Catawba College vs. PennWest California

Should I go to Catawba College or PennWest California? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Catawba College or PennWest California 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. PennWest California comparison
Catawba College PennWest California College 3 College 4
Catawba College PennWest California
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Overview

Catawba College PennWest California
Location Salisbury, NC California, PA
Setting Distant Town Town Fringe
Enrollment 1,172 6,509
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #515 #1033
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website catawba.edu calu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Catawba College PennWest California
Tuition (In State) $32,868 $7,716
Tuition (Out of State) $32,868 $11,574
Room & Board $11,576 $10,416
Avg Net Price $19,701 -
Avg Grant Aid $26,913 $0
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 0%

Admission

Catawba College PennWest California
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,199 -
Admitted 2,146 -
Acceptance Rate 67.1%
Enrolled % 13.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.64 3.31
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/27 18/24
SAT Range 1000/1210 940/1150
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025 Aug 22, 2025

Academics

Catawba College PennWest California
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (32%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)

Outcomes

Catawba College PennWest California
Graduation Rate 54% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,000 $42,500
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 64%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $258

Diversity

Catawba College PennWest California
% Men 48% 39%
% Women 52% 61%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 69% 77%
% Black 19% 12%
% Hispanic 5% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Catawba College PennWest California
% In-State 61% 86%
% Out-of-State 34% 13%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • PennWest California is larger than than Catawba College based on total student enrollment (6,509 students vs. 1,172 students)

Catawba College vs. PennWest California Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Catawba College or PennWest California?

  • Catawba College is 326% more expensive to attend than PennWest California for in-state tuition ($32,868.00 vs. $7,716.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 184% higher at Catawba College than PennWest California ($32,868.00 vs. $11,574.00)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at PennWest California are 11.1% lower than costs at Catawba College ($10,416 vs. $11,576)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Catawba College than PennWest California (100% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba College students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($26,913 vs. $0)

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

  • The average SAT score at Catawba College (990) is 68 points higher than at PennWest California (922)
  • Incoming Catawba College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at PennWest California (20)
  • Accepted freshman Catawba College students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at PennWest California (3.31)

Catawba College vs. PennWest California Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Catawba College or PennWest California? 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 PennWest California and Catawba College.

  • The graduation rate at Catawba College is higher than PennWest California (54% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from PennWest California earn on average $500 more per year than Catawba College graduates after ten years. ($42,500 vs. $42,000)
  • PennWest California and Catawba College graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($25,000 vs. $25,000)
  • PennWest California and Catawba College graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($258 vs. $258)
  • More PennWest California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Catawba College students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 60%)

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