Can High Reported Crime Be A Good Sign?
Nearly 1/3 of the colleges we analyzed either did not report crime or reported no incidents of crime. Zero incidents of reported crime may be nice to see, but it does not necessarily mean the school is safer, as it could indicate lax reporting. Higher incidents of reported crime could mean the school is stricter about law enforcement and reporting. Remember, just because incidents are not reported does not mean they do not happen.
On This Page You'll Find:
- Overall Crime and Safety
- On-Campus Crime and Safety
- Boone Campus Neighborhood Crime and Safety
- Off-Campus (Appalachian State Affiliated) Crime and Safety
Overall Crime Stats: 559 Incidents Reported
Appalachian State University reported 559 safety-related incidents involving students on or near campus or other Appalachian State affiliated properties in 2019. Of the 3,990 colleges and universities that reported crime and safety data, 3,868 of them reported fewer incidents than this.
Based on a student body of 19,108 that works out to about 29.25 reports per thousand students. In 2019, 3,244 colleges and universities reported fewer incidents per thousand students than did Appalachian State.
Reported Incidents by Category
Crime and safety incidents fall into four broad categories. Disciplinary actions represented 49.7% of all incidents. Arrests related to possession represented 45.8% of all incidents. Violence against women represented 1.8% of all incidents. Arrests for major crimes represented 2.7% of all incidents.
Reported Incidents by Location
93.0% of all incidents occurred on-campus. 5.9% of all incidents occurred in the Boone neighborhood surrounding the campus. 1.1% of all incidents occurred off campus but while on school affiliated property.
On-Campus Crime Stats: 520 Incidents Reported
Appalachian State University reported 520 safety-related incidents involving students while on campus in 2019. Of the 3,990 colleges and universities that reported crime and safety data, 3,869 of them reported fewer incidents than this.
Based on a student body of 19,108 that works out to about 27.21 reports per thousand students. In 2019, 3,288 colleges and universities reported fewer incidents per thousand students than did Appalachian State.
Reported Incidents by Category
Disciplinary actions represented 52.7% of all on-campus incidents. Arrests related to possession represented 42.7% of all on-campus incidents. Violence against women represented 1.9% of all on-campus incidents. Arrests for major crimes represented 2.7% of all on-campus incidents.
Boone Neighborhood Crime Stats: 33 Incidents Reported
Appalachian State University reported 33 safety-related incidents involving students while on Boone public property near campus in 2019. Of the 3,990 colleges and universities that reported crime and safety data, 3,868 of them reported fewer incidents than this.
Based on a student body of 19,108 that works out to about 1.73 reports per thousand students. In 2019, 3,441 colleges and universities reported fewer incidents per thousand students than did Appalachian State.
Reported Incidents by Category
Disciplinary actions represented 12.1% of all campus neighborhood incidents. Arrests related to possession represented 87.9% of all campus neighborhood incidents. Violence against women represented none of all campus neighborhood incidents. Arrests for major crimes represented none of all campus neighborhood incidents.
Appalachian State Affiliated (off campus) Crime Stats: 6 Incidents Reported
Appalachian State University reported 6 safety-related incidents involving students while off campus but still on property owned or controlled by the school in 2019. Of the 1,916 colleges and universities that reported crime and safety data, 1,630 of them reported fewer incidents than this.
Based on a student body of 19,108 that works out to about 0.31 reports per thousand students. In 2019, 1,398 colleges and universities reported fewer incidents per thousand students than did Appalachian State.
Reported Incidents by Category
Disciplinary actions represented none of all off-campus incidents. Arrests related to possession represented 83.3% of all off-campus incidents. Violence against women represented none of all off-campus incidents. Arrests for major crimes represented 16.7% of all off-campus incidents.
Important Questions to Ask About Safety
- Even in low-crime areas, students still run the risk of encountering violence and unsafe situations. What kind of policies does Appalachian State have in place to protect students or help students who are victims of crimes?
- How secure are the dorm rooms and other buildings? Would a break in be easy for an intruder?
- What kind of punishments or penalties are in place for students accused of or convicted of crimes?
- One way a student may feel more comfortable might be to take a self-defense or safety class. Are there classes like this offered at Appalachian State?
