Catawba College vs. UVa-Wise

Should I go to Catawba College or The University of Virginia's College at Wise? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Catawba College or UVa-Wise 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. The University of Virginia's College at Wise comparison
Catawba College The University of Virginia's College at Wise College 3 College 4
Catawba College The University of Virginia's College at Wise
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Overview

Catawba College UVa-Wise
Location Salisbury, NC Wise, VA
Setting Distant Town Distant Town
Enrollment 1,172 1,704
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #515 #750
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website catawba.edu uvawise.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Catawba College UVa-Wise
Tuition (In State) $32,868 $6,040
Tuition (Out of State) $32,868 $25,419
Room & Board $11,576 $11,919
Avg Net Price $19,701 $9,923
Avg Grant Aid $26,913 $14,299
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 98%

Admission

Catawba College UVa-Wise
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,199 835
Admitted 2,146 631
Acceptance Rate 67.1% 75.6%
Enrolled % 13.9% 39.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.64 3.57
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/27 19/25
SAT Range 1000/1210 915/1160
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 UVa-Wise
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (32%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (21%)
  • Business (17%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • History (7%)

Outcomes

Catawba College UVa-Wise
Graduation Rate 54% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,000 $42,100
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 57%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $20,827
Median Loan Payment $258 $215

Diversity

Catawba College UVa-Wise
% Men 48% 40%
% Women 52% 60%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 69% 78%
% Black 19% 12%
% Hispanic 5% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 0%
% International 3% 0%
% Unknown Race 0% 7%

Students

Catawba College UVa-Wise
% In-State 61% 76%
% Out-of-State 34% 21%

Campus

Catawba College UVa-Wise
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

  • The University of Virginia's College at Wise is larger than than Catawba College based on total student enrollment (1,704 students vs. 1,172 students)

Catawba College vs. UVa-Wise Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Catawba College or UVa-Wise?

  • Catawba College is 444.2% more expensive to attend than UVa-Wise for in-state tuition ($32,868.00 vs. $6,040.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 29.3% higher at Catawba College than The University of Virginia's College at Wise ($32,868.00 vs. $25,419.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Virginia's College at Wise than Catawba College ($9,923 vs. $19,701)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Catawba College are 3% lower than costs at The University of Virginia's College at Wise ($11,576 vs. $11,919)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Catawba College than The University of Virginia's College at Wise (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba College students is 88.2% larger than aid received The University of Virginia's College at Wise ($26,913 vs. $14,299)

Catawba College vs. UVa-Wise Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Catawba College (990) is 48 points higher than at UVa-Wise (942)
  • Incoming Catawba College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at UVa-Wise (20)
  • Accepted freshman Catawba College students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at UVa-Wise (3.57)
  • UVa-Wise has a higher acceptance rate (75.6%) than Catawba College (67.1%)

Catawba College vs. UVa-Wise Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Catawba College or UVa-Wise? 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 UVa-Wise and Catawba College.

  • The graduation rate at Catawba College is higher than The University of Virginia's College at Wise (54% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from The University of Virginia's College at Wise earn on average $100 more per year than Catawba College graduates after ten years. ($42,100 vs. $42,000)
  • The University of Virginia's College at Wise students graduate with a $4,173 lower median federal student loan debt than Catawba College graduates. ($20,827 vs. $25,000)
  • UVa-Wise graduates are paying $43 less per month on federal student loans than Catawba College graduates. ($215 vs. $258)
  • More Catawba College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UVa-Wise students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 57%)

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