The university has experienced an increase in the number of out-of-state students enrolling in classes over the past few years, Lloyd Scott, director of admissions, said.

The number of out-of-state students for the 2012-13 school year is not yet available, but according to the 2011-12 Appalachian Factbook, the total number of undergraduate and graduate students coming from out of state for fall 2011 is 1,646.

Scott said he credits the increase in out-of -state students to the school’s recruitment efforts, the web presence and most importantly, word of mouth.

Alex Reese, a sophomore music industry major, said the biggest reason he chose Appalachian over a school in South Carolina, his home state, was that the people are “less generic up here.”

“When you compare App with Clemson, which is where most of the people from my high school went, it’s about the same,” Reese said about Appalachian’s tuition cost.

Allison Crook, a Spanish and global studies double major from Tennessee, said that she could have gone to University of Tennessee for almost nothing, but chose to come to Appalachian because she loves the location, the campus and the outdoor opportunities.

“It is reasonably priced for an out of state school when you factor in my scholarship,” Crook said.

Tuition for all students, in-state or -out-of-state, is combined with the university’s allocation of state appropriations–funding supported by State of N.C. tax collections—to support the portion of the university’s budget identified as its state budget, Tim Burwell, vice provost for Resource Management, said.

“This funding is used to support the salaries and benefits of faculty and support staff within our academic operations as well as within our Business Affairs division,” Burwell said. “To a lesser extent, it provides some support to portions of Student Development and Advancement.”

Story: LINDSAY BOOKOUT, Intern News Reporter