Catawba College vs. Penn State Fayette- Eberly

Comparable Facts

Compare Catawba College in Salisbury, NC with Penn State Fayette Eberly in Lemont Furnace, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Catawba College is larger than Penn State Fayette- Eberly based on total student enrollment (1,376 students vs. 405 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Catawba College is located in Salisbury, NC (Distant Town setting); Penn State Fayette Eberly is in Lemont Furnace, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Catawba College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Fayette Eberly is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Catawba College 13:1; Penn State Fayette Eberly 9:1.

Catawba College vs. Penn State Fayette- Eberly Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Catawba College or Penn State Fayette- Eberly? 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 Penn State Fayette Eberly than Catawba College ($15,112 vs. $18,447).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Catawba College are 11.2% lower than at Penn State Fayette Eberly ($13,565 vs. $15,274).
• Catawba College is 138.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Fayette- Eberly (about $19,892 more per year; $34,300.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 42.1% higher at Catawba College than at Penn State Fayette Eberly (about $10,166 more per year; $34,300.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Catawba College than at Penn State Fayette Eberly (100% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba College students is 219.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Fayette Eberly students ($30,808 vs. $9,644).

Catawba College vs. Penn State Fayette- Eberly Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Catawba College or Penn State Fayette- Eberly? 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 Penn State Fayette- Eberly and Catawba College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Fayette Eberly (1190) is 20 points higher than at Catawba College (1170).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Catawba College 1030/1300; Penn State Fayette Eberly 1120/1250.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Catawba College 17/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Catawba College - Test optional; Penn State Fayette- Eberly - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Catawba College Aug 15, 2027.
• Penn State Fayette- Eberly has a higher acceptance rate (95.5%) than Catawba College (75.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.5% at Catawba College vs. 14% at Penn State Fayette- Eberly.

Catawba College vs. Penn State Fayette- Eberly Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Catawba College and Penn State Fayette- Eberly? 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 Penn State Fayette Eberly's (42%).
• Graduates from Penn State Fayette Eberly earn a median of about $13,300 more per year than Catawba College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $42,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Catawba College graduates have a $1,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Fayette- Eberly graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Catawba College graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Fayette- Eberly graduates ($258 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Fayette- Eberly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Catawba College students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.