Finance and Financial Management Services at Appalachian State University

Boone, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree
82 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
84
Optimistic
82
Base Case
80
Pessimistic
Earnings $52,004/yr (-6% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (55% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (622,100 openings/yr)
ROI 26.8x earnings multiple (8.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #51 of 431 Finance and Financial Management Services programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Finance and Financial Management Services graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $852K $808K $698K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 28.2x 26.8x 23.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.7x 8.2x 7.1x
Probability of Field Employment 69% 61% 44%
DegreeOutlook Score 84 82 80

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 (8.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$65,948
-119% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,500
4.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$88,101
69% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $52,004 track close to the $55,340 national median for Finance and Financial Management Services programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 26.8x 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 — 55% task exposure — and the 18% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $20,500 in median debt against $52,004 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #51 out of 431 programs, Appalachian State University's Finance and Financial Management Services program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $52,004 to $88,101 over five years (69% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Appalachian State University

Appalachian State University has a 89% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving 19,304 students in Boone, NC.

See all programs and financial aid at Appalachian State University →

Top Career Paths

Chief executives $206,420/yr
Financial managers $161,700/yr
Financial risk specialists $106,000/yr
View all 20 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does Appalachian State University's Finance and Financial Management Services program score?
A score of 82/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Appalachian State University's Finance and Financial Management Services graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Finance and Financial Management Services to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Finance and Financial Management Services careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 55% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does Appalachian State University rank so high for Finance and Financial Management Services?
The #51 ranking out of 431 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →