Catawba College vs. UTC

Should I go to Catawba College or The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Catawba College or UTC 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Catawba College vs. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga comparison
Catawba College The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga College 3 College 4
Catawba College The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Catawba College UTC
Location Salisbury, NC Chattanooga, TN
Setting Distant Town Midsize City
Enrollment 1,172 11,283
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #515 #788
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website catawba.edu utc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Catawba College UTC
Tuition (In State) $32,868 $7,992
Tuition (Out of State) $32,868 $24,110
Room & Board $11,576 $9,500
Avg Net Price $19,701 $14,417
Avg Grant Aid $26,913 $9,309
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 94%

Admission

Catawba College UTC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,199 8,345
Admitted 2,146 6,897
Acceptance Rate 67.1% 82.6%
Enrolled % 13.9% 32.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.64 3.61
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/27 20/26
SAT Range 1000/1210 1023/1210
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 May 1, 2025

Academics

Catawba College UTC
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%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

Catawba College UTC
Graduation Rate 54% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,000 $40,600
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $20,792
Median Loan Payment $258 $214

Diversity

Catawba College UTC
% Men 48% 42%
% Women 52% 58%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 69% 75%
% Black 19% 11%
% Hispanic 5% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 7%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Catawba College UTC
% In-State 61% 89%
% Out-of-State 34% 11%

Campus

Catawba College UTC
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

  • The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is larger than than Catawba College based on total student enrollment (11,283 students vs. 1,172 students)

Catawba College vs. UTC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Catawba College or UTC?

  • Catawba College is 311.3% more expensive to attend than UTC for in-state tuition ($32,868.00 vs. $7,992.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 36.3% higher at Catawba College than The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ($32,868.00 vs. $24,110.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga than Catawba College ($14,417 vs. $19,701)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga are 21.9% lower than costs at Catawba College ($9,500 vs. $11,576)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Catawba College than The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba College students is 189.1% larger than aid received The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ($26,913 vs. $9,309)

Catawba College vs. UTC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (1087) is 97 points higher than at Catawba College (990)
  • Incoming UTC students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Catawba College (21)
  • Accepted freshman Catawba College students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at UTC (3.61)
  • UTC has a higher acceptance rate (82.6%) than Catawba College (67.1%)

Catawba College vs. UTC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Catawba College is higher than The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (54% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Catawba College earn on average $1,400 more per year than UTC graduates after ten years. ($42,000 vs. $40,600)
  • The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga students graduate with a $4,208 lower median federal student loan debt than Catawba College graduates. ($20,792 vs. $25,000)
  • UTC graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans than Catawba College graduates. ($214 vs. $258)
  • More Catawba College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UTC students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 56%)

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