Catawba College vs. MVNU

Should I go to Catawba College or Mount Vernon Nazarene University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Catawba College or MVNU 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. Mount Vernon Nazarene University comparison
Catawba College Mount Vernon Nazarene University College 3 College 4
Catawba College
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Overview

 Catawba College MVNU
Location Salisbury, NC Mount Vernon, OH
Setting Distant Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 1,241 1,845
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #659 #646
Religious Affiliation - Church of the Nazarene - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website catawba.edu mvnu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Catawba College MVNU
Tuition (In State) $33,400 $35,274
Tuition (Out of State) $33,400 $35,274
Room & Board $12,550 $9,996
Avg Net Price $18,319 $23,293
Avg Grant Aid $29,599 $25,684
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

 Catawba College MVNU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,547 1,134
Admitted 1,979 956
Acceptance Rate 77.7% 84.3%
Enrolled % 15.6% 28.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.64 3.55
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/25 18/25
SAT Range 1010/1186 963/1228
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, 2025

Academics

 Catawba College MVNU
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%)
  • Business (44%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Human Services (6%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (4%)

Outcomes

 Catawba College MVNU
Graduation Rate 54% 57%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,000 $46,100
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 65%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $26,536
Median Loan Payment $258 $274

Diversity

 Catawba College MVNU
% Men 3% 5%
% Women 4% 7%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 69% 85%
% Black 19% 5%
% Hispanic 5% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 5%

Students

 Catawba College MVNU
% In-State 61% 85%
% Out-of-State 34% 13%

Campus

 Catawba College MVNU
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

  • Mount Vernon Nazarene University is larger than than Catawba College based on total student enrollment (1,845 students vs. 1,241 students)

Catawba College vs. MVNU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Catawba College or MVNU?

  • Mount Vernon Nazarene University is 5.6% more expensive to attend than Catawba College for in-state tuition ($35,274.00 vs. $33,400.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 5.6% higher at MVNU than Catawba College ($35,274.00 vs. $33,400.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Catawba College than MVNU ($18,319 vs. $23,293)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Vernon Nazarene University are 25.6% lower than costs at Catawba College ($9,996 vs. $12,550)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Catawba College than Mount Vernon Nazarene University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba College students is 15.2% larger than aid received Mount Vernon Nazarene University ($29,599 vs. $25,684)

Catawba College vs. MVNU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Mount Vernon Nazarene University (1047) is 57 points higher than at Catawba College (990)
  • Incoming MVNU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Catawba College (21)
  • Accepted freshman Catawba College students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at MVNU (3.55)
  • MVNU has a higher acceptance rate (84.3%) than Catawba College (77.7%)

Catawba College vs. MVNU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at MVNU is higher than Catawba College (57% vs. 54%)
  • Graduates from Mount Vernon Nazarene University earn on average $4,100 more per year than Catawba College graduates after ten years. ($46,100 vs. $42,000)
  • Catawba College students graduate with a $1,536 lower median federal student loan debt than MVNU graduates. ($25,000 vs. $26,536)
  • Catawba College graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than MVNU graduates. ($258 vs. $274)
  • More MVNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Catawba College students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 60%)

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