Catawba College vs. OWU

Deciding between Catawba College and Ohio Wesleyan 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
Ohio Wesleyan University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Catawba College Salisbury, NC
  • OWU Delaware, OH
  • Setting
  • Catawba College Distant Town
  • OWU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Catawba College 1,376
  • OWU 1,525
  • Type
  • Catawba College Private 4 Year
  • OWU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Catawba College #555
  • OWU #386
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Catawba College -
  • OWU United Methodist
  • Status
  • Catawba College Non-profit
  • OWU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Catawba College
  • OWU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Catawba College $34,300
  • OWU $53,888
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Catawba College $34,300
  • OWU $53,888
  • Room & Board
  • Catawba College $13,565
  • OWU $14,684
  • Average Net Price
  • Catawba College $18,447
  • OWU $23,006
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Catawba College $30,808
  • OWU $45,481
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Catawba College 100%
  • OWU 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Catawba College 3,457
  • OWU 6,144
  • Admitted
  • Catawba College 2,600
  • OWU 3,416
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Catawba College 75.2%
  • OWU 55.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Catawba College 12.5%
  • OWU 12.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Catawba College 1170
  • OWU 1230
  • Typical ACT score
  • Catawba College 21
  • OWU 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Catawba College 3.64
  • OWU 3.54
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Catawba College A-
  • OWU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Catawba College Average
  • OWU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Catawba College
  • OWU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Catawba College 17/25
  • OWU 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • Catawba College 1030/1300
  • OWU 1105/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Catawba College Test optional
  • OWU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Catawba College Aug 15, 2027
  • OWU Mar 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Catawba College 13:1
  • OWU 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Catawba College
    • Business (32%)
    • Education (20%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • OWU
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Catawba College 54%
  • OWU 61%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Catawba College $42,000
  • OWU $49,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Catawba College 60%
  • OWU 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Catawba College $25,000
  • OWU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Catawba College $258
  • OWU $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Catawba College 48%
  • OWU 44%
  • % Women
  • Catawba College 52%
  • OWU 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Catawba College Medium
  • OWU Medium
  • HBCU
  • Catawba College No
  • OWU No
  • % White
  • Catawba College 69%
  • OWU 70%
  • % Asian
  • Catawba College 1%
  • OWU 3%
  • % Black
  • Catawba College 19%
  • OWU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Catawba College 5%
  • OWU 5%
  • % Native American
  • Catawba College 0%
  • OWU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Catawba College 0%
  • OWU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Catawba College 3%
  • OWU 5%
  • % International
  • Catawba College 3%
  • OWU 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Catawba College 0%
  • OWU 3%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Catawba College 70%
  • OWU 71%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Catawba College 23%
  • OWU 24%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Catawba College in Salisbury, NC with Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ohio Wesleyan University is larger than Catawba College based on total student enrollment (1,525 students vs. 1,376 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Catawba College is located in Salisbury, NC (Distant Town setting); Ohio Wesleyan University is in Delaware, OH (Distant Town setting).
  • Catawba College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Ohio Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Catawba College 13:1; Ohio Wesleyan University 12:1.

Catawba College vs. OWU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Catawba College or OWU? 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 OWU ($18,447 vs. $23,006).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Catawba College are 7.6% lower than at Ohio Wesleyan University ($13,565 vs. $14,684).
  • Ohio Wesleyan University is 57.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Catawba College (about $19,588 more per year; $53,888.00 vs. $34,300.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 57.1% higher at OWU than at Catawba College (about $19,588 more per year; $53,888.00 vs. $34,300.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Catawba College as at Ohio Wesleyan University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio Wesleyan University students is 47.6% larger than aid received by Catawba College students ($45,481 vs. $30,808).

Catawba College vs. OWU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Catawba College or OWU? 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 OWU and Catawba College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ohio Wesleyan University (1230) is 60 points higher than at Catawba College (1170).
  • Incoming OWU students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 21 at Catawba College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Catawba College 1030/1300; Ohio Wesleyan University 1105/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Catawba College 17/25; Ohio Wesleyan University 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Catawba College - Test optional; OWU - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Catawba College Aug 15, 2027; OWU Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Catawba College students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at OWU (3.54).
  • Catawba College has a higher acceptance rate (75.2%) than OWU (55.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.5% at Catawba College vs. 12.6% at OWU.

Catawba College vs. OWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Catawba College and OWU? 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).

  • Ohio Wesleyan University's six-year graduation rate (61%) is higher than Catawba College's (54%).
  • Graduates from Ohio Wesleyan University earn a median of about $7,600 more per year than Catawba College graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,600 vs. $42,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Catawba College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than OWU graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Catawba College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than OWU graduates ($258 vs. $279).
  • More OWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Catawba College students, three years after graduation. (80% 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.