Safety Score
1.51 /1K students
incidents per 1,000 enrolled
Boone, NC · Clery Act 2023 · Public
Appalachian State University
According to the U.S. Department of Education's Clery Act filings, this profile covers campus safety, crime statistics, fire-safety data, and peer comparison for this 21,253-student campus.
- 1.51
- Incidents / 1k students
- #1,812
- Rank of 3,050
- #66
- NC rank
- 21,253
- Enrolled students
Data updated June 2026
The verdict
Appalachian State University reports 1.51 on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students, ranking #1,812 of 3,050 ranked U.S. campuses - with more reported incidents than 57% of ranked campuses its size.
- 1.51
- incidents / 1,000 students
- #1,812
- of 3,050 ranked nationally
- 57%
- report fewer incidents than this campus
- 16
- on-campus incidents, 2023
Safety score = reported on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is safer).
Reporting-period change
What changed in 2023
Appalachian State University decreased from 23 to 16 reported on-campus incidents between the 2022 and 2023 reporting years in the U.S. Department of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey.
This is a change in reported incidents, not a measure of individual safety. Enrollment, reporting practice, and category coverage can affect the count.
See national reporting-year changesAppalachian State University is a Public institution located in Boone, NC, enrolling approximately 21,253 students. Clery Act data spanning 2021–2023 records 60 total on-campus incidents across all reported crime categories. Within NC, it ranks #66 by safety score. Verify with the U.S. Department of Education Clery Act database →
With 21,253 enrolled students, this campus sits in the large research university bracket, which shapes how raw incident counts should be interpreted.
The most frequently reported category at Appalachian State University is "Rape" with 31 cumulative incidents across the reporting window. Compared to 5 peer institutions of similar enrollment size in NC averaging 1.93 incidents per 1,000 students, Appalachian State University reports 22% fewer incidents per student.
Fire safety data covers 1 reporting year for on-campus residential facilities, logging 1 total fire. Arrests and disciplinary actions span 9 category-year records, covering liquor law violations, drug law violations, and weapons possession on-campus. No Department of Education Clery Act enforcement actions are recorded against this institution.
National Rank
#1812
See peer comparison
State Rank (NC)
#66
within state peers
Incidents (2023)
16
across 11 crime categories
Where Appalachian State University sits among ranked U.S. campuses
On-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 students, every ranked campus with 2,000+ students
2 safer than 43% of 1,807 ranked campuses
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more ranked campuses. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act) · 2023
Safety percentile vs. peers
Appalachian State University percentile rank 40.6%
National median
Higher percentile = safer than more peers. Rank #1812 out of 3,050 ranked institutions (enrollment >= 500) in the OPE Campus Safety Survey.
Reporting density vs peer median
Appalachian State University reports 22% fewer incidents per student than the median of 5 peer institutions.
Academic & Financial Profile
Tuition & Costs
- In-State Tuition
- $7,579
- Out-of-State Tuition
- $25,212
- Avg Net Price
- $16,836
- Median Debt
- $20,231
- Pell Grant Recipients
- 26%
Admissions
- Acceptance Rate
- 90%
- SAT Average
- 1214
- SAT Math Range
- 550–620
- ACT Average
- 27
- ACT Range
- 21–27
Outcomes
- 4-Year Graduation Rate
- 74%
- Retention Rate
- 84%
- Median Earnings (6yr)
- $43,663
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $51,836
- Loan Repayment (3yr)
- 80%
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard. Methodology.
Enrollment scale
How campus size shapes the safety figures
With 21,253 enrolled students, Appalachian State University is in the largest 4% of the 5,673 institutions in this dataset with a reported enrollment. The safety score above already normalizes reported on-campus incidents per 1,000 students, so compare it with similarly sized campuses instead of treating a higher raw count as evidence that a campus is less safe. Use the annual crime table to see what was reported, then use the peer comparison to judge the rate against schools of a similar scale. A lower reported rate is not a guarantee of individual safety or a measure of reporting quality.
Crime Statistics by Year
11 categories 3 reporting years on-campus onlyAppalachian State University: on-campus incidents by year
Declining 24% (21 → 16 incidents)
| Crime Type | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggravated Assault | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Arson | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Burglary | 3 | 2 | 8 |
| Fondling | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Incest | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Murder / Non-Negligent Manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Negligent Manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rape | 8 | 15 | 8 |
| Robbery | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Statutory Rape | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: US Dept US Dept of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey. Figures show on-campus incidents
Fire Safety
| Year | Fires | Inj. | Deaths | Cat I | Cat II |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Arrests & Disciplinary Actions
9 category-year records| Category | Year | Arrests | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drugs | 2023 | 22 | 136 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 43 | 404 |
| Weapons | 2023 | 3 | 2 |
| Drugs | 2022 | 37 | 166 |
| Liquor | 2022 | 43 | 348 |
| Weapons | 2022 | 0 | 4 |
| Drugs | 2021 | 37 | 115 |
| Liquor | 2021 | 60 | 270 |
| Weapons | 2021 | 2 | 3 |
Appalachian State University vs peer institutions
Side-by-side safety scores for 3 peers of similar enrollment
Scores are incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is fewer).
NC
Appalachian State University
1.51 incidents / 1,000 students
AL
University of Alabama at Birmingham
5.01 incidents / 1,000 students
IL
DePaul University
1.92 incidents / 1,000 students
Similar Institutions
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL · 21,160 enrolled
Safety Score 5.01
DePaul University
Chicago, IL · 21,348 enrolled
Safety Score 1.92
Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, TX · 21,403 enrolled
Safety Score 2.52
Front Range Community College
Westminster, CO · 21,096 enrolled
Safety Score 0.05
Cerritos College
Norwalk, CA · 21,046 enrolled
Safety Score 0.14
Closest by National Rank
Institutions ranked nearest Appalachian State University nationally (rank #1812), regardless of size or state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Appalachian State University safe?
Appalachian State University has a safety score of 1.51 (total on-campus incidents per 1,000 enrolled students) and ranks #1,812 nationally out of 3,050+ ranked institutions. Compare this with peer institutions for context.
What crimes are reported at Appalachian State University?
Aggravated Assault, Arson, Burglary, Fondling, Incest, and other categories, for calendar year 2023.
How does Appalachian State University compare to similar schools?
See the Similar Institutions section below for peers of similar enrollment in NC.
Does Appalachian State University have fire safety data?
Yes. Appalachian State University reports fire safety data for on-campus residential facilities, including total fires, injuries, deaths, and fire damage categories. 1 fire was reported in the most recent year.
Understanding Appalachian State University's Safety Profile
Appalachian State University in Boone, NC enrolls 21,253 students and has a safety score of 1.51 incidents per 1,000 enrolled students , ranking #1812 nationally. This relatively low score indicates fewer reported on-campus incidents relative to enrollment size.
Reported incidents cover 2021 to 2023. On-campus incidents decreased from 23 in 2022 to 16 in 2023.
Fire safety data covers on-campus residential facilities. 1 fire was reported in the most recent year.
What this means for you
Appalachian State University's 1.51 reported on-campus incidents per 1,000 students is a starting point for comparison, not a verdict on any student's safety.
- Weigh Appalachian State University against similar-size campuses, scale changes what the raw count means. Compare campuses
- A higher count can mean stronger reporting, not more danger. How the data works
- Clery covers campus grounds only. Campus vs. city crime
Figures reflect the 2023 Clery Act reporting year as filed with the U.S. Department of Education.
Data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education, OPE Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act). See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCampus Editorial
Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal Clery Act source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.