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ASU UNC Charlotte UNC Chapel Hill ECU UNCG NC State WCU UD University of North Carolina at Asheville Auburn UofSC Coastal Carolina| Catawba College | University of North Carolina at Wilmington | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Catawba College | UNCW | ||
| Location | Salisbury, NC | Wilmington, NC | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 1,241 | 17,987 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #659 | #390 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | catawba.edu | uncw.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Catawba College | UNCW | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $33,400 | $4,443 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $33,400 | $20,111 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,550 | $12,605 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $18,319 | $18,606 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $29,599 | $6,516 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 54% |
Admission |
Catawba College | UNCW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,547 | 17,370 | ||
| Admitted | 1,979 | 12,856 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 77.7% | 74% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.6% | 21% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.64 | 3.56 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 20/25 | 24/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1010/1186 | 1220/1360 | ||
| 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 | Feb 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Catawba College | UNCW | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Catawba College | UNCW | ||
| Graduation Rate | 54% | 67% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $42,000 | $44,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 60% | 64% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $20,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $211 |
Diversity |
Catawba College | UNCW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Women | 4% | 14% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 69% | 78% | ||
| % Black | 19% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 3% |
Students |
Catawba College | UNCW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 61% | 77% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 34% | 22% | ||
Campus |
Catawba College | UNCW | ||
| 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
- University of North Carolina at Wilmington is larger than than Catawba College based on total student enrollment (17,987 students vs. 1,241 students)
Catawba College vs. UNCW Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Catawba College or UNCW?
- Catawba College is 651.7% more expensive to attend than UNCW for in-state tuition ($33,400.00 vs. $4,443.00)
- Out of state tuition is 66.1% higher at Catawba College than University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($33,400.00 vs. $20,111.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Catawba College than UNCW ($18,319 vs. $18,606)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Catawba College are 0.4% lower than costs at University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($12,550 vs. $12,605)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Catawba College than University of North Carolina at Wilmington (100% vs. 54%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba College students is 354.3% larger than aid received University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($29,599 vs. $6,516)
Catawba College vs. UNCW Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Catawba College or UNCW? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UNCW or Catawba College .
- The average SAT score at University of North Carolina at Wilmington (1162) is 172 points higher than at Catawba College (990)
- Incoming UNCW students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Catawba College (21)
- Accepted freshman Catawba College students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at UNCW (3.56)
- Catawba College has a higher acceptance rate (77.7%) than UNCW (74%)
Catawba College vs. UNCW Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Catawba College or UNCW? 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 UNCW and Catawba College.
- The graduation rate at UNCW is higher than Catawba College (67% vs. 54%)
- Graduates from University of North Carolina at Wilmington earn on average $2,700 more per year than Catawba College graduates after ten years. ($44,700 vs. $42,000)
- University of North Carolina at Wilmington students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Catawba College graduates. ($20,500 vs. $25,000)
- UNCW graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than Catawba College graduates. ($211 vs. $258)
- More UNCW graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Catawba College students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 60%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/