Elms College vs. Catawba College

Comparable Facts

Compare College of Our Lady of the Elms in Chicopee, MA with Catawba College in Salisbury, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Catawba College is larger than Elms College based on total student enrollment (1,376 students vs. 1,268 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of Our Lady of the Elms is located in Chicopee, MA (Large Suburban setting); Catawba College is in Salisbury, NC (Distant Town setting).
• College of Our Lady of the Elms is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Catawba College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Our Lady of the Elms 11:1; Catawba College 13:1.

Elms College vs. Catawba College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elms College or Catawba College? 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 Elms College ($18,447 vs. $19,870).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Catawba College are 13.1% lower than at College of Our Lady of the Elms ($13,565 vs. $15,605).
• College of Our Lady of the Elms is 26.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Catawba College (about $9,025 more per year; $43,325.00 vs. $34,300.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 26.3% higher at Elms College than at Catawba College (about $9,025 more per year; $43,325.00 vs. $34,300.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at College of Our Lady of the Elms as at Catawba College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of Our Lady of the Elms students is 9.7% larger than aid received by Catawba College students ($33,794 vs. $30,808).

Elms College vs. Catawba College Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at College of Our Lady of the Elms (1240) is 70 points higher than at Catawba College (1170).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of Our Lady of the Elms 1150/1320; Catawba College 1030/1300.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCatawba College 17/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Elms College - Test optional; Catawba College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Catawba College Aug 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Catawba College students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at Elms College (3.42).
• Elms College has a higher acceptance rate (85.3%) than Catawba College (75.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.9% at Elms College vs. 12.5% at Catawba College.

Elms College vs. Catawba College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• College of Our Lady of the Elms's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than Catawba College's (54%).
• Graduates from College of Our Lady of the Elms earn a median of about $4,300 more per year than Catawba College graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,300 vs. $42,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Catawba College and Elms College graduates have the same median loan debt ($25,000 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Catawba College and Elms College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($258 vs. $258).
• More Elms College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Catawba College students, three years after graduation. (61% 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.