Admit rate has ranged 40%–59% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Brevard College is a small liberal arts school in the Blue Ridge Mountains where outdoor adventure meets hands-on learning. With a 42% acceptance rate and a focus on experiential education, it attracts students who thrive in close-knit communities and crave access to hiking trails as much as faculty mentorship. The college struggles with low graduation rates (39%) but offers a distinctive blend of academic rigor and Appalachian charm.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
College-prep program
Considered (not required)
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
815
In-state tuition
$32,280
Out-of-state tuition
$32,280
Acceptance Rate
42%
Graduation Rate
39%
On-Campus Housing
86%
First-Gen Students
27%
Median Alumni Earnings
$36,427
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$43,545
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
1.9×
Median debt at graduation
$25,000
Graduation rate
49%
First-year retention
62%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
52%
Pell (lower-income) share
64%
First-generation share
29%
Endowment / student
$45,419
Financial health
2.2 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Criminal Justice and Corrections$38,289
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other$33,993
Business Administration, Management and Operations$32,391
Psychology, General$28,236
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies$21,894
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
Per 1,000 students
0.00
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
117
Summer high
81°F
Winter low
35°F
Annual rain
67.4"
Annual snow
6.2"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Low
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
32
Scholarly works
162
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
0.7%
Bottom → top quintile
8%
From bottom quintile
8%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Brevard College?
Brevard College's acceptance rate is approximately 42% (Brevard, NC), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Brevard College?
Admitted students at Brevard College typically score 870–1220 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Brevard College cost?
At Brevard College, the average net price (after aid) is about $23,509 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Brevard College?
Brevard College enrolls approximately 815 undergraduate students.
Where is Brevard College located?
Brevard College is located in Brevard, NC.
Admissions
Brevard College is moderately selective, admitting 42% of applicants—a rate significantly lower than the national average of 57%. Accepted students typically have SAT scores between 870-1220 or ACT scores of 16-26. The student body is 57% male, 40% female, and 3% non-binary, with 27% being First-generation (first-gen)A student who would be the first in their immediate family to earn a four-year college degree. Many colleges consider this in context. college students. While some sources describe admissions as 'minimally difficult,' others note its selectivity is 'twenty-eight percent lower than the national average.'
Brevard emphasizes experiential learning with 99% of students participating in first-year experiences and 81% completing senior capstone projects. Popular majors include Business Administration, Criminal Justice, and Outdoor Leadership—the latter capitalizing on its mountain location. Small class sizes and one-on-one faculty mentorship are hallmarks, with 96% of students participating in learning communities. The Princeton Review notes its strength in 'excellence in teaching,' though specific rankings are scarce.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Life revolves around the tight-knit campus where 86% of students live on-site. Described as a 'family-like' community, it blends academics with outdoor recreation—the Instagram account shows move-in days transforming quiet dorms into a 'full-on Tornado zone' of activity. The college offers robust counseling services and spiritual life programs, while the surrounding mountains provide a natural playground for hiking and adventure sports.
The college faces challenges with a 39% graduation rate (bottom 20% nationally), though retention improves from 61% after freshman year to 89% by junior year. Alumni earn a median $36,427 one year post-graduation—below the national average. A $12 million student center expansion aims to boost enrollment and outcomes, reflecting the school's push to reverse trends amid declining higher ed enrollment.
The Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. averages $39,285 after aid, with 100% of first-years receiving grants or scholarships. The college promotes its Net Price Calculator for personalized estimates, though reported aid packages average $27,000. Payment plans and loan options are available, with financial aid applications due August 15.
Brevard's singularity lies in its fusion of liberal arts rigor with mountain culture—where capstone projects might involve trail conservation and classrooms overlook Pisgah National Forest. Its intimate scale (evident in 96% learning community participation) and outdoor focus attract a specific breed of student: those who want professors who know their name and wilderness at their doorstep. While graduation rates lag, the college bets on experiential learning and campus upgrades to carve a niche in a competitive market.
Brevard College logo · sourceBrevard College Campus Map | View & Download | Brevard College · sourceBrevard College Campus Map | View & Download | Brevard College · sourceGreat Things Continue to Happen on Campus! - Brevard College · source
