The Area: The mountain city of Asheville, NC, is in the Blue Ridge Mountains, a little more than one hour from Greenville and roughly two hours from both Knoxville, TN, and Charlotte, NC. With a population of just under 100,000, the thriving and picturesque small city is a haven for artists, musicians, foodies, and outdoor enthusiasts. The River Arts District, along the French Broad River, is a popular destination, as is the bustling downtown area, filled with local eateries, galleries, and eclectic shops. Students will also find familiar retailers like Target, Trader Joe’s, and Whole Foods among the home-grown shops.
Asheville’s location among the gorgeous Blue Ridge mountains cannot be overlooked. Hiking, climbing, kayaking, and white water rafting are easily accessible; five ski resorts are within a one- to three-hour drive. The historic Biltmore Estate is a short drive from downtown, and nearby towns of Black Mountain and Weaverville are also popular vacation spots.
The Asheville Regional Airport (16 miles from the campus) offers non-stop flights to 27 destinations, including Austin, Orlando, Newark, Baltimore, Denver, and Chicago, to name a few.
The Campus: An easily walkable campus with mountain views from many spots, UNC Asheville’s 365-acre campus offers ample green spaces for the 2,700 students to spread out. Students can walk downtown on sidewalks from campus, which is also adjacent to the Botanical Gardens, which serves as additional study and research space for students. Many of the buildings reflect the original 1960’s aesthetic, though a number of newer buildings dot the nicely landscaped and well-treed space. Some of the latest additions include a state-of-the-art STEAM studio, a collaborative makerspace across the street, and a recently renovated art, art history, and new media building. Nearly half of students reside on campus in housing options that range from singles and doubles to suite-style living. There are housing options based on major, Honors housing, substance-free living, and even residential housing where students can have pets. Residential options are described as very nice overall, if not a bit pricey.
The Students: The 2,700 undergrads are described as creative, progressive, open-minded, and outdoorsy–not surprising given Asheville’s standing as an artist’s haven. North Carolina caps out-of-state students, but Asheville hovers at 11% non-residents, meaning there is still room for students who may find themselves shut out of spots at some of the other North Carolina public colleges.
Social life on campus is low-key; Greek life participation is minimal (1-2% participation), but students have 60 campus organizations and popular intramural sports to choose from. Popular annual events include Turning of the Maples, Lawn Party (a last hurrah before spring finals), and Greenfest, a campus-wide service project focused on environmentalism. Service and engagement with the larger community is strong overall, and Asheville’s outdoor recreation, festivals, music, and local eateries offer plenty of fun for students.
The Bulldogs compete in 16 DI sports in the Big South Conference; men’s and women’s basketball, men’s tennis, and women’s swimming and diving are generally the most successful teams. Frisbee, soccer, and esports are the most popular intramurals, and the school boasts a challenge course and a bike shop.
Academics: UNCA is the only designated liberal arts and sciences campus in the UNC system. There is a required Liberal Arts Core for all students, which includes freshman and senior seminars, courses across 8 disciplines, and two diversity initiatives. Classes overall are challenging, but with small classes (more than half of classes have fewer than 20 students) and a laid-back vibe, collaboration is prized over competition. All courses are professor-taught, and research opportunities are readily available; 60% of undergrads will have completed a research project by graduation. Career advising is strong, and students do not need to declare a major right away.
Popular/Notable Programs: The most popular majors include psychology, environmental studies, mass communication, health and wellness promotion, and biology. Fine arts and studio crafts are also known to be strong.
Atmospheric Sciences: The BS degree offers concentrations in weather forecasting, climatology, and weather broadcasting, with local opportunities at one of NOAA’s largest weather data centers and UNC Asheville’s National Environmental Modeling and Analysis Center (NEMAC).
New Media: Students in this program choose from three concentrations: Computer Animation, Web & Interactive Design, or Video Art & Design
Engineering: Unique offerings include a 2+2 program with NC State, and a Mechatronics concentration that leads to a degree jointly issued by Asheville and NC State.
Cost: 2024-25 Cost of Attendance (including tuition, fees, housing, food) is $21,493 for residents and $38,841 for out-of-state students. 35% of students without need receive merit; the average award is approximately $3,000.
Students seeking a small liberal arts college in a laid-back, artsy environment with abundant outdoor recreation–all for a public school price tag–may find their college home in Asheville.
Visit UNC Asheville’s website to learn more and see if it's a good fit for you.