Dr. Kimberly van Noort Chancellor | University of North Carolina at Asheville
Dr. Kimberly van Noort Chancellor | University of North Carolina at Asheville
Of the eight institutions in the county, three provided detailed enrollment data at the time, including Warren Wilson College, University of North Carolina Asheville and Montreat College.
At least 6,623 people applied to Buncombe County colleges in the 2022-23 school year.
NCES data shows that among them, around 11,243 students enrolled in the universities, including 11,021 in undergraduate and 222 in graduate programs. In total 6.8% of undergraduates transferred from another college or university.
The reported undergraduate student body is comprised mostly of white (71.8%) and Hispanic (10.6%) students.
Among the institutions that provided disclosed enrollment data, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College stood out with the largest enrollment at the time, welcoming 6,473 students.
U.S. college enrollment has been in a downward trend since peaking at around 18.1 million students in 2010. Recent increases offered some relief, but experts project a steeper decline in 2025.
This decline is likely due to two main factors. First, the pool of young adults is shrinking as birth rates have fallen nearly 23% between 2007 and 2022. Second, the rising cost of higher education, including skyrocketing student loan debt. A 2023 Wall Street Journal report shows that more than half of Americans think a four-year degree is not worth the cost.
NCES shows that enrollment data was not available for two institutions in Buncombe County, including South College-Asheville and Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts.
Some educational data is based on estimates. Shifting demographics among student populations can sometimes result in gender totals which do not equal 100%.
| Institution | # of Applicants | # of Admitted Students | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montreat College | 1,440 | 979 | 972 |
| Warren Wilson College | 905 | 760 | 793 |
| University of North Carolina Asheville | 4,278 | 3,166 | 2,914 |
| Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts | -- | -- | -- |
| Center for Massage | -- | -- | 49 |
| Carolina College of Hair Design Inc | -- | -- | 42 |
| Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | -- | -- | 6,473 |
| South College-Asheville | -- | -- | -- |
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