Catawba College vs. SVU

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

 Catawba College SVU
Location Salisbury, NC Buena Vista, VA
Setting Distant Town Distant Town
Enrollment 1,172 1,053
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #515 #984
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website catawba.edu svu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Catawba College SVU
Tuition (In State) $32,868 $18,858
Tuition (Out of State) $32,868 $18,858
Room & Board $11,576 $9,150
Avg Net Price $19,701 $23,274
Avg Grant Aid $26,913 $8,188
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

 Catawba College SVU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,199 1,090
Admitted 2,146 1,084
Acceptance Rate 67.1% 99.4%
Enrolled % 13.9% 35.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.64 3.19
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Moderate Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/27 18/24
SAT Range 1000/1210 900/1250
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 SVU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (32%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • English and Literature (13%)
  • Work and Family Studies (12%)

Outcomes

 Catawba College SVU
Graduation Rate 54% 25%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,000 $40,600
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $23,654
Median Loan Payment $258 $244

Diversity

 Catawba College SVU
% Men 48% 53%
% Women 52% 47%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 69% 80%
% Black 19% 4%
% Hispanic 5% 4%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 3% 7%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

 Catawba College SVU
% In-State 61% 12%
% Out-of-State 34% 73%

Campus

 Catawba College SVU
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

  • Catawba College is larger than than SVU based on total student enrollment (1,172 students vs. 1,053 students)

Catawba College vs. SVU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Catawba College or SVU?

  • Catawba College is 74.3% more expensive to attend than SVU for in-state tuition ($32,868.00 vs. $18,858.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 74.3% higher at Catawba College than Southern Virginia University ($32,868.00 vs. $18,858.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Catawba College than SVU ($19,701 vs. $23,274)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Virginia University are 26.5% lower than costs at Catawba College ($9,150 vs. $11,576)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Catawba College than Southern Virginia University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba College students is 228.7% larger than aid received Southern Virginia University ($26,913 vs. $8,188)

Catawba College vs. SVU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Southern Virginia University (1041) is 51 points higher than at Catawba College (990)
  • Incoming SVU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Catawba College (21)
  • Accepted freshman Catawba College students have a 0.45 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at SVU (3.19)
  • SVU has a higher acceptance rate (99.4%) than Catawba College (67.1%)

Catawba College vs. SVU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Catawba College is higher than Southern Virginia University (54% vs. 25%)
  • Graduates from Catawba College earn on average $1,400 more per year than SVU graduates after ten years. ($42,000 vs. $40,600)
  • Southern Virginia University students graduate with a $1,346 lower median federal student loan debt than Catawba College graduates. ($23,654 vs. $25,000)
  • SVU graduates are paying $14 less per month on federal student loans than Catawba College graduates. ($244 vs. $258)
  • More Catawba College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SVU students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 53%)

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