Catawba College vs. Gwynedd Mercy College

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

Catawba College Gwynedd Mercy College
Location Salisbury, NC Gwynedd Valley, PA
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,241 2,165
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #659 #510
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website catawba.edu gmc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Catawba College Gwynedd Mercy College
Tuition (In State) $33,400 $37,140
Tuition (Out of State) $33,400 $37,140
Room & Board $12,550 $14,142
Avg Net Price $18,319 $26,733
Avg Grant Aid $29,599 $25,995
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Catawba College Gwynedd Mercy College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,547 1,111
Admitted 1,979 1,040
Acceptance Rate 77.7% 93.6%
Enrolled % 15.6% 17.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.64 3.34
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/25
SAT Range 1010/1186 1048/1180
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2026 Aug 20, 2026

Academics

Catawba College Gwynedd Mercy College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (32%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Health Professions (46%)
  • Business (33%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Biology (2%)
  • Psychology (2%)

Outcomes

Catawba College Gwynedd Mercy College
Graduation Rate 54% 52%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,000 $56,600
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $258

Diversity

Catawba College Gwynedd Mercy College
% Men 3% 7%
% Women 4% 25%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 69% 57%
% Black 19% 23%
% Hispanic 5% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 0%
% International 3% 0%
% Unknown Race 0% 10%

Students

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

Campus

Catawba College Gwynedd Mercy 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

  • Gwynedd Mercy College is larger than than Catawba College based on total student enrollment (2,165 students vs. 1,241 students)

Catawba College vs. Gwynedd Mercy College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Catawba College or Gwynedd Mercy College?

  • Gwynedd Mercy College is 11.2% more expensive to attend than Catawba College for in-state tuition ($37,140.00 vs. $33,400.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 11.2% higher at Gwynedd Mercy College than Catawba College ($37,140.00 vs. $33,400.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Catawba College than Gwynedd Mercy College ($18,319 vs. $26,733)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Catawba College are 12.7% lower than costs at Gwynedd Mercy College ($12,550 vs. $14,142)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Catawba College as Gwynedd Mercy College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba College students is 13.9% larger than aid received Gwynedd Mercy College ($29,599 vs. $25,995)

Catawba College vs. Gwynedd Mercy College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Catawba College (990) is 66 points higher than at Gwynedd Mercy College (924)
  • Incoming Catawba College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at Gwynedd Mercy College (20)
  • Accepted freshman Catawba College students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at Gwynedd Mercy College (3.34)
  • Gwynedd Mercy College has a higher acceptance rate (93.6%) than Catawba College (77.7%)

Catawba College vs. Gwynedd Mercy College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Catawba College or Gwynedd Mercy 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 Gwynedd Mercy College and Catawba College.

  • The graduation rate at Catawba College is higher than Gwynedd Mercy College (54% vs. 52%)
  • Graduates from Gwynedd Mercy College earn on average $14,600 more per year than Catawba College graduates after ten years. ($56,600 vs. $42,000)
  • Gwynedd Mercy College and Catawba College graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($25,000 vs. $25,000)
  • Gwynedd Mercy College and Catawba College graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($258 vs. $258)
  • More Gwynedd Mercy College 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/