Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina has “mountains, rivers, lakes, flowers, snow, wildlife, rednecks, moonshine, football, baseball, rock climbing, backpacking, and hiking,” according to Western alumnus Calvin Wheat.  If that list doesn’t entice you, you might consider spending your four years after high school in a hut in Siberia. But if any of these features call your name,  you should add App State to your college list.

App State has it all. With about 16,000 undergraduate students, it’s a bustling place, comparable in size to JMU. The university offers to its students an education that is “high quality, and on par with any state school in the country,” Wheat testifies. At App State, students pursue their studies in a serene setting that offers just the perfect amount of distraction.

Though isolated from any major city, the rusty old mountain of town of Boone is a lot of fun . Named after the famed Daniel Boone, it is very proud of its rustic appeal. In addition to the bars, restaurants, and other attractions in town, App State boasts twenty D1 varsity teams and, come next year, the Mountaineers’ storied football program will be bowl eligible when they join the Sun Belt Conference.

Long story short, App State is worth checking out. It’s good enough for former WAHS President, Calvin Wheat. And though Virginia residents must pay out-of-state tuition at App State, price shouldn’t be a deterrent. Out-of-state tuition, just over $18,000 per year, is within range of many Virginia schools in terms of cost.

For more information, check out the school’s official website.