Catawba College vs. ECU

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

Catawba College ECU
Location Salisbury, NC Greenville, NC
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 1,172 27,151
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #515 #673
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website catawba.edu ecu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Catawba College ECU
Tuition (In State) $32,868 $4,452
Tuition (Out of State) $32,868 $20,729
Room & Board $11,576 $10,816
Avg Net Price $19,701 $14,410
Avg Grant Aid $26,913 $9,020
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 59%

Admission

Catawba College ECU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,199 21,383
Admitted 2,146 19,744
Acceptance Rate 67.1% 92.3%
Enrolled % 13.9% 19.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.64 3.33
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/27 19/24
SAT Range 1000/1210 1020/1170
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 ECU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (32%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

Catawba College ECU
Graduation Rate 54% 59%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,000 $43,900
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $24,788
Median Loan Payment $258 $256

Diversity

Catawba College ECU
% Men 48% 40%
% Women 52% 60%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 69% 69%
% Black 19% 16%
% Hispanic 5% 6%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 3% 0%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Catawba College ECU
% In-State 61% 83%
% Out-of-State 34% 15%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • East Carolina University is larger than than Catawba College based on total student enrollment (27,151 students vs. 1,172 students)

Catawba College vs. ECU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Catawba College or ECU?

  • Catawba College is 638.3% more expensive to attend than ECU for in-state tuition ($32,868.00 vs. $4,452.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 58.6% higher at Catawba College than East Carolina University ($32,868.00 vs. $20,729.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at East Carolina University than Catawba College ($14,410 vs. $19,701)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Carolina University are 7% lower than costs at Catawba College ($10,816 vs. $11,576)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Catawba College than East Carolina University (100% vs. 59%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba College students is 198.4% larger than aid received East Carolina University ($26,913 vs. $9,020)

Catawba College vs. ECU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at East Carolina University (1053) is 63 points higher than at Catawba College (990)
  • Incoming ECU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Catawba College (21)
  • Accepted freshman Catawba College students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at ECU (3.33)
  • ECU has a higher acceptance rate (92.3%) than Catawba College (67.1%)

Catawba College vs. ECU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at ECU is higher than Catawba College (59% vs. 54%)
  • Graduates from East Carolina University earn on average $1,900 more per year than Catawba College graduates after ten years. ($43,900 vs. $42,000)
  • East Carolina University students graduate with a $212 lower median federal student loan debt than Catawba College graduates. ($24,788 vs. $25,000)
  • ECU graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Catawba College graduates. ($256 vs. $258)
  • More ECU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Catawba College students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 60%)

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