Catawba Valley Community College
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About Catawba Valley Community College
Catawba Valley Community College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 2,741
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Precision Production
Why students choose Catawba Valley Community 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
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $10,528 a year after grants and scholarships — 39% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $36,977 ten years after enrolling — 9% below the typical college, against $4,938 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 95% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.70 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Catawba Valley Community College is a solid choice for students looking to gain practical skills in fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, and Construction Trades. With an enrollment of around 2,741, the college creates a close-knit environment where students can receive personalized attention. It stands out for its focus on hands-on training, making it a great fit for those who prefer a more applied approach to their education.
Life after graduation can be promising, especially considering the average earnings of $36,977 within ten years of completing a program. While the graduation rate sits at 35%, many students still find pathways to success, often moving into stable careers right after earning their degrees. Affordability is also a key factor here; with a net price of $10,528, students can pursue their studies without incurring significant debt.
Speaking of debt, the median student debt at Catawba Valley is just $4,938, which is quite manageable compared to many other institutions. This financial accessibility allows students to focus on their studies and jumpstart their careers without feeling overwhelmed by loans. Those who thrive here are often those who appreciate a hands-on learning environment and are motivated to gain skills that lead directly to employment.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Catawba Valley Community 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 Valley Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Catawba Valley Community College, located in Hickory, North Carolina, enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 35%.
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 Valley Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending Catawba Valley Community College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $7,803 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $10,528 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,170 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $4,938.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Catawba Valley Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Catawba Valley Community College report median earnings of $36,977; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
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 Valley Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Catawba Valley Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $10,528/year ($42,112 total). Graduates earn $36,977 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $859,713 in total earnings — a net gain of $817,601 (20.4× your investment). The median debt is $4,938, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 35% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
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 Valley Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Catawba Valley Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 0.57%, a more modest figure. Access is a real strength here: roughly 12% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 4.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $63,800, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Catawba Valley Community 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.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Catawba Valley Community College's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Catawba Valley Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
Catawba Valley Community College, located in Hickory, North Carolina, enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 35%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Catawba Valley Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Catawba Valley Community College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $7,803 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $10,528 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,170 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $4,938.
Is Catawba Valley Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Catawba Valley Community College report median earnings of $36,977; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
Does Catawba Valley Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
Catawba Valley Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 0.57%, a more modest figure. Access is a real strength here: roughly 12% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 4.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $63,800, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Catawba Valley Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs below average at Catawba Valley Community College, with an economic connectedness score of 0.70 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Catawba Valley Community College.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Catawba Valley Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs below average at Catawba Valley Community College, with an economic connectedness score of 0.70 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note