School value profile
Appalachian State University OT value profile
Review why Appalachian State University ranks #10 in The OT Index public-program value ranking, including institution-level cost, debt, completion, state labor-market context, and matched ACOTE program profiles.
Value rank #1064.0 value score$7,579 in-state tuition$20,231 median debt
Value snapshot
Cost, debt, completion, and career-return context
This profile keeps College Scorecard institution-level measures separate from ACOTE and NBCOT program-specific context so applicants can see what is known and what still needs direct confirmation.
Our take
Appalachian State University value assessment
Why it stands out
- $7,579 in-state tuition is $2,893 below the public-program midpoint in this comparison. That is a meaningful recurring price advantage.
- $20,231 median debt is $720 below the midpoint, so lower published tuition appears to translate into lower borrowing at the institution level.
- 75% completion is above the comparison midpoint, which matters because affordability is more compelling when students are also completing at a strong rate.
Tradeoffs that matter
- North Carolina's labor-market score is below the program-set midpoint. Lower local opportunity reduces the value of choosing the school mainly for geographic convenience.
- The headline price is in-state tuition. An applicant who does not qualify for resident pricing should not expect the #10 value case to carry over unchanged.
What to compare next
- Compare Appalachian State University with the two nearest-ranked public options on tuition and debt separately; similar value scores can be driven by different affordability strengths.
- Compare the matched OT master's program profile on degree and delivery format before treating the institution-level price advantage as a program-level win.
- Put North Carolina's labor-market score beside the state where you expect to work after graduation; local value is less relevant when the likely first job is elsewhere.
Applicant read
What makes this school look affordable—or not
The value score is strongest when low cost, manageable debt, institution-wide completion strength, and local labor-market opportunity point in the same direction.
Published tuition
The published in-state tuition is unusually low for an OT pathway, which is why this institution ranks highly for value.
Median debt
The institution-wide median debt is moderate, so tuition—not unusually low borrowing—is doing most of the work in the value score.
Completion rate
The institution-wide completion rate is respectable but not exceptional, so it provides only modest support for the value case.
State opportunity
North Carolina ranks lower for OT pay and employment in this model, so this program's value depends more heavily on low cost and the applicant's intended setting.
Program profiles
Linked ACOTE program profiles
Open the program-level profiles before treating the institution-level value score as an application decision.
| Program profile | Value context | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Appalachian State University OT master's profile | OT master's program; ACOTE next on-site review 2032/2033. | Open profile |
Compare value options
Other public OT value profiles
Compare the value score against other public options before narrowing your application list.
Rank #5
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
$8,994 in-state tuition; $14,000 median debt; 70.7 value score.
Open value profile Rank #20University of North Carolina at Pembroke
$3,648 in-state tuition; $25,000 median debt; 59.8 value score.
Open value profile Rank #22East Carolina University
$7,361 in-state tuition; $22,750 median debt; 59.1 value score.
Open value profile
Appalachian State University is a genuinely strong public-value lead for an in-state applicant. Both tuition and debt beat the comparison midpoint, so the #10 rank is supported by two affordability measures rather than one unusually low number. The 75% completion rate supports the case.