Catawba Valley Community College — tuition $2,128 in-state, $7,504 out-of-state
ℹ️
Rating Context:⚠️ Limited Data Available. Some metrics for this institution are incomplete or unavailable, which may affect the overall grade. Consider researching this school directly for the most current information.
Suggested Focus: For this type of institution, we recommend prioritizing the
Outcomes Score (C)
which measures graduation and job placement rates — the most relevant metrics for career programs.
Graduation Rate: 36%
Outcomes
C
51/100
Affordability
B+
77/100
Resources
B
67/100
Experience
F
25/100
Prestige
F
23/100
Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
4,413
Total Enrollment
36%
Graduation Rate
69%
Retention Rate
13.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
N/A
Acceptance Rate
$9,821
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near Catawba Valley Community College ▼
31%
of first-year students live off campus and not with family (U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS). Upper-year students at most universities move off campus at much higher rates, so near-campus rental demand is typically larger than this figure suggests.
What happens to students who enroll at Catawba Valley Community College, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
$36,977
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$32,508
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$4,938
Median debt at graduation
35.2%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
28.4%
Students receiving Pell grants
Typical debt at graduation equals about 13% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 44th percentile among associate-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (NC wage index 0.87). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at Catawba Valley Community College
Median pay of undergraduate certificate or diploma graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
For parents & investors
The Catawba Valley Community College Town Property Report
Avg home value near campus: $254,384
Avg rent near campus: $1,564/mo
Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 28613 (5.1% cap, Conover)
Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield,
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🏆 Where Catawba Valley Community College Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~1,377 students need off-campus housing
💻 Learning Mode
In-Person9%
Hybrid (Some Online)25%
Fully Online66%
📊 Age Distribution
18-24 (Traditional)46%
25-64 (Adult)15%
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Catawba Valley Community College?
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution. Many schools with open enrollment or specialized programs do not report traditional acceptance rates.
How much does it cost to attend Catawba Valley Community College?
Tuition at Catawba Valley Community College is
$2,128 for in-state students
and $7,504 for out-of-state students
.
However, the average net price after financial aid is $9,821.
What is the graduation rate at Catawba Valley Community College?
The graduation rate at Catawba Valley Community College is 36%.
This graduation rate is low, which may reflect the institution's student population, program types, or other factors worth investigating.
Is Catawba Valley Community College a good school?
Catawba Valley Community College has a Repit College Score of 50/100 (Grade: C).
Our rating evaluates five key factors:
Outcomes (C): Graduation and retention rates
Affordability (B+): Net cost and financial aid access
Resources (B): Class sizes and selectivity
Experience (F): Campus life and learning format
Prestige (F): Reputation and recognition
Note: As a smaller institution, we recommend focusing on the Outcomes score when evaluating this school.
How many students attend Catawba Valley Community College?
Catawba Valley Community College has a total enrollment of 4,413 students.
Is there rental demand near Catawba Valley Community College?
Yes! Approximately 31% of students at Catawba Valley Community College live off-campus (not with family).
That's roughly 1,377 students who need rental housing near campus.
This represents significant rental demand, which affects housing availability and pricing in the Hickory area.
Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Catawba Valley Community College — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →
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