Catawba College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Salisbury, North Carolina. It enrolls 1,235 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
63/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes37
Value52
Affordability66
Selectivity42
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 75.2%, Catawba College is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
75.2%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1030 – 1300
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
17 – 25
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Catawba College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
28.2 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Catawba College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $17,879 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$17,879
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
41%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
53%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$34,300
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,565
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,440
Books & Supplies
$1,400
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,190
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,190
Total Cost of Attendance
$49,516
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$13,618
$30,001 – $48,000
$17,495
$48,001 – $75,000
$15,412
$75,001 – $110,000
$17,440
Over $110,000
$24,420
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,25010%percentile
$7,49525%percentile
$25,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$35,48090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $12,000
↓ $13,000
No Pell $13,828
↓ $11,172
Dependent students $13,428
↓ $11,572
Independent students $9,524
↓ $15,476
Female students $14,486
↓ $10,514
Male students $11,000
↓ $14,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,850, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
55% of full-time students who enrolled at Catawba College graduate within six years, and 75% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
55%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
75%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Catawba College earn a median of $48,793 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$48,793
Earning > $25K
80%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$39,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$46,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$34,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$45,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$44,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,900, about 17% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
21.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 81% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Catawba College is home to 1,235 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
1,235
Part-Time
7%
First-Generation
30%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 53.6%662
Black 21.0%259
Hispanic 10.0%124
International 7.0%86
Other 4.7%58
Asian 1.2%15
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Catawba College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbSalisbury, North Carolina
Housing
Mostly residential688 beds on campus
Adult Learners
10%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Catawba College offers
a varied set of programs:
32 distinct programs across
19 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Catawba College is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$432M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$72,016
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
78 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
16
21%
$80,942
Associate Professors
19
24%
$80,645
Assistant Professors
40
51%
$65,609
Instructors
3
4%
$55,176
Pros & Cons of Catawba College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Catawba College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Catawba College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Catawba College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Catawba College.
Is Catawba College hard to get into?
Catawba College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 75.2%.
What is the acceptance rate at Catawba College?
Catawba College has an acceptance rate of 75.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Catawba College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Catawba College scored between 1030 and 1300 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Catawba College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Catawba College scored between 17 and 25 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Catawba College cost?
The average net price after aid at Catawba College is $17,879 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Catawba College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $48,793 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $17,879 per year. That's roughly 2.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Catawba College known for?
Catawba College is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Kinesiology, Teacher Education (K-12). These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Catawba College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Catawba College are $48,793, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Catawba College accredited?
Yes. Catawba College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Catawba College?
Catawba College enrolls 1,235 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Catawba College?
Catawba College graduates 55% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Catawba College a public or private college?
Catawba College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Catawba College located?
Catawba College is located in Salisbury, North Carolina.
What programs does Catawba College offer?
Catawba College offers 32 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Kinesiology, Teacher Education (K-12).
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Catawba College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Catawba College is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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