Cape Fear Community College vs. CVCC

Comparable Facts

Compare Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, NC with Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cape Fear Community College is larger than CVCC based on total student enrollment (14,082 students vs. 4,904 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cape Fear Community College is located in Wilmington, NC (Midsize City setting); Catawba Valley Community College is in Hickory, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Cape Fear Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Catawba Valley Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cape Fear Community College 13:1; Catawba Valley Community College 10:1.

Cape Fear Community College vs. CVCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cape Fear Community College or CVCC? 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 Cape Fear Community College than CVCC ($9,900 vs. $10,996).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cape Fear Community College are 40.4% lower than at Catawba Valley Community College ($7,594 vs. $12,734).
• Cape Fear Community College is 13.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than CVCC (about $321 more per year; $2,748.00 vs. $2,427.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14% higher at Cape Fear Community College than at Catawba Valley Community College (about $1,089 more per year; $8,892.00 vs. $7,803.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Catawba Valley Community College than at Cape Fear Community College (53% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba Valley Community College students is 112.4% larger than aid received by Cape Fear Community College students ($9,775 vs. $4,603).

Cape Fear Community College vs. CVCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cape Fear Community College or CVCC? 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 CVCC and Cape Fear Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cape Fear Community College - Open admission; CVCC - Open admission.

Cape Fear Community College vs. CVCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cape Fear Community College and CVCC? 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).

• Graduates from Cape Fear Community College earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than CVCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($31,100 vs. $29,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Catawba Valley Community College graduates have a $3,081 lower median loan debt than Cape Fear Community College graduates ($7,419 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, CVCC graduates have an estimated $32 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cape Fear Community College graduates ($76 vs. $108).
• More CVCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cape Fear Community College students, three years after graduation. (34% vs. 31%)

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.