Catawba College vs. Penn State Beaver

Comparable Facts

Compare Catawba College in Salisbury, NC with Penn State Beaver in Monaca, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Catawba College is larger than Penn State Beaver based on total student enrollment (1,376 students vs. 482 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Catawba College is located in Salisbury, NC (Distant Town setting); Penn State Beaver is in Monaca, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Catawba College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Beaver is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Catawba College 13:1; Penn State Beaver 12:1.

Catawba College vs. Penn State Beaver Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Catawba College or Penn State Beaver? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Catawba College than Penn State Beaver ($18,447 vs. $18,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Catawba College are 6.3% lower than at Penn State Beaver ($13,565 vs. $14,474).
• Catawba College is 138.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Beaver (about $19,892 more per year; $34,300.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 42.1% higher at Catawba College than at Penn State Beaver (about $10,166 more per year; $34,300.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Catawba College than at Penn State Beaver (100% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba College students is 240.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Beaver students ($30,808 vs. $9,045).

Catawba College vs. Penn State Beaver Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Catawba College or Penn State Beaver? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State Beaver and Catawba College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Beaver (1190) is 20 points higher than at Catawba College (1170).
• Incoming Penn State Beaver students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 21 at Catawba College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Catawba College 1030/1300; Penn State Beaver 1080/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Catawba College 17/25; Penn State Beaver 24/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Catawba College - Test optional; Penn State Beaver - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Catawba College Aug 15, 2027.
• Penn State Beaver has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than Catawba College (75.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.5% at Catawba College vs. 9.5% at Penn State Beaver.

Catawba College vs. Penn State Beaver Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Catawba College and Penn State Beaver? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Catawba College's six-year graduation rate (54%) is higher than Penn State Beaver's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Beaver earn a median of about $13,300 more per year than Catawba College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $42,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Catawba College graduates have a $1,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Beaver graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Catawba College graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Beaver graduates ($258 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Beaver graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Catawba College students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.