Catawba College vs. Bethany College

Should I go to Catawba College or Bethany College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Catawba College or Bethany 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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Catawba College vs. Bethany College comparison
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Catawba College
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Overview

Catawba College Bethany College
Location Salisbury, NC Bethany, WV
Setting Distant Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 1,241 671
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #659
Religious Affiliation - Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website catawba.edu bethanywv.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Catawba College Bethany College
Tuition (In State) $33,400 $31,920
Tuition (Out of State) $33,400 $31,920
Room & Board $12,550 $12,936
Avg Net Price $18,319 $16,844
Avg Grant Aid $29,599 $32,293
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 98%

Admission

Catawba College Bethany College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,547 2,435
Admitted 1,979 1,473
Acceptance Rate 77.7% 60.5%
Enrolled % 15.6% 16.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.64 2.85
Typical High School Grades B+ B-
Admissions Standards Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/25 18/26
SAT Range 1010/1186 870/1110
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Catawba College Bethany College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (32%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Human Services (8%)

Outcomes

Catawba College Bethany College
Graduation Rate 54% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,000 $44,000
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $30,884
Median Loan Payment $258 $319

Diversity

Catawba College Bethany College
% Men 3% 2%
% Women 4% 2%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 69% 51%
% Black 19% 18%
% Hispanic 5% 5%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 20%

Students

Catawba College Bethany College
% In-State 61% 20%
% Out-of-State 34% 80%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Catawba College is larger than than Bethany College based on total student enrollment (1,241 students vs. 671 students)

Catawba College vs. Bethany College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Catawba College or Bethany College?

  • Catawba College is 4.6% more expensive to attend than Bethany College for in-state tuition ($33,400.00 vs. $31,920.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.6% higher at Catawba College than Bethany College ($33,400.00 vs. $31,920.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bethany College than Catawba College ($16,844 vs. $18,319)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Catawba College are 3.1% lower than costs at Bethany College ($12,550 vs. $12,936)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Catawba College than Bethany College (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bethany College students is 9.1% larger than aid received Catawba College ($32,293 vs. $29,599)

Catawba College vs. Bethany College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Catawba College (990) is 83 points higher than at Bethany College (907)
  • Incoming Catawba College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at Bethany College (20)
  • Accepted freshman Catawba College students have a 0.79 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at Bethany College (2.85)
  • Catawba College has a higher acceptance rate (77.7%) than Bethany College (60.5%)

Catawba College vs. Bethany College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Catawba College or Bethany 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 Bethany College and Catawba College.

  • The graduation rate at Catawba College is higher than Bethany College (54% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from Bethany College earn on average $2,000 more per year than Catawba College graduates after ten years. ($44,000 vs. $42,000)
  • Catawba College students graduate with a $5,884 lower median federal student loan debt than Bethany College graduates. ($25,000 vs. $30,884)
  • Catawba College graduates are paying $61 less per month on federal student loans than Bethany College graduates. ($258 vs. $319)
  • More Catawba College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bethany College students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 56%)

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