Catawba College vs. Tennessee Wesleyan College

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

Catawba College Tennessee Wesleyan College
Location Salisbury, NC Athens, TN
Setting Distant Town Distant Town
Enrollment 1,172 1,052
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #515 #615
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website catawba.edu twcnet.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Catawba College Tennessee Wesleyan College
Tuition (In State) $32,868 $26,100
Tuition (Out of State) $32,868 $26,100
Room & Board $11,576 $8,600
Avg Net Price $19,701 $13,591
Avg Grant Aid $26,913 $22,442
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Catawba College Tennessee Wesleyan College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,199 968
Admitted 2,146 588
Acceptance Rate 67.1% 60.7%
Enrolled % 13.9% 34%
Avg High School GPA 3.64 3.5
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 18/27 18/24
SAT Range 1000/1210 950/1150
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 Tennessee Wesleyan College
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (32%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Health Professions (24%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (10%)
  • General Studies (8%)

Outcomes

Catawba College Tennessee Wesleyan College
Graduation Rate 54% 44%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,000 $42,700
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 61%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $18,750
Median Loan Payment $258 $193

Diversity

Catawba College Tennessee Wesleyan College
% Men 48% 37%
% Women 52% 63%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 69% 78%
% Black 19% 8%
% Hispanic 5% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 3% 4%
% Unknown Race 0% 4%

Students

Catawba College Tennessee Wesleyan College
% In-State 61% 80%
% Out-of-State 34% 14%

Campus

Catawba College Tennessee Wesleyan College
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 Tennessee Wesleyan College based on total student enrollment (1,172 students vs. 1,052 students)

Catawba College vs. Tennessee Wesleyan College Cost Comparison

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

  • Catawba College is 25.9% more expensive to attend than Tennessee Wesleyan College for in-state tuition ($32,868.00 vs. $26,100.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 25.9% higher at Catawba College than Tennessee Wesleyan College ($32,868.00 vs. $26,100.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Tennessee Wesleyan College than Catawba College ($13,591 vs. $19,701)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tennessee Wesleyan College are 34.6% lower than costs at Catawba College ($8,600 vs. $11,576)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Catawba College as Tennessee Wesleyan College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba College students is 19.9% larger than aid received Tennessee Wesleyan College ($26,913 vs. $22,442)

Catawba College vs. Tennessee Wesleyan College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Tennessee Wesleyan College (1019) is 29 points higher than at Catawba College (990)
  • Incoming Tennessee Wesleyan College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Catawba College (21)
  • Accepted freshman Catawba College students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at Tennessee Wesleyan College (3.5)
  • Catawba College has a higher acceptance rate (67.1%) than Tennessee Wesleyan College (60.7%)

Catawba College vs. Tennessee Wesleyan College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Catawba College is higher than Tennessee Wesleyan College (54% vs. 44%)
  • Graduates from Tennessee Wesleyan College earn on average $700 more per year than Catawba College graduates after ten years. ($42,700 vs. $42,000)
  • Tennessee Wesleyan College students graduate with a $6,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Catawba College graduates. ($18,750 vs. $25,000)
  • Tennessee Wesleyan College graduates are paying $65 less per month on federal student loans than Catawba College graduates. ($193 vs. $258)
  • More Tennessee Wesleyan College 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/