for First-Year Experiences, which recognizes schools for the experiences they provide first-year students, such as first-year seminar programs.
In January, U.S. News ranked App State Online programs among the nation’s best for 2026, naming the university in its “Best Online Bachelor’s Programs,” “Best Online Bachelor’s Programs,” “Best Online Master’s in Education Programs,” “Best Online MBA Programs” and “Best Online Master’s in Nursing Programs” lists — all part of U.S. News’ 2026 “Best Online Programs” rankings.
Since the U.S. News’ “Best Colleges” rankings were first published annually, beginning in 1987, App State has consistently placed among the top 15 public and private Southern universities.
Access U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 “Best Colleges” rankings.
Learn more about App State’s 2026 “Best Online Programs” rankings from U.S. News.
App State students attend a class taught by Alan T. Arnholt, professor in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Mathematical Sciences, during the first week of fall 2026 classes at the university. The Department of Mathematical Sciences is housed in the newly renovated Duncan Hall. Photo by Chase Reynolds
A ‘Best College’ in the U.S., South for 2027 — The Princeton Review
App State has been recognized as one of “The Best 392 Colleges” in the U.S. by The Princeton Review for 2027. Additionally, the publication named the university among 109 best schools in the South for 2027 — part of its “Best Colleges: Region by Region” website feature. The institutions included in both lists, released Aug. 18, were unranked.
In its online profile of App State, The Princeton Review wrote that Mountaineer students described App State as an “exceedingly affordable” school with “a strong sense of community” and faculty who are “all highly educated experts in their respective fields.” Additionally, students shared, “From advisors, professors, or even the people working in the kitchen, everyone legitimately wants to see you succeed.”
The profile also highlighted App State’s class sizes, which “allow a more personal learning experience,” according to the students surveyed. Additional highlights included the university’s Honors College; the textbook rental program, which saves students millions of dollars each academic year; App State’s numerous clubs and organizations; Mountaineer students’ passion for environmental responsibility; and the wide variety of Outdoor Programs. The university’s latest student-to-faculty ratio is 16:1.
The “Best 392 Colleges” list is generated based on the student experience at each of the recognized institutions — as reported by students in The Princeton Review’s survey for the project. Responses were collected from 172,000 students, who were asked to answer questions on the topics of Academics and Administration, Quality of Life, Politics, Campus Life, Town Life, Extracurriculars and Social Scene.
App State was also featured in The Princeton Review’s 2026 “Guide to Green Colleges,” released Oct. 21, 2025. National and international colleges and universities included in the guide were rated based on survey information about each institution’s sustainability-related policies, practices and programs, as well as administrator and student support for environmental awareness and conservation efforts on campus. More than 25 survey data points were analyzed by The Princeton Review editors to tally Green Rating scores for the schools on a scale of 60 to 99, with schools earning a Green Rating of 80 or higher named to the guide. App State received a Green Rating of 89.
Access The Princeton Review’s “The Best 392 Colleges” list.
Access The Princeton Review’s “Best Colleges: Region by Region” feature.
Access The Princeton Review’s 2026 “Guide to Green Colleges” list.
Two App State students study together on Sanford Mall on the Boone campus. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
Among ‘America’s Top Colleges’ for 2027 — Forbes magazine
App State ranks among the top public and private schools in the nation according to Forbes magazine, which recognized the university in its “America’s Top Colleges 2027” rankings list, released Sept. 10.
The university was ranked No. 8 among public and private North Carolina schools on the list and fourth among public schools in the state. Additionally, App State was named among the top five North Carolina schools recognized in the large schools category. The university was the only rural North Carolina institution recognized on Forbes’ list and was ranked among the top 50% of nationwide schools named in the list’s rural category.
According to Forbes, its 2027 college rankings spotlight “schools that produce the best academic and career outcomes for students from all economic backgrounds.”
Forbes ranked institutions based on return on investment, average student debt levels and outcomes for graduates. According to the magazine, schools ranked highly if students returned after their first year, graduated on time, secured high salaries after graduation and left with low student debt.
Access the Forbes “America’s Top Colleges 2027” list.
A ‘Best College’ for value and rural service — Washington Monthly
App State has been recognized in the top 14% of institutions named to the Washington Monthly magazine’s 2026 “Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars” rankings list, which measures how well colleges deliver value to both students and the public. The university was named among the top 13 public and private North Carolina schools on the list.
The publication also recognized App State in its “Best Colleges for Rural America” list, which highlights institutions that are “powering upward mobility in rural America” as “load-bearing pillars of local tax bases, essential infrastructure for rural communities and anchors of civic life,” the magazine wrote.
Schools named to the lists were ranked based on their contribution to the public good in three broad categories: social mobility, research and promoting public service. Additional metrics for the “Best Colleges for Rural America” list included the percentage of students recruited from in state and the percentage of alumni who remain in state, with extra points awarded to schools that graduate students in high-demand fields in rural areas. The Washington Monthly rankings lists were published Aug. 30.
Access Washington Monthly’s 2026 “Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars” and “Best Colleges for Rural America” lists.
A ‘Best College’ for Value in 2026 — Money.com
App State has been named in Money.com’s “Best Colleges in America” list for 2026, released in June. The list, which focuses on affordability and return on investment, recognizes four-year public and private colleges and universities across the country that “deliver strong value,” the magazine wrote.
Money’s analysis of the “Best Colleges” considered 25 metrics grouped into three categories — quality, affordability and student outcomes. Among the data points were graduation rates, cost of attendance, student-to-faculty ratio and alumni salaries.
Access Money.com’s 2026 “Best Colleges in America” list.
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Online enrollment climbs nearly 21% in 7th straight year of growth
The university is one of 275 U.S. higher education institutions named to 2026 Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Honor Roll
The 2026 US News rankings also recognize App State business, education and nursing programs
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, cost-effective education. 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.
Online enrollment climbs nearly 21% in 7th straight year of growth
The university is one of 275 U.S. higher education institutions named to 2026 Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Honor Roll
The 2026 US News rankings also recognize App State business, education and nursing programs
