Catawba College Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Catawba College is a private research university in Salisbury, North Carolina, enrolling about 1,235 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 75.21% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $48,793 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $34,300
- 2024 Average Net Price: $17,879 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 75.21% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 1,235 92.9% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 47.29%
- Carnegie Classification: Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions
- First-Generation Students: 29.9%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 1.6% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 2.5% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 80.8%
- Average SAT Score: 1096
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,485
- Applicants (IPEDS): 2,547
- Room & Board: $13,565 annual estimate
Catawba College: what the data shows
Common questions about Catawba College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Catawba College?
Catawba College is located in Salisbury, NC (ZIP 28144).
NCES locale classification: Rural fringe.
Is Catawba College public or private?
Catawba College is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Catawba College cost?
Published tuition: $34,300.
Average net price after aid: $17,879.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $13,618 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $17,495 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $15,412 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $17,440 |
| $110,001+ | $24,420 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $137,200.
How hard is it to get into Catawba College?
Admission rate: 75.21%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1096 and midpoint ACT 22.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Catawba College?
Total enrollment: 1,235 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,485 students.
Graduate enrollment: 114 students.
About 93% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Catawba College?
150%-time completion rate: 47.29%.
First-year retention: 77.3%.
What do graduates of Catawba College earn?
Median earnings: $36,912 six years after entry; $48,793 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $25,000.
41.00% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Catawba College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Business Administration and Management, General (56 completions)
- Sport and Fitness Administration/Management (32 completions)
- Exercise Science and Kinesiology (30 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (20 completions)
- Mental Health Counseling/Counselor (18 completions)
- Speech Communication and Rhetoric (16 completions)
- Environmental Science (15 completions)
- Management Information Systems, General (12 completions)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General (9 completions)
- Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy (8 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Catawba College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 75.21%; completion rate 47.29%; median earnings $48,793 at 10 years; net price $17,879. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$34,300
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Catawba College was $34,300.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$17,879
2024 Value
In 2024 Catawba College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $17,879.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$71,516 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$17,879 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$137,200 4-Year Tuition
$13,565 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,400 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$49,265 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$197,060 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Catawba College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
41.00% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
53.18% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Catawba College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Catawba College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $26,820 | $26,820 | $27,115 |
| 2014 | $27,360 | $27,360 | $18,706 |
| 2015 | $28,730 | $28,730 | $20,311 |
| 2016 | $29,333 | $29,333 | $19,046 |
| 2017 | $29,920 | $29,920 | $19,807 |
| 2018 | $30,520 | $30,520 | $18,569 |
| 2019 | $30,520 | $30,520 | $18,185 |
| 2020 | $31,436 | $31,436 | $18,702 |
| 2021 | $32,380 | $32,380 | $18,861 |
| 2022 | $32,868 | $32,868 | $18,677 |
| 2023 | $33,400 | $33,400 | $18,210 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
75.21% Acceptance Rate
2,547 Total Applicants
1,979 Students Admitted
308 First-Time Students Enrolled
15.56% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1096
ACT Average: 22
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Catawba College reported total enrollment of about 1,235 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 48% male and 52% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (53.6%), Black or African American (21.0%), and Hispanic or Latino (10.0%). About 41.00% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 29.9% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
92.9% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Catawba College in 2024 is 1,235 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 1,485 students. Graduate enrollment is about 114 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
77.3%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 53.6%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
47.29% 100% Completion Time
47.29% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 47.29% of students graduating from Catawba College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 59% male / 41% female
- Sport and Fitness Administration/Management: 78% male / 22% female
- Exercise Science and Kinesiology: 53% male / 47% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Catawba College.
Return on Investment
$25,000 Median Student Debt
$48,793 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
51.24% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
582.27% Return on Investment
5.1 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Catawba College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 32 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Business Administration and Management, General: 56 completions
2. Sport and Fitness Administration/Management: 32 completions
3. Exercise Science and Kinesiology: 30 completions
4. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 20 completions
5. Mental Health Counseling/Counselor: 18 completions
6. Speech Communication and Rhetoric: 16 completions
7. Environmental Science: 15 completions
8. Management Information Systems, General: 12 completions
9. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 9 completions
Most popular programs at Catawba College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Catawba College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Catawba College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 80.8%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $8,682
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $12,087
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Catawba College is a private non-profit institution located in Salisbury, NC, classified as Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Business Administration and Management, General, Sport and Fitness Administration/Management, Exercise Science and Kinesiology. Enrollment is approximately 1,235 students. Student body composition includes White (53.6%), Black or African American (21.0%), Hispanic or Latino (10.0%). The admission rate is 75.21%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1096. The 150%-time completion rate is 47.29%. Approximately 41.00% of students receive Pell Grants. About 29.9% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions
Location
Salisbury, NC 28144
Region: Southeast
Insights and Analysis
Catawba College provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Catawba College located?
Catawba College is located in Salisbury, NC.
What is Catawba College's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Catawba College is 75.2% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 2,547 applicants and 1,979 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Catawba College cost?
Reported tuition is $34,300 and average net price is $17,879 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $13,565 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Catawba College?
Catawba College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 1,485 students, White (53.6%), Black or African American (21.0%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Catawba College?
About 29.9% of students at Catawba College are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Catawba College?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Catawba College reports midpoint SAT about 1096 and midpoint ACT about 22.
What do graduates of Catawba College earn?
Median earnings are $36,912 six years after entry and $48,793 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Catawba College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 47.3% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Catawba College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $25,000.
Is Catawba College public or private?
Catawba College is a private nonprofit institution located in Salisbury, NC.
Is Catawba College an HBCU?
No. Catawba College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Catawba College a tribal college?
No. Catawba College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- North Carolina college costs
- North Carolina colleges by ROI
- Salisbury, North Carolina city profile
- Southeast regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in North Carolina
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.