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Lenoir-Rhyne University Pfeiffer University Wingate University WSSU UNC Charlotte Guilford College UNCG Bradley Barton College University of Alaska Fairbanks ECU Peace College| Catawba College | Columbia College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Catawba College | Columbia College | ||
| Location | Salisbury, NC | Columbia, SC | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 1,241 | 1,572 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #659 | #914 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | United Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | catawba.edu | columbiasc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Catawba College | Columbia College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $33,400 | $20,650 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $33,400 | $20,650 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,550 | $8,550 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $18,319 | $23,920 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $29,599 | $13,961 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 98% |
Admission |
Catawba College | Columbia College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,547 | 2,163 | ||
| Admitted | 1,979 | 2,072 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 77.7% | 95.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.6% | 9.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.64 | 3.56 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 20/25 | 14/18 | ||
| SAT Range | 1010/1186 | 850/1140 | ||
| 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 | Columbia College | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Catawba College | Columbia College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 54% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $42,000 | $34,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 60% | 43% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $25,264 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $261 |
Diversity |
Catawba College | Columbia College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 4% | 17% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 69% | 55% | ||
| % Black | 19% | 34% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% |
Students |
Catawba College | Columbia College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 61% | 79% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 34% | 16% | ||
Campus |
Catawba College | Columbia College | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Columbia College is larger than than Catawba College based on total student enrollment (1,572 students vs. 1,241 students)
Catawba College vs. Columbia College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Catawba College or Columbia College?
- Catawba College is 61.7% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($33,400.00 vs. $20,650.00)
- Out of state tuition is 61.7% higher at Catawba College than Columbia College ($33,400.00 vs. $20,650.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Catawba College than Columbia College ($18,319 vs. $23,920)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 46.8% lower than costs at Catawba College ($8,550 vs. $12,550)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Catawba College than Columbia College (100% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba College students is 112% larger than aid received Columbia College ($29,599 vs. $13,961)
Catawba College vs. Columbia College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Catawba College or Columbia College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Columbia College or Catawba College .
- The average SAT score at Catawba College (990) is 19 points higher than at Columbia College (971)
- Incoming Catawba College students have at the same average ACT score (21) as students at Columbia College (21)
- Accepted freshman Catawba College students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at Columbia College (3.56)
- Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (95.8%) than Catawba College (77.7%)
Catawba College vs. Columbia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Catawba College or Columbia 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 Columbia College and Catawba College.
- The graduation rate at Catawba College is higher than Columbia College (54% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from Catawba College earn on average $7,300 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($42,000 vs. $34,700)
- Catawba College students graduate with a $264 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($25,000 vs. $25,264)
- Catawba College graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($258 vs. $261)
- More Catawba College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 43%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/