As the only designated liberal arts institution in the 16-campus University of North Carolina system, the University of North Carolina at Asheville challenges its students to actively engage with the transformationally profound educational opportunities that are available to them at school.
Small classes, a low student-faculty ratio, strong academics, valuable service-learning activities, and a diversity of exciting and meaningful experiences and relationships, on and off campus, are hallmarks of the UNC Asheville experience.
As one of the nation’s premier public liberal arts universities, it is proud of our tradition of excellence in the liberal arts and to serving the people of North Carolina. It is excited by the new and stronger community partnerships it is building that enrich the quality of life in our region.
The University of North Carolina Asheville is a co-educational, four year, public liberal arts university. The university is also known as UNC Asheville and UNCA. Located in Asheville, Buncombe County, North Carolina, UNCA is the only designated liberal arts institution in the University of North Carolina system. UNC Asheville is member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges.
UNC Asheville was founded in 1927 as Buncombe County Junior College, part of the Buncombe County public school system. In 1930 the school merged with the College of the City of Asheville (founded in 1928) to form Biltmore Junior College. In 1934 the college was renamed Biltmore College and placed in the control of a board of trustees. 1936 brought both a further change of name to Asheville-Biltmore College and a transfer of power to the Asheville City School Board.
In 1961 Asheville-Biltmore College moved to the present UNCA campus in north Asheville. In 1963 it became a state-supported four-year college, and awarded its first bachelor's degrees in 1966. Its first residence halls were built in 1967. It adopted its current name in 1969 upon becoming part of the Consolidated University of North Carolina, since 1972 called the University of North Carolina System. It is the designated public liberal arts university within that system, and has been classified as a Liberal Arts I institution since 1992.
UNCA has more than 207 full-time faculty members and an enrollment of approximately 3,600 students. Classified by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as a Baccalaureate College--Arts & Sciences (Bac/A&S), the university offers thirty-two baccalaureate programs and a master's degree in liberal arts, first granted in 1991.
Year - Name and Levels
1927 First 86 students (men and women) attended Buncombe County Junior College
1929 First graduating class, merges with Asheville City College, name changes to Biltmore College
1936 Chartered as Asheville-Biltmore College
1957 First two-year college in NC to receive state funds
1958 First African-American student enrolled
1963 Asheville-Biltmore College authorized to offer baccalaureate degrees
1969 College joins the UNC System & chartered as the University of North Carolina at Asheville
1992 Officially recognized as one of the nation’s first public liberal arts colleges
2007 University celebrates 80th anniversary
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| Percent of Students International: | 1% |
| On-Campus Housing Available: | Yes |
| Percent of Students Living On-Campus: | 39% |
| Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: | Yes |
| Member of: | NAA, NCAA |
| Sports Include: |
Basketball (Big South Conference) Baseball (Big South Conference) Track (Big South Conference) |
| Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) | In-State | Out-of-State | |
Published Tuition and Fees: |
$ 3,525 | $ 13,325 | |
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 1,897 | $ 11,697 | |
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 1,558 | $ 1,558 | |
| Financial Aid | Avg. Amount Received | % of Students Receiving Aid | |
Federal Grants: |
$ 2,678 | 18% | |
State and Local Grants: |
$ 1,953 | 26% | |
Institutional Grants: |
$ 2,136 | 44% | |
Student Loans: |
$ 3,025 | 42% | |
Any Aid: |
62% |
| Acceptance Rate: | 73% (Selective) |
| Test Scores | |
| SAT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting SAT Scores: | 96% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Verbal: 540, Math: 520 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Verbal: 650, Math: 620 |
| ACT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting ACT Scores: | 22% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Composite: 22, Verbal: 21, Math: 21 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Composite: 27, Verbal: 28, Math: 26 |
| Application Fee: | $ 50.00 |
| Formal Demonstration of Competencies: | Not Required |
| High School Diploma or Equivalent: | Required |
| High School GPA: | Required |
| High School Rank: | Required |
| High School Record: | Required |
| Recommendations: | Recommended |
| TOEFL: | Required |
| Test Scores: | Required |
