APP STATE Online: Flight Path Programs
A Place to Give Your All
Excellence in teaching, research and service.
Founded in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian State University has spent more than a century creating opportunities for people to learn, contribute and build what comes next. That spirit continues through App State Online.
A 100% ONLINE Path Built for Progress
An App State education gives you more than a degree. It gives you the knowledge, support and opportunity to move with purpose.
DEGREES THAT PAY OFF
An App State education is built to create lasting value. We are recognized nationally for affordability and successful student outcomes.
BUILT-IN STUDENT SUPPORT
From academic success coaches to 24/7 IT support, you have people and resources to help you navigate your path forward.
RESOURCEFUL AND RECOGNIZED
App State’s Appalachian roots shape a culture of ingenuity and resourcefulness backed by national recognition for innovation and academic quality.
EDUCATION WITH PURPOSE
We believe education should strengthen communities as well as individuals, with sustainability and service woven into the App State Experience.
Rooted In Resilience. Ready For More.
Appalachian State University was founded in 1899 in the Blue Ridge Mountains with a commitment to expanding access to education for North Carolinians. More than a century later, that commitment continues — grounded in place, shaped by community and focused on what education makes possible.
For working adults, that means a university experience built around progress rather than starting over. App State Online’s Flight Path programs give you a clear way to build on the college experience you’ve already earned, with online coursework designed to help you keep moving while you work, care for family and manage everything else life brings.
You’ll learn from the same App State faculty who teach on the Boone and Hickory campuses, with access to academic success coaches who will help you navigate your program along the way. With 24/7 IT support and resources designed around adult learners, you have people and resources to turn to when you need them.
The quality of that experience is reflected in App State’s reputation. The university has been recognized nationally for value, innovation and social mobility, while its academic programs are backed by respected accreditation. Business programs in Accounting, Marketing and Supply Chain Management hold AACSB International accreditation, a distinction held by fewer than 6% of business schools worldwide.
But what you learn here doesn’t stop with a credential. App State’s Appalachian roots have shaped a culture of resourcefulness, resilience and responsibility — qualities that extend into the classroom and the communities around us. More than 2,000 courses incorporate sustainability into the curriculum, reflecting a commitment to education that considers not only what we accomplish, but the impact we leave behind.
Your path doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. It just needs to move you forward.
“As a veteran, I have been out of school for a while, but Appalachian State was a dream school of mine when I was in high school, and the opportunity to attend has been great.”
Connor W., Health Care Management, Class of 2025
A Reputation Earned Over Time
For more than a century, App State has been focused on creating meaningful opportunities through education. Our rankings and recognitions reflect a long-standing commitment to value, innovation and access.
#1
Best Value for In-State Students (South)
U.S. News & World Report (2027)
#2
Top Public Schools (South)
U.S. News & World Report (2024, 2025, 2026, 2027)
#3
in Best Regional Universities (South)
U.S. News & World Report (2024, 2025, 2026)
#4
Most Innovative Schools (South)
U.S. News & World Report (2026)
Top 5
Best Colleges for Veterans
Military Times (2025)
#6
in Best Online Bachelor’s Programs (North Carolina)
U.S. News & World Report (2026)
#8
Among North Carolina’s top public and private colleges
Forbes (2027)
#37
Top Performers on Social Mobility (South)
U.S. News & World Report (2026)
Helping North Carolinians Finish What They Started
More than 1 million North Carolinians have some college credit but no degree. That’s not just a statistic — it’s the reason Flight Path exists.
Flight Path is our approach to degree completion, built for adults who are ready to move forward without starting over. These programs are designed to help you apply what you’ve already earned, follow a clear path to graduation and stay on track with flexible online coursework and dedicated support. It’s a model built around progress, giving you the structure and guidance to finish what you started and move toward what’s next.
What Makes the Flight Path Format Different
Maximize Your Transfer Credits
Not all programs accept transfer credits, let alone large amounts. Flight Path programs are built assuming you have accomplished a lot. Apply what you’ve earned and move forward from where you left off.
Completion With a Clear Outcome
This isn’t about checking a box. Every program is designed around workforce demand, so you develop in-demand skills, receive clear direction and are prepared for whatever comes next.
Proactive, Start-to-Finish Support
While many online programs offer support when you ask for it, we take a more proactive approach. Regular check-ins, clear next steps and ongoing outreach provide the structure and support you need to keep moving.
Our Mission
To Be, Rather Than to Seem.
Appalachian State University, a constituent member of the University of North Carolina System sustained by the generous support of North Carolinians, is a long-established public institution that honors our founding commitment to educational access and excellence and our rural mountain heritage through teaching, research and service.
The university’s vibrant culture shapes students into globally minded, responsible members of society who engage with and actively contribute to their communities.
Our exemplary faculty and staff prepare students in bachelor’s, master’s and professional doctoral programs to be the leaders of the future.
Our Values
Access. Excellence. Engagement.
Appalachian State University aspires to strengthen its role as a leading public institution in the Southeast. We commit to empowering learners through innovative academic programs accompanied by experiences that take place beyond the classroom, access and excellence in all our activities, and the cultivation of scholarship, engagement and creativity.
Our Statement of Sustainability
Sustainability is a Tradition.
Sustainability at Appalachian State University is not a trend, it is a tradition. We are active stewards of our state’s interconnected financial, cultural and natural resources. Through engaged scholarship, we balance critical, creative and global thinking in a living laboratory, transforming theory into practice and fostering responsible citizenship.
Accreditation & Academic Excellence
A standard you can trust.
SACSCOC
Appalachian State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master’s, educational specialist, and doctorate degrees. Appalachian State University also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Appalachian State University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
AUPHA
App State’s Health Care Management program has been certified by the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) since 1984.
AACSB
Appalachian State University is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. The scope of this business accreditation includes the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, the Master of Business Administration, the Master of Science in Accountancy, and the Master of Science in Applied Data Analytics. Earning AACSB accreditation signifies a business school’s commitment to strategic management, learner success, thought leadership, and societal impact.
Nothing Standing in Your Way
When you decide you’re ready to go back to school, everything should align to ensure you have the most direct path possible. That’s why we offer five term starts per year, more than most universities, so timing never has to be an obstacle.
Fall Term 1
August
Fall Term 2
October
Spring Term 1
January
Spring Term 2
March
Summer Term
June
Find a clear path forward with an education grounded in connection and support.
You’ve already made progress. Let’s build on it.
Tell us where you want to go, and we’ll help you find the App State program and path that can get you there. Filling out a quick form connects you with an admissions representative who will answer your questions, review your options and help you chart the best path to your degree.
“I know you’re balancing a lot. My job is to help you figure out the school part without adding to it.”
Sarah M.
Admissions Representative
“When you call, you’re getting a real person. I’m here to answer your questions and help you figure out what comes next.”
Lalanda M.
Admissions Representative
“You don’t have to put your whole life on pause to go back to school. Let’s talk through what could work for you.”
Alex E.
Admissions Representative