Catawba College vs. AU

Deciding between Catawba College and Anderson University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Catawba College
Anderson University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Catawba College Salisbury, NC
  • AU Anderson, SC
  • Setting
  • Catawba College Distant Town
  • AU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Catawba College 1,376
  • AU 4,710
  • Type
  • Catawba College Private 4 Year
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Catawba College #555
  • AU #662
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Catawba College -
  • AU Baptist
  • Status
  • Catawba College Non-profit
  • AU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Catawba College
  • AU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Catawba College $34,300
  • AU $34,970
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Catawba College $34,300
  • AU $34,970
  • Room & Board
  • Catawba College $13,565
  • AU $12,720
  • Average Net Price
  • Catawba College $18,447
  • AU $24,434
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Catawba College $30,808
  • AU $25,969
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Catawba College 100%
  • AU 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Catawba College 3,457
  • AU 4,548
  • Admitted
  • Catawba College 2,600
  • AU 2,488
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Catawba College 75.2%
  • AU 54.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Catawba College 12.5%
  • AU 32.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Catawba College 1170
  • AU 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • Catawba College 21
  • AU 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • Catawba College 3.64
  • AU 3.72
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Catawba College A-
  • AU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Catawba College Average
  • AU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Catawba College
  • AU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Catawba College 17/25
  • AU 22/29
  • SAT Range
  • Catawba College 1030/1300
  • AU 1100/1280
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Catawba College Test optional
  • AU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Catawba College Aug 15, 2027
  • AU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Catawba College 13:1
  • AU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Catawba College
    • Business (32%)
    • Education (20%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • AU
    • Education (37%)
    • Business (36%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (4%)
    • Communication (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Catawba College 54%
  • AU 48%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Catawba College $42,000
  • AU $37,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Catawba College 60%
  • AU 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Catawba College $25,000
  • AU $26,862
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Catawba College $258
  • AU $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Catawba College 48%
  • AU 42%
  • % Women
  • Catawba College 52%
  • AU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Catawba College Medium
  • AU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Catawba College No
  • AU No
  • % White
  • Catawba College 69%
  • AU 83%
  • % Asian
  • Catawba College 1%
  • AU 1%
  • % Black
  • Catawba College 19%
  • AU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Catawba College 5%
  • AU 3%
  • % Native American
  • Catawba College 0%
  • AU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Catawba College 0%
  • AU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Catawba College 3%
  • AU 2%
  • % International
  • Catawba College 3%
  • AU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Catawba College 0%
  • AU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Catawba College 70%
  • AU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Catawba College 23%
  • AU 30%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Catawba College Yes
  • AU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Catawba College No
  • AU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Catawba College Yes
  • AU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Catawba College Yes
  • AU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Catawba College No
  • AU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Catawba College in Salisbury, NC with Anderson University in Anderson, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Anderson University is larger than Catawba College based on total student enrollment (4,710 students vs. 1,376 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Catawba College is located in Salisbury, NC (Distant Town setting); Anderson University is in Anderson, SC (Small City setting).
  • Catawba College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Anderson University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Catawba College 13:1; Anderson University 13:1.

Catawba College vs. AU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Catawba College or AU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Catawba College than AU ($18,447 vs. $24,434).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Anderson University are 6.2% lower than at Catawba College ($12,720 vs. $13,565).
  • Anderson University is 2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Catawba College (about $670 more per year; $34,970.00 vs. $34,300.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2% higher at AU than at Catawba College (about $670 more per year; $34,970.00 vs. $34,300.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Catawba College than at Anderson University (100% vs. 98%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba College students is 18.6% larger than aid received by Anderson University students ($30,808 vs. $25,969).

Catawba College vs. AU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Catawba College or AU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between AU and Catawba College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Anderson University (1190) is 20 points higher than at Catawba College (1170).
  • Incoming AU students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 21 at Catawba College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Catawba College 1030/1300; Anderson University 1100/1280.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Catawba College 17/25; Anderson University 22/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Catawba College - Test optional; AU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Catawba College Aug 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Catawba College (3.64).
  • Catawba College has a higher acceptance rate (75.2%) than AU (54.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.5% at Catawba College vs. 32.5% at AU.

Catawba College vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Catawba College and AU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Catawba College's six-year graduation rate (54%) is higher than Anderson University's (48%).
  • Graduates from Catawba College earn a median of about $4,500 more per year than AU graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,000 vs. $37,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Catawba College graduates have a $1,862 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,862).
  • Among borrowers, Catawba College graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($258 vs. $277).
  • More Catawba College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.