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ECU ASU UNC Charlotte UNCW University of North Carolina at Asheville ETSU UNCG NC State UNC Chapel Hill University of North Carolina at Pembroke Lenoir-Rhyne University BYU| Catawba College | Western Carolina University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Catawba College | WCU | ||
| Location | Salisbury, NC | Cullowhee, NC | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 1,172 | 11,635 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #515 | #763 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | catawba.edu | wcu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Catawba College | WCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $32,868 | $1,000 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $32,868 | $5,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,576 | $11,173 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,701 | $13,022 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $26,913 | $4,526 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 99% |
Admission |
Catawba College | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,199 | 17,917 | ||
| Admitted | 2,146 | 15,201 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 67.1% | 84.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.9% | 12.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.64 | 3.44 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 18/27 | 19/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 1000/1210 | 1020/1240 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 15, 2024 | Mar 1, 2024 |
Academics |
Catawba College | WCU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Catawba College | WCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 54% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $42,000 | $39,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 60% | 58% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $22,010 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $227 |
Diversity |
Catawba College | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 48% | 41% | ||
| % Women | 52% | 59% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 69% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 19% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% |
Students |
Catawba College | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 61% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 34% | 18% | ||
Campus |
Catawba College | WCU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Western Carolina University is larger than than Catawba College based on total student enrollment (11,635 students vs. 1,172 students)
Catawba College vs. WCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Catawba College or WCU?
- Catawba College is 3,186.8% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($32,868.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 557.4% higher at Catawba College than Western Carolina University ($32,868.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than Catawba College ($13,022 vs. $19,701)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 3.6% lower than costs at Catawba College ($11,173 vs. $11,576)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Catawba College than Western Carolina University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba College students is 494.6% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($26,913 vs. $4,526)
Catawba College vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Catawba College or WCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WCU or Catawba College .
- The average SAT score at Western Carolina University (1032) is 42 points higher than at Catawba College (990)
- Incoming WCU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Catawba College (21)
- Accepted freshman Catawba College students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at WCU (3.44)
- WCU has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than Catawba College (67.1%)
Catawba College vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Catawba College or WCU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between WCU and Catawba College.
- The graduation rate at Catawba College is higher than Western Carolina University (54% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from Catawba College earn on average $2,900 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($42,000 vs. $39,100)
- Western Carolina University students graduate with a $2,990 lower median federal student loan debt than Catawba College graduates. ($22,010 vs. $25,000)
- WCU graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than Catawba College graduates. ($227 vs. $258)
- More Catawba College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 58%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/