Catawba College vs. Tennessee Tech

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

Catawba College Tennessee Tech
Location Salisbury, NC Cookeville, TN
Setting Distant Town Remote Town
Enrollment 1,172 9,902
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #515 #570
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website catawba.edu tntech.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Catawba College Tennessee Tech
Tuition (In State) $32,868 $8,520
Tuition (Out of State) $32,868 $18,552
Room & Board $11,576 $10,502
Avg Net Price $19,701 $15,188
Avg Grant Aid $26,913 $8,471
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 96%

Admission

Catawba College Tennessee Tech
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,199 7,229
Admitted 2,146 5,646
Acceptance Rate 67.1% 78.1%
Enrolled % 13.9% 36.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.64 3.63
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/27 21/28
SAT Range 1000/1210 1030/1270
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 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Catawba College Tennessee Tech
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (32%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Education (21%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Engineering (14%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Biology (5%)

Outcomes

Catawba College Tennessee Tech
Graduation Rate 54% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,000 $43,400
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 61%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $16,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $165

Diversity

Catawba College Tennessee Tech
% Men 48% 53%
% Women 52% 47%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 69% 81%
% Black 19% 4%
% Hispanic 5% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 3% 7%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

Catawba College Tennessee Tech
% In-State 61% 94%
% Out-of-State 34% 5%

Campus

Catawba College Tennessee Tech
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Tennessee Technological University is larger than than Catawba College based on total student enrollment (9,902 students vs. 1,172 students)

Catawba College vs. Tennessee Tech Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Catawba College or Tennessee Tech?

  • Catawba College is 285.8% more expensive to attend than Tennessee Tech for in-state tuition ($32,868.00 vs. $8,520.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 77.2% higher at Catawba College than Tennessee Technological University ($32,868.00 vs. $18,552.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Tennessee Technological University than Catawba College ($15,188 vs. $19,701)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tennessee Technological University are 10.2% lower than costs at Catawba College ($10,502 vs. $11,576)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Catawba College than Tennessee Technological University (100% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba College students is 217.7% larger than aid received Tennessee Technological University ($26,913 vs. $8,471)

Catawba College vs. Tennessee Tech Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Tennessee Technological University (1102) is 112 points higher than at Catawba College (990)
  • Incoming Tennessee Tech students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Catawba College (21)
  • Accepted freshman Catawba College students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at Tennessee Tech (3.63)
  • Tennessee Tech has a higher acceptance rate (78.1%) than Catawba College (67.1%)

Catawba College vs. Tennessee Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Catawba College or Tennessee Tech? 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 Tennessee Tech and Catawba College.

  • The graduation rate at Catawba College is higher than Tennessee Technological University (54% vs. 50%)
  • Graduates from Tennessee Technological University earn on average $1,400 more per year than Catawba College graduates after ten years. ($43,400 vs. $42,000)
  • Tennessee Technological University students graduate with a $9,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Catawba College graduates. ($16,000 vs. $25,000)
  • Tennessee Tech graduates are paying $93 less per month on federal student loans than Catawba College graduates. ($165 vs. $258)
  • More Tennessee Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Catawba College students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 60%)

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