Catawba Valley Community College Tuition & Completion (2026)
Catawba Valley Community College is a public community college in Hickory, North Carolina, serving roughly 2,741 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $10,528 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $2,427. Student demographics in federal data include White (60.6%) and Hispanic or Latino (17.4%) among the largest enrollment groups.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $2,427
- 2024 Average Net Price: $10,528 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 2,741 35.6% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 35.19%
- Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional
- First-Generation Students: 49.5%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 0.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 7.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 21.9%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,978
- Room & Board: $12,734 annual estimate
Catawba Valley Community College: what the data shows
Common questions about Catawba Valley Community College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Catawba Valley Community College?
Catawba Valley Community College is located in Hickory, NC (ZIP 28602-0699).
NCES locale classification: Town.
Is Catawba Valley Community College public or private?
Catawba Valley Community College is a Public institution.
How much does Catawba Valley Community College cost?
Published tuition: $2,427 in-state, $7,803 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $10,528.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $9,170 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $9,639 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $13,129 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $15,469 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $9,708.
How big is Catawba Valley Community College?
Total enrollment: 2,741 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 6,978 students.
About 36% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Catawba Valley Community College?
150%-time completion rate: 35.19%.
First-year retention: 64.9%.
What do graduates of Catawba Valley Community College earn?
Median earnings: $32,508 six years after entry; $36,977 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $4,938.
28.35% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Catawba Valley Community College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (443 completions)
- Welding Technology/Welder (122 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (99 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (66 completions)
- Electrician (64 completions)
- Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician (45 completions)
- Information Technology (40 completions)
- Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering Technology/Technician (29 completions)
- Medical Office Management/Administration (28 completions)
- Accounting and Finance (23 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Catawba Valley Community College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 35.19%; median earnings $36,977 at 10 years; net price $10,528. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$2,427
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Catawba Valley Community College was $2,427.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$10,528
2024 Value
In 2024 Catawba Valley Community College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $10,528.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$42,112 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$10,528 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$9,708 4-Year In-State Tuition
$31,212 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$12,734 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,870 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$17,031 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$68,124 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Catawba Valley Community College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
28.35% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
0.00% 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 Valley Community 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 Valley Community 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 | $2,485 | $8,531 | $11,076 |
| 2014 | $2,502 | $8,646 | $9,837 |
| 2015 | $2,195 | $7,571 | $6,528 |
| 2016 | $2,251 | $7,627 | $9,674 |
| 2017 | $2,585 | $8,729 | $8,470 |
| 2018 | $2,347 | $7,723 | $7,264 |
| 2019 | $2,347 | $7,723 | $7,007 |
| 2020 | $2,367 | $7,743 | $6,044 |
| 2021 | $2,367 | $7,743 | $6,994 |
| 2022 | $2,367 | $7,743 | $10,123 |
| 2023 | $2,367 | $7,743 | $9,415 |
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
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Catawba Valley Community College reported total enrollment of about 2,741 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 45% male and 55% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (60.6%), Hispanic or Latino (17.4%), and Black or African American (8.6%). About 28.35% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 49.5% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
35.6% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Catawba Valley Community College in 2024 is 2,741 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 6,978 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
64.9%
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 60.6%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
4.72% 100% Completion Time
35.19% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 4.72% of students graduating from Catawba Valley Community College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 40% male / 60% female
- Welding Technology/Welder: 91% male / 9% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 36% male / 64% 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 Valley Community College.
Return on Investment
$4,938 Median Student Debt
$36,977 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
13.35% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
778.06% Return on Investment
1.3 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Catawba Valley Community College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 42 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 443 completions
2. Welding Technology/Welder: 122 completions
3. Business Administration and Management, General: 99 completions
4. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 66 completions
5. Electrician: 64 completions
6. Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician: 45 completions
7. Information Technology: 40 completions
8. Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering Technology/Technician: 29 completions
9. Medical Office Management/Administration: 28 completions
Most popular programs at Catawba Valley Community College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Catawba Valley Community College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Catawba Valley Community College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 21.9%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $6,426
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $8,662
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 Valley Community College is a public institution located in Hickory, NC, classified as Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, Welding Technology/Welder, Business Administration and Management, General. Enrollment is approximately 2,741 students. Student body composition includes White (60.6%), Hispanic or Latino (17.4%), Black or African American (8.6%). The 150%-time completion rate is 35.19%. Approximately 28.35% of students receive Pell Grants. About 49.5% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional
Location
Hickory, NC 28602-0699
Region: Southeast
Insights and Analysis
Graduation Rate Considerations: The 35.19% graduation rate at Catawba Valley Community College falls below the national average. Prospective students should carefully consider factors such as academic preparation, support services, and career outcomes when evaluating this institution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Catawba Valley Community College located?
Catawba Valley Community College is located in Hickory, NC.
How much does Catawba Valley Community College cost?
Reported tuition is $2,427 and average net price is $10,528 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $12,734 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Catawba Valley Community College?
Catawba Valley Community College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 6,978 students, White (60.6%), Hispanic or Latino (17.4%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Catawba Valley Community College?
About 49.5% of students at Catawba Valley Community College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Catawba Valley Community College earn?
Median earnings are $32,508 six years after entry and $36,977 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Catawba Valley Community College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 35.2% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Catawba Valley Community College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $4,938.
Is Catawba Valley Community College public or private?
Catawba Valley Community College is a public institution located in Hickory, NC.
Is Catawba Valley Community College an HBCU?
No. Catawba Valley Community College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Catawba Valley Community College a tribal college?
No. Catawba Valley Community College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Catawba Valley Community College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Catawba Valley Community College does not meet that proxy (reported share 17.4%).
Is Catawba Valley Community College religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Catawba Valley Community College in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
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 profile
- North Carolina college costs
- North Carolina colleges by ROI
- North Carolina trade schools profile
- Hickory, North Carolina city profile
- Southeast regional profile
- Town college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in North Carolina
- North Carolina college costs
- North Carolina colleges by ROI
- North Carolina trade schools 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.