Catawba College
- Graduation Rate
- 50% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $48,793 B-
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $17,879 C
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 75% C+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 19.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.9 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $19.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,348,778.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 20% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $19.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Catawba College Matters
Catawba College is a private college in Salisbury, NC and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate College
- Enrollment
- 1,235
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Communications, Education
Why students choose Catawba College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 75% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1030–1300. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $17,879 a year after grants and scholarships — 4% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $48,793 ten years after enrolling — 20% above the typical college, against $25,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.3% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 62% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.37 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina, caters to students who are looking for a close-knit community and a personalized educational experience. With an acceptance rate of 75%, it welcomes a diverse range of learners, particularly those interested in fields like Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Communications, Education, and Biology & Biomedical. What stands out here is the small enrollment of about 1,235, which fosters meaningful connections between students and faculty, making it easier to get support and mentorship.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $48,793 on average within ten years. This figure gives a good idea of the financial prospects for those who complete their degrees here. While the graduation rate sits at 50%, it's important to note that many students find their footing and succeed in their respective fields. The cost of attendance is manageable, especially considering the financial aid options available, which can help students transition into the workforce without overwhelming debt.
When we look at the practical aspects, the net price after aid is about $17,879, and the median debt for graduates is $25,000. This means that while students can accumulate some debt, it’s not prohibitively high in relation to their potential earnings. Catawba tends to attract students who thrive in a supportive environment and are motivated to engage with their studies, making it a solid choice for those who value community and hands-on learning.
Rankings
- #11 Best Education Colleges in North Carolina
- #12 Best Business Colleges in North Carolina
- #12 Best Communications Colleges in North Carolina
- #14 Best Nursing Colleges in North Carolina
- #16 Best Online Colleges in North Carolina
- #18 Best Colleges in North Carolina
- #20 Best Bachelor's Programs in North Carolina
- #20 Best Master's Programs in North Carolina
Can I Get In?
How selective Catawba College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Catawba College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Salisbury, North Carolina, Catawba College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 75%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,096. The graduation rate is roughly 50%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 75%
- Retention Rate
- 77%
- SAT Average
- 1096
- ACT Midpoint
- 22
- SAT Range
- 1030–1300
- ACT Range
- 17–25
- Full-Time Faculty
- 81%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,682
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 11:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.65
- First-Gen Students
- 30%
- Applicants
- 3,199
- Admitted
- 2,146
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Catawba College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Catawba College is $34,300, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $17,879. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,618 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $34,300
- Out-of-State
- $34,300
- Avg Net Price
- $17,879
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 41%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 53%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $13,618
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $17,495
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $15,412
- Family Income $110K+
- $24,420
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Catawba College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Catawba College earn a median of $48,793, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $36,912
- 8 Years
- $43,359
- 10 Years
- $48,793
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.51x
- Earning > $25K
- 59%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (170)
- 49%
- 100% (170)
- 49%
- 100% (170)
- 49%
- 100% (170)
- 49%
How Catawba Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Catawba College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Catawba College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $17,879/year ($71,516 total). Graduates earn $48,793 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,420,294 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,348,778 (19.9× your investment). The median debt is $25,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 50% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $71,516
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,420,294
- Net Return
- $1,348,778
- ROI Multiple
- 19.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $17,879
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 50%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Catawba College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Catawba College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.25%, well above the typical college. About 5.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 21.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $94,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.25%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 21.7%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 5.8%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $94,000
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $2,296,803
- Investment Income
- $-22,564,225
Top Programs
The fields Catawba College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Business & Marketing 25%
- Health Professions 13%
- Communications 7%
- Education 6%
- Biology & Biomedical 5%
- Social Sciences 4%
- Visual & Performing Arts 2%
- Psychology 1%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Catawba College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Catawba College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Salisbury, North Carolina, Catawba College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 75%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,096. The graduation rate is roughly 50%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Catawba College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Catawba College is $34,300, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $17,879. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,618 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
Is Catawba College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Catawba College earn a median of $48,793, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Catawba College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Catawba College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.25%, well above the typical college. About 5.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 21.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $94,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Catawba College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Catawba College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.37, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Catawba College.
- Virginia Wesleyan UniversityVirginia Beach, VA · Close peer46% grad $50,074 earn 73% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Buena Vista UniversityStorm Lake, IA · Close peer54% grad $49,156 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Belmont Abbey CollegeBelmont, NC · Close peer47% grad $47,937 earn 75% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Mount OliveMount Olive, NC · Close peer50% grad $47,139 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- North Carolina Wesleyan UniversityRocky Mount, NC · Close peer41% grad $45,873 earn 80% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Anderson UniversityAnderson, IN · Close peer52% grad $48,899 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Catawba College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Catawba College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.37, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note