Within an approximately 50-mile radius of Asheville are found at least nine significant colleges and universities. This list includes two universities, four colleges and three community colleges. Two of these, AB Tech and UNC-A are in Asheville and the farthest, Western Carolina University, is located about 50 miles to the west in Cullowhee. Following is a brief overview of each of these institutions.
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, locally known as AB Tech, was established in 1959 as the Asheville Industrial Education Center. The college's career curricula and courses are offered through three divisions: Allied Health and Public Service Education, Business and Hospitality Education, and Engineering and Applied Technology. In addition, AB tech offers courses through its Continuing Education Division. The main campus is located in Asheville at 340 Victoria Road and satellite campuses are located in nearby towns of Enka and Marshall.
Blue Ridge Community College (BRCC) is located about 25 miles south of Asheville, in Flat Rock, which is also the location of the Flat Rock Playhouse. BRCC also operates the Transylvania Center in Brevard, NC, 22 miles from the main campus. BRCC was charterd in 1969 and, according to its website, "Offers more than 90 programs of study that include associate degrees, diplomas and certificates."
Brevard College, founded in 1853, is located about 30 miles to the southwest of Asheville. According to its website, the college is a "Four-year private, coeducational, comprehensive liberal arts college; affiliated with the Western North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church." The college offers "more than 40 majors and minors, including pre-professional programs in such fields as teacher licensure, pre-med/dentistry, pre-law." In athletics, the college competes in the SAC.
Haywood Community College is located about 30 miles to the west of Asheville, in Clyde. Haywood Community College (HCC) opened in August 1965 as the Haywood Industrial Education Center with one curriculum program and 39 students. Today, according to its website, HCC "offers over 50 curricular programs to over 2,700 students. The college offers associate, diploma and certificate degrees of study as well as a continuing education curriculum." Like AB Tech, the college also offers courses through a Continuing Education Division.
Mars Hill College (MHC) was established in 1856 as the French Broad Baptist Institute and it is located about 30 miles to the north of Asheville, just off Hwy 19-23 (the future I-26). According to its website, the college the has had a "strong emphasis, throughout our existence, on providing students a broad liberal arts education which includes academic skills and knowledge that have been valued for centuries; and we note our Baptist roots, which are a significant part of our long commitment to education in a Christian context." The college offers " 5 degrees (B.A., B.S., B.M., B.F.A., and B.S.W.), 30 majors (with 61 concentrations), and 33 minors. MHC competes in 19 intercollegiate sports at the NCAA Division II level. The college also has 43 clubs and organizations."
Montreat College is located about 20 miles to the east of Asheville, just to the north of the town of Black Mountain. According to it website, Montreat College, founded in 1916, is "a Christian liberal arts college and offers master's, bachelor's, and associate's degrees. The college has satellite campuses in Asheville, Charlotte, and other sites supplement the main campus. The College is committed to Christ-centered teaching and learning, and is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities."
The University of North Carolina - Asheville is the only designated liberal arts institution in the 16-campus University of North Carolina system. According to its website, UNCA offers students a choice of 30 majors and offers "an intellectually rigorous education that builds critical thinking and workforce skills." In athletics, "UNC-A participates in NCAA Division I, Big South Conference competition in men's and women's basketball, cross country, indoor and outdoor track, soccer, tennis, baseball (men), volleyball (women)." The campus, with an enrollment of 3400, is located at One University Heights in North Asheville.
Warren Wilson College is located just to the east of Asheville, in Swannanoa. The college was initially established as the Asheville Farm School in 1894. In 1967 Warren Wilson became a four-year college. According to it website, the college's mission is "to provide an education combining liberal arts study, work, and service with a strong commitment to environmental responsibility and experiential opportunities for international and cross-cultural understanding in a setting that promotes wisdom, spiritual growth, and contribution to the common good." Warren Wilson offers Bachelor's Degree in 40 majors and concentrations and 27 minors.
Western Carolina University (WCU) was founded in 1889 to bring higher education and career opportunities to the western region of North Carolina and is a member of the University of North Carolina system. The main campus lies about 50 miles to the west of Asheville, in Cullowhee. This campus has a beautiful setting in a scenic river valley - but I am not impartial as I am an alumnus! I earned a BS in Chemistry here ... a few years back. According to its website, WCU offers "Approximately 220 majors and concentrations for undergraduates in addition to more than 40 graduate-level programs of study." In athletics, the university competes in the Southern Conference.
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