Insurance at Appalachian State University

Boone, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree
71 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
72
Optimistic
71
Base Case
69
Pessimistic
Earnings $55,611/yr (-3% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (52% exposed)
Job Market Large (94,900 openings/yr)
ROI 23.9x earnings multiple (7.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #6 of 20 Insurance programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Insurance graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $750K $722K $641K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 24.9x 23.9x 21.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.6x 7.4x 6.5x
Probability of Field Employment 68% 61% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 72 71 69

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$30,164
Out-of-state: $98,148 (7.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$65,948
-119% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,875
3.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$80,272
44% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $55,611/yr, roughly in line with the $57,397 national median for Insurance. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 23.9x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 52% task exposure — and the 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $55,611 far exceeding the $17,875 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #6 out of 20 programs, Appalachian State University's Insurance offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $55,611 to $80,272 shows 44% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Appalachian State University

Appalachian State University accepts 89% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 19,304 students in Boone, NC.

See all programs and financial aid at Appalachian State University →

Top Career Paths

Compensation and benefits managers $140,360/yr
Business teachers, postsecondary $97,270/yr
Insurance underwriters $79,880/yr
View all 7 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Insurance at Other Schools

Other Majors at Appalachian State University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Appalachian State University's Insurance program score?
A score of 71/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Appalachian State University's Insurance graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Insurance to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Insurance careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 52% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →