There are many reasons to love Western North Carolina. At the top of some of these lists are easy to access to nature, a considerable number of breweries, and an incredibly rich history. However, people often forget another lucrative aspect of our area: ample access to higher education. Asheville and the surrounding areas are home to several colleges and universities, so we often have students and educators moving to the region. Here’s why:
Colleges in WNC
When we say there are a lot of universities and colleges in the WNC area, we mean it. Here’s a list of just a few.
UNC Asheville
Located in North Asheville, the University of North Carolina, Asheville is at the heart of the vibrant city. It is a liberal arts college focusing on humanities with undergraduate, graduate, and certification programs.
Western Carolina University
Western Carolina University is located in Cullowhee, North Carolina, about an hour west of Asheville. It’s a comprehensive university with colleges of arts and sciences, business, education, engineering and technology, fine arts, and health and human services.
Warren Wilson
Just 15 minutes from downtown Asheville, in Swannanoa, you can attend Warren Wilson College. This private university has courses in arts and humanities, natural science, and social science, and several graduate programs, including an MFA in writing.
Brevard College
Brevard College is 45 minutes south of Asheville and offers environmental studies, computer science, and childhood education, and an average class size of around 15 students.
Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University is one of our region’s best-known universities, most notable for its athletics program. The “little college that could” made it to the national stage in several football championships in the mid-2000s. They are still the only North Carolina university to win the NCAA national championship. About an hour and forty-five minutes north of Asheville, ASU is located in Boone, NC.
Mars Hill University
Mars Hill University is a small, private university in Madison County, just north of Asheville’s Buncombe County. It has majors in humanities and science as well as education and health.
AB Tech
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College has campuses throughout the area and offers many practical associates and bachelor’s degrees and certification programs. Their robust adult education program also offers classes for anyone interested in learning new skills.
Montreat College
This private Christian college is located in Montreat, North Carolina, in an idyllic mountain landscape with stone buildings and a famous arch. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs in liberal arts.
Ideas for University Employees Moving to the Area
Because universities and colleges make up a massive part of the landscape of Western North Carolina, educators, professors, employees, and families moving to the area are always looking for resources around housing.
Start by contacting an independent mortgage lender such as GoPrime Mortgage in West Asheville. We can work with you to ensure you have the right financing and know your budget before you start looking for a home in the area. You can also research the city where you’ll be living and how far from the university or college you’re willing to be.
Resources for Recent Graduates Staying in WNC
Depending on your stage in life, you may be ready to make Western North Carolina your permanent home. If so, we highly encourage you to plan for your future now. Begin saving as soon as possible, work on your student loan payments, and talk with a financial planner to get everything in line so you’re ready to buy a home when the time is right for you.
Are you moving to the area because of the colleges and universities?
Call, Click, or Come in!
GoPrime Mortgage is here to help our neighbors find their road home. Talk with Zachery Adam and his team of independent lenders to start the process of getting preapproved. Learn more at GoPrimeNC.com and contact us today.
