ASU vs. Catawba College

Should I go to Appalachian State University or Catawba College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if ASU or Catawba College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Appalachian State University vs. Catawba College comparison
Appalachian State University Catawba College College 3 College 4
Appalachian State University Catawba College
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Overview

ASU Catawba College
Location Boone, NC Salisbury, NC
Setting Distant Town Distant Town
Enrollment 21,253 1,241
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #597 #659
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website appstate.edu catawba.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

ASU Catawba College
Tuition (In State) $4,242 $33,400
Tuition (Out of State) $21,238 $33,400
Room & Board $12,258 $12,550
Avg Net Price $14,712 $18,319
Avg Grant Aid $7,677 $29,599
% Receiving Grant Aid 47% 100%

Admission

ASU Catawba College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 24,001 2,547
Admitted 21,275 1,979
Acceptance Rate 88.6% 77.7%
Enrolled % 19.9% 15.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.96 3.64
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Average Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/27 20/25
SAT Range 1100/1280 1010/1186
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 Feb 1, 2025 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

ASU Catawba College
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Business (32%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Communication (5%)

Outcomes

ASU Catawba College
Graduation Rate 65% 54%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,600 $42,000
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $211 $258

Diversity

ASU Catawba College
% Men 3% 3%
% Women 6% 4%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 85% 69%
% Black 3% 19%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 3%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

ASU Catawba College
% In-State 87% 61%
% Out-of-State 13% 34%

Campus

ASU Catawba College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Appalachian State University is larger than than Catawba College based on total student enrollment (21,253 students vs. 1,241 students)

ASU vs. Catawba College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ASU or Catawba College?

  • Catawba College is 687.4% more expensive to attend than ASU for in-state tuition ($33,400.00 vs. $4,242.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 57.3% higher at Catawba College than Appalachian State University ($33,400.00 vs. $21,238.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Appalachian State University than Catawba College ($14,712 vs. $18,319)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Appalachian State University are 2.4% lower than costs at Catawba College ($12,258 vs. $12,550)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Catawba College than Appalachian State University (100% vs. 47%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba College students is 285.6% larger than aid received Appalachian State University ($29,599 vs. $7,677)

ASU vs. Catawba College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ASU or Catawba College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Catawba College or ASU .

  • The average SAT score at Appalachian State University (1157) is 167 points higher than at Catawba College (990)
  • Incoming ASU students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Catawba College (21)
  • Accepted freshman ASU students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Catawba College (3.64)
  • ASU has a higher acceptance rate (88.6%) than Catawba College (77.7%)

ASU vs. Catawba College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, ASU or Catawba College? 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 Catawba College and ASU.

  • The graduation rate at ASU is higher than Catawba College (65% vs. 54%)
  • Graduates from Catawba College earn on average $400 more per year than ASU graduates after ten years. ($42,000 vs. $41,600)
  • Appalachian State University students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Catawba College graduates. ($20,500 vs. $25,000)
  • ASU graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than Catawba College graduates. ($211 vs. $258)
  • More ASU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Catawba College students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/