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The Best of UNC Asheville

Our Crowdsourced Guide to the Best Campus Events, Mind-blowing Classes, Life-Changing Experiences and Much More

By UNC Asheville

HERE'S AN ORIGINAL IDEA

WE ASKED MORE THAN 150 UNC ASHEVILLE students to talk about every aspect of their experience. The result is this guide that includes quotes from real students, campus photos, videos, and all the things you need to know about UNCA.

We’re a nationally ranked public college of the liberal arts and sciences. We break down conventions, overcome obstacles and expand horizons. We founded the National Conference on Undergraduate Research. We offer majors that bring new life to traditional disciplines — and innovative majors that respond to new challenges: atmospheric sciences, engineering, health and wellness and more. Our STEAM Studio helped to produce the largest public art installation ever shown in Times Square.

Our home is Asheville, a national destination for people who want to see the world differently — curious, creative and determined to make a difference.

We live at the intersection of what’s known and what’s possible. We’re proud to share the best of us.

UNC Asheville's student body is about 3,300 students from 43 states & 17 countries.

Choose from 30+ majors, or students can design their own. Generous funding is also available for research and creative projects.

70% of students complete original research through UNC Asheville's nationally-recognized Undergraduate Research Program

Asheville, NC has been named a top destination by Lonely Planet.

UNC Asheville named one of "America's Best College Values" by Forbes

50% of students complete at least one internship; Students can choose from 55+ countries for Study Abroad Programs

16 NCAA Division I team; 60+ student organizations

Apply Now Visit Campus Learn More at unca.edu

Best Experience Working with a Professor

THE GROUP PROJECT

“In Quantitative Chemistry, we’re doing an experiment designed to find new information on potential hyper-accumulators. We’re working as a group, guided by our professor. It’s hard work — and extremely engaging and exciting.”

THE FILM FESTIVAL

“I worked with my professor to put together the Human Rights Film Festival on campus” — five days of films and panels, one of the largest in the region.

THE CONFERENCE

“I gave a presentation at the African Americans in Western North Carolina and Southern Appalachia Conference — which was organized by my professor and held at UNC Asheville. And my research had been done under his mentorship. That experience will be my key to getting into a great graduate program.

THE TAX PROJECT

“I worked with my economics professor to complete tax returns for low-income residents of Asheville. It was a great way to give back to my community and get hands-on experience with my field.”

THE RESEARCH PROJECT

For example: biodiversity in Vietnam, facial recognition, GMOs, ceramic techniques, cell-signaling pathways “to understand what causes cancer tumors to form and metastasize.”

Professor of Art Tamie Beldue works along a student.

Students present their research at the African Americans in Western North Carolina & Southern Appalachian Conference, hosted at UNC Asheville by Executive Director of Community Engagement and history professor Dr. Darin Waters.

Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns previews his film "Country Music" at UNC Asheville.

Chemistry professor Dr. Sally Wasileski works alongside students in the lab.

“It starts with asking your professors — or yourself — what’s possible.”

Best Learning Experience Outside the Classroom

INTERNSHIPS

Recent favorites: Disney, GlaxoSmithKline, National Weather Service, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (Raleigh), UrbanPromise (Charlotte), Echo Mountain Recording. Also:

“A professor told me about National Science Foundation research internships, which led to me spending the summer in Washington, D.C. It gave me practical experience in my field as well as the opportunity to hit up tons of museums.”

STUDY ABROAD

Recent favorite sites: “Business Abroad in Dublin, Ireland — a great short-term trip!” Also: “Going to Italy with a humanities class and attending workshops and cultural events.” Bonus: Our very popular alternative break programs.

SERVICE LEARNING COURSES

Courses that have service or community engagement built into the curriculum. (One example: a health promotion class in which students partner with a local health agency to help raise awareness.) A chance to “use a different skill set,” apply what you’ve learned in class and work together with Asheville residents. Brought to you by one of the country’s top-ranked schools for community engagement.

OUTDOOR PROGRAM TRIPS

A chance to test your limits, fall in love with the natural world and make friends for life.

“I learned so much from the people on my trip. A student taught us Chinese, an engineer taught us amazing ways to get things done and an environmental studies major classified things for us.”

Best Annual Campus Event

TURNING OF THE MAPLES

A celebration of fall, held on the Quad, featuring maple cookies, hot apple cider, live music and spectacular scenery.

EXAM WEEK

Yes. Really. Because there’s breakfast for dinner — served by your professors! — and karaoke night before exams start.

ROCKYPALOOZA

A day of pure fun in your first week on campus, featuring a climbing wall, an “extreme air trampoline,” an obstacle course and more. Rocky is our mascot, by the way — a bulldog. When you see a bulldog statue, give it a pat for good luck — a tradition at both the beginning of the year and Commencement.

GLOWGA

A glow-in-the-dark yoga event. “It features a live band and free glowsticks and free kombucha samples, all while having an awesome time doing yoga!”

FARM-TO-TABLE DINNER

“Full of great food, culture and wonderful people.” Part of Greenfest, a semiannual, weeklong, hands-on tribute to sustainability. Other events include stargazing, kayaking, bird watching, garden planning, a makers fest and a sustainability shark tank. The food comes from local sources, including many items grown by the Student Environmental Center in campus gardens.

Best Way To Spend An Evening In Asheville

OUTDOORS

“Hot chocolate and a book while camping in the Blue Ridge Mountains.”

“Take a bus and let yourself get lost downtown with all the sights and sounds.”

A simple, timeless option:

“Watching the sunset” — at Lookout Observatory, in a hammock on the Quad or in the city.

INDOORS

“Seeing a concert at The Orange Peel.”

“Getting tea at Dobra and going to a used bookstore.”

OUTDOORS AND INDOORS

“Eat dinner downtown. Pick up a pastry at a coffee shop. Then drive up on the parkway and look at the city lights from above.”

THE FRIDAY NIGHT DRUM CIRCLE

A weekly drum circle in a park downtown, open to everyone, often featuring local musicians, always featuring dancing and a general feeling that you’re in a magical place. An Asheville tradition.

“Doesn’t matter where you go, as long as you have amazing friends by your side.”

Class Most Likely to Blow Your Mind

INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING AND PROBLEM SOLVING

“Provides a toolkit of information that’s useful for any career, not just engineering.”

ASTRONOMY

“Learning about the vastness and complexity of the universe is mind-boggling.”

PUBLIC HEALTH AND DISEASE

"It helped me realize I’d like to pursue pharmacy, which is surprising considering that I came here planning to major in art.”

FIRST-YEAR SEMINARS

Not just an introduction to thinking and writing in college — an introduction to functioning as an effective student, community member and general human being.

Two favorites:

Learning about the liberal arts (“we talked about using failure as a tool for growth; I learned a lot about myself”) and Sociology (“never saw it coming, and it changed me forever”).

AN ABRIDGED LIST OF OTHER NOMINEES

African Dance
Analytical Chemistry
Asian American Literature
Brains!
Challenges to American Democracy
Digital Design
Evil Genius
From Animation & Graphic Novels to Cartoons & Comix
Global Climate Change and China
Honeybees and Humans
Management: Reframing Organizations
Number Theory
Stress Management and Biofeedback
Toxicology

“There’s always some new way to see the world.”

COMPUTER SCIENCE PART 1: RESEARCH PROJECTS

UNC Asheville seniors and professors talk about working together on research projects in the spring 2020 semester.

Watch Computer Science Part II: Teaching with Heart here

Best Place to Study on Campus

RAMSEY LIBRARY

“Three quiet floors, comfy chairs and plenty of nooks.” Plus an art gallery, a café and — best of all — a greenhouse.

HIGHSMITH STUDENT UNION

Multiple options: The study booths upstairs. Roasted Coffeehouse. Or outside the Grotto, where “you can put in some headphones and drown everyone out, but also people watch and maybe run into some friends.”

RESIDENCE HALLS

Many favorites:

“The 7th floor lounge in Founders — beautiful views, and the window lets in a nice breeze.”

“The little seating area in Whitesides by the ancient garden.”

“The benches outside of Ponder by the Down Under.”

Also: Pretty much any of the lounges that are in every residence hall.

OUTSIDE

“It’s easy to find a quiet, beautiful spot outdoors to sit down and study.”

A popular option: “hammock on the Quad.”

Best Moment When You Realized What You Could Do With Your Major

THE FIRSTS

Such as: “When I was able to synthesize chemical compounds in a lab.”

And also: “Getting an internship at the end of my first year. I’m still working there.”

THE BUILDING PROJECT

“Working on a team that was building a 3D printer from scratch. Every aspect — mechanical, electrical, programming — of my classes suddenly became applicable.”

THE PRIZE

“Winning best in show in a new media exhibit — which got me a job.”

THE PANEL

“Attending a graduate student panel for health majors and discussing my plans with the guest speakers. I felt so empowered by my biology major.”

THE LAB

“Working outside in an ecology lab, and seeing what my future could look like for the first time.”

Best Reason to Choose UNC Asheville

THE PROFESSORS

They “genuinely care,” “always have time for you” and “go the extra mile to help you succeed.”

Bonus:

“They remember you not for the mistakes you made but for the impact you had. And this is a small campus where we all know each other, so if they get you confused with someone, you can tease them mercilessly.”

THE OPPORTUNITIES

Such as: adventurous classes and majors, research, internships and engagement with the campus, the city and beyond.

THE COMMUNITY

It’s “supportive, diverse, inclusive.” It’s a place where “the acceptance, love and equality are everywhere.”

In its own way, it “feels like home.”

THE CITY OF ASHEVILLE!

The “amazing” downtown, the music scene, the “unique people,” the “wonderful food.”

And how “in-nature” it feels:

“Your backyard is literally the Blue Ridge Parkway.”

Basically: “There are so many places to explore. You’ll never be bored.”

THE FEELING

“The feeling here is so unique. It will most certainly challenge you in the best way.”

The best of the best part:

“I matter here.”

“It’s a college that allows people to flourish at their own pace, and to learn what they love along the way.”

Academics

Close-working relationships with faculty, majors that expand your horizon and intensive experiences — from research to study abroad — that shape your future

STUDENT RESEARCH THAT MAKES AN IMPACT

Saving the Silver Boa: Biology major Ari Miller and Assistant Professor Graham Reynolds spent a summer in Vietnam discovering new species of reptiles and researching biodiversity through a Smithsonian Grant.

Fueling the Future: Economics major Karl Mueller explored the impact of electric cars, why people purchase them (or not) and the barriers that might stand in their way.

Building a Village: Health and wellness major Soni Pitts worked with local organization BeLoved Asheville to plan an affordable, sustainable housing project.

The Evolution of the Role of Women: New media major Jessica Dula’s multimedia installation of a 1950s-inspired pinup dress recreated the feeling, design and ideas of the era, with a modern twist.

Discrimination and the Achievement Gap: Why are some school districts better at handling achievement gaps than others? Political science major Mary Topper conducted an observational study to find out.

Supernova Explosions: Physics major Samantha Creech joined Assistant Professor Britt Lundgren in her research on how galaxies evolve over time (and now she’s a lead coauthor of a coming peer-reviewed article on the topic).

MAJORS, MiNORs & Programs of Study

Choose from more than 30+ majors, or design your own.

Explore Academics

Briana Miller

Art Alum Brianna Miller tells what her work is about, being an introvert, and the alchemy of how the two meet on the surface of the printmaker's stone.

“ Explore. Do something adventurous. Think critically. Make a difference.”

Campus Life

Set on a hill a mile from downtown Asheville, this is a community full of inspiring people, bold plans and (quite often) big wins

RESIDENTIAL LIFE

Eleven residence halls, featuring suites, singles and apartment-style living

Amenities typically include:

high-speed internet
expanded basic cable
study lounges
computer labs
community kitchens

Living-Learning Communities including engineering, LEAD (community engagement and social responsibility), Gen 1 (for first-generation students), SANKOFA and more

Newly renovated 74,000-square-foot Highsmith Student Union includes food court, bike shop, game room, Intercultural Center, bookstore, art gallery and Student Life Porch

A SAMPLE OF STUDENT CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS

Asheville Campus Entertainment
Asian Students in Asheville
Aspiring Health Care Professionals
Belly Dance Club
Biology Club
Black Student Association
Blue Echo (radio)
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club
College Republicans
Contra Club
Food Equity Initiative
Gaming Club
Headwaters Creative Arts Journal
Herman@s Orgullosos en Las Americas
Hillel
Hip-Hop Club
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
Keytones (a cappella)
Literature Club
Math Club
Mindfulness Club
Model United Nations
Music Theory Club
Native American Student Association
Neuroscience Club
Seeds of Change
She’s the First
Student Environmental Center
Student Government Association
Student Veterans Alliance
Students for Immigration Activism
Sunrise Movement
TedxUNCAsheville
Trans Student Union
Young Activists
Vegan Club

MORE EXCELLENT LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Key Center for Community
Engaged Learning
Peers Educating Peers and
Advancing Health
Residence Hall Council
Student Government Association
Outdoor Leadership Training Program

DIVISION I ATHLETIC TEAMS

WOMEN

Basketball
Cross Country
Golf
Track & Field (Indoor & Outdoor)
Soccer
Swimming & Diving
Tennis
Volleyball

MEN

Baseball
Basketball
Cross Country
Track & Field (Indoor & Outdoor)
Soccer
Tennis

“ There’s a student organization for everything you can imagine. It’s the best leadership opportunity out there.”

Asheville, NC

Welcome to a national destination for inspiration in all forms — arts and culture, food and nature, entrepreneurship and adventure

ASHEVILLE HIGHLIGHTS

Busy, walkable downtown, featuring bookstores, galleries, cafes, and 250+ independent restaurants

Renowned music clubs, including The Orange Peel, The Grey Eagle, Isis Music Hall & Kitchen

Stunning new Asheville Art Museum, with 8,000+ items

The famous Biltmore Estate—art, gardens, forests, rivers

Homegrown culture, including Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, Asheville Ballet, Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre, Asheville Symphony Orchestra, NC Stage Company, The Magnetic Theatre

A FEW NATURAL WONDERS

Blue Ridge Mountains: more than one million acres of protected wilderness

Blue Ridge Parkway: stunning vistas

The Botanical Gardens at Asheville: stunning flora and fauna, right on campus

Chimney Rock Park: hiking trails, old-growth forests and 404-foot Hickory Nut Falls

Bent Creek: mountain biking

DuPont State Forest: hiking and waterfalls

French Broad River: kayaking, tubing, SUPing

Pisgah National Forest: hiking, biking, natural splendor

Waterfalls: hundreds of them! Really!

MAJOR ASHEVILLE-ISH EVENTS

The Big Crafty: twice-yearly bazaar featuring local, handmade goods

{Re}HAPPENING: cutting-edge art and performances at Black Mountain College

Goombay Festival: annual celebration of African-Caribbean food and music

Organicfest: a celebration of National Organic Month

RiverFest: concerts, food and an “Anything That Floats” rafting competition

Shindig on the Green: free concerts every Saturday, featuring Appalachian music and dance

“ I love going into Asheville and seeing my classmates and realizing we’re all part of something bigger.”

Success After UNC Asheville

A nationwide network of graduates who are independent-minded, community-oriented and driven to find solutions

RESOURCES YOU’LL FIND AT OUR CAREER CENTER

Career education workshops and courses
Employer information sessions
Graduate school search strategies
Handshake—online job and internship network
Internship Yearly Expo
Internship program
Job search strategies
NextFest Career Fair
Personalized career coaching

A FEW RECENT ALUMNI WHO ARE DOING INTERESTING/AMAZING WORK

Shelby Burleson, court advocate for a domestic/sexual violence advocacy organization

Elizabeth Conte, NCAA Governance

Robert David, postdoctoral research fellow of geoscience in Ny Ålesund, Norway

George Etheredge, photography for The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Time Magazine and more

Michele Sussman Walsh, associate director for policy and communication for the Center for Disease Control’s Division of Population Health

RECENT GRADUATE SCHOOL ACCEPTANCES

Appalachian State University
Boston University
Clemson University
Columbia University
East Carolina University
Elon
Emerson College
Florida State University
Georgia Tech
Harvard University
NC State
NYU
Ohio State
Oregon State
Temple University
University of Chicago
University of Pennsylvania
University of Washington
Western Carolina University

A SAMPLE OF PLACES WHERE RECENT GRADUATES ARE WORKING

American Conservation Experience
AmeriCorps
Asheville City Schools
Autism Society of North Carolina
Buncombe County Schools
Conserving Carolina
Continental AG
Dermatology of North Asheville
Eaton
Enterprise
GE
Genova Diagnostics
HomeTrust Bank
IBM
Infosys
Mission Health System
Moog
NASA
NAVAIR
Peace Corps
ScribeAmerica
Teach for America
Thermo Fisher Scientific
USDA Forest Service

Catherine Allen

Alum Catherine Allen did undergraduate research at UNC Asheville resulting in new ways to tackle the problem of drug resistant bacteria, a global health crisis on the horizon for the middle of the century.

“ Life is not a race. You’ll find your path.”

Admission & Financial Aid

An education that’s affordable, adaptable and endlessly relevant

THE ADMISSION PROCESS

Comprehensive application review that goes beyond test scores - we want to get to know you.

Best way to get to know us: visit!

Visit options: open houses, student-led tours, information sessions, virtual tours, online counselor chats, overnights, classroom visits and discovery days

APPLICATION DEADLINES

FIRST YEAR APPLICANTS

Fall

Early Action: November 1
Regular Decision: February 1

Spring

Regular Decision: November 15

Get the Early Action Advantage. Receive your decision sooner, wrap up your college search faster, and get a head-start preparing for life at UNC Asheville.

Apply by the Regular Decision deadline to be automatically considered for University Merit Award.

Applications for admission received after Regular Decision will be considered as space allows.

TRANSFER APPLICANTS

Spring

Regular Decision: November 15

Fall

Regular Decision: June 15

Scholarship Consideration: May 1

Apply by the Scholarship Consideration deadline to be automatically considered for University Merit Award.

Applications for admission received after Regular Decision will be considered as space allows.

FINANCIAL AID

70% of students receive need-based or merit-based financial aid.

$3M+ was awarded to undergraduates in scholarship funding.

Plan ahead: visit our website to estimate your cost and financial aid using our Net Price Calculator. Then apply via the following steps:

Submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Priority Filing Date: March 1. UNC Asheville Federal School Code: 002907. fafsa.gov
Check your eligibility for in-state tuition via the Residency Determination Service (RDS). ncresidency.org