Catawba College vs. UNC Chapel Hill

Comparable Facts

Compare Catawba College in Salisbury, NC with University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is larger than Catawba College based on total student enrollment (32,438 students vs. 1,376 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Catawba College is located in Salisbury, NC (Distant Town setting); University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is in Chapel Hill, NC (Small City setting).
• Catawba College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Catawba College 13:1; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 15:1.

Catawba College vs. UNC Chapel Hill Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Catawba College or UNC Chapel Hill? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill than Catawba College ($10,154 vs. $18,447).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Catawba College are 1.7% lower than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ($13,565 vs. $13,804).
• Catawba College is 281.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNC Chapel Hill (about $25,306 more per year; $34,300.00 vs. $8,994.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 20.1% higher at UNC Chapel Hill than at Catawba College (about $6,903 more per year; $41,203.00 vs. $34,300.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Catawba College than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (100% vs. 38%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba College students is 72.9% larger than aid received by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students ($30,808 vs. $17,814).

Catawba College vs. UNC Chapel Hill Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Catawba College or UNC Chapel Hill? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UNC Chapel Hill and Catawba College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1460) is 290 points higher than at Catawba College (1170).
• Incoming UNC Chapel Hill students have a 10 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 21 at Catawba College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Catawba College 1030/1300; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1390/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Catawba College 17/25; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Catawba College - Test optional; UNC Chapel Hill - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Catawba College Aug 15, 2027; UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UNC Chapel Hill students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Catawba College (3.64).
• Catawba College has a higher acceptance rate (75.2%) than UNC Chapel Hill (15.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.5% at Catawba College vs. 45.5% at UNC Chapel Hill.

Catawba College vs. UNC Chapel Hill Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Catawba College and UNC Chapel Hill? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's six-year graduation rate (89%) is higher than Catawba College's (54%).
• Graduates from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earn a median of about $24,100 more per year than Catawba College graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,100 vs. $42,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduates have a $8,521 lower median loan debt than Catawba College graduates ($16,479 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, UNC Chapel Hill graduates have an estimated $88 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Catawba College graduates ($170 vs. $258).
• More UNC Chapel Hill graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Catawba College students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.