Catawba College vs. NC State

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

Catawba College NC State
Location Salisbury, NC Raleigh, NC
Setting Distant Town Large City
Enrollment 1,172 36,700
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #515 #123
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website catawba.edu ncsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Catawba College NC State
Tuition (In State) $32,868 $6,535
Tuition (Out of State) $32,868 $28,276
Room & Board $11,576 $12,748
Avg Net Price $19,701 $14,852
Avg Grant Aid $26,913 $9,181
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 71%

Admission

Catawba College NC State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,199 35,568
Admitted 2,146 16,779
Acceptance Rate 67.1% 47.2%
Enrolled % 13.9% 33.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.64 3.83
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Moderate Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 18/27 28/33
SAT Range 1000/1210 1280/1460
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 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Catawba College NC State
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (32%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Engineering (22%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Agriculture (9%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)

Outcomes

Catawba College NC State
Graduation Rate 54% 72%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,000 $57,200
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $20,782
Median Loan Payment $258 $214

Diversity

Catawba College NC State
% Men 48% 51%
% Women 52% 49%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 69% 74%
% Black 19% 6%
% Hispanic 5% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 3% 4%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Catawba College NC State
% In-State 61% 83%
% Out-of-State 34% 14%

Campus

Catawba College NC State
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

  • North Carolina State University at Raleigh is larger than than Catawba College based on total student enrollment (36,700 students vs. 1,172 students)

Catawba College vs. NC State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Catawba College or NC State?

  • Catawba College is 403% more expensive to attend than NC State for in-state tuition ($32,868.00 vs. $6,535.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 16.2% higher at Catawba College than North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($32,868.00 vs. $28,276.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Carolina State University at Raleigh than Catawba College ($14,852 vs. $19,701)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Catawba College are 10.1% lower than costs at North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($11,576 vs. $12,748)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Catawba College than North Carolina State University at Raleigh (100% vs. 71%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba College students is 193.1% larger than aid received North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($26,913 vs. $9,181)

Catawba College vs. NC State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (1264) is 274 points higher than at Catawba College (990)
  • Incoming NC State students have a 8 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Catawba College (21)
  • Accepted freshman NC State students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Catawba College (3.64)
  • Catawba College has a higher acceptance rate (67.1%) than NC State (47.2%)

Catawba College vs. NC State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Catawba College or NC State? 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 NC State and Catawba College.

  • The graduation rate at NC State is higher than Catawba College (72% vs. 54%)
  • Graduates from North Carolina State University at Raleigh earn on average $15,200 more per year than Catawba College graduates after ten years. ($57,200 vs. $42,000)
  • North Carolina State University at Raleigh students graduate with a $4,218 lower median federal student loan debt than Catawba College graduates. ($20,782 vs. $25,000)
  • NC State graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans than Catawba College graduates. ($214 vs. $258)
  • More NC State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Catawba College students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 60%)

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