Catawba College vs. UNCSA

Comparable Facts

Compare Catawba College in Salisbury, NC with University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston Salem, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Catawba College is larger than UNCSA based on total student enrollment (1,376 students vs. 1,111 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Catawba College is located in Salisbury, NC (Distant Town setting); University of North Carolina School of the Arts is in Winston Salem, NC (Midsize City setting).
• Catawba College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of North Carolina School of the Arts is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Catawba College 13:1; University of North Carolina School of the Arts 6:1.

Catawba College vs. UNCSA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Catawba College or UNCSA? 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 School of the Arts than Catawba College ($13,140 vs. $18,447).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina School of the Arts are 0.4% lower than at Catawba College ($13,517 vs. $13,565).
• Catawba College is 261.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNCSA (about $24,823 more per year; $34,300.00 vs. $9,477.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 26.1% higher at Catawba College than at University of North Carolina School of the Arts (about $7,089 more per year; $34,300.00 vs. $27,211.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Catawba College than at University of North Carolina School of the Arts (100% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba College students is 139.3% larger than aid received by University of North Carolina School of the Arts students ($30,808 vs. $12,876).

Catawba College vs. UNCSA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Catawba College or UNCSA? 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 UNCSA and Catawba College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Carolina School of the Arts (1260) is 90 points higher than at Catawba College (1170).
• Incoming UNCSA students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 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 School of the Arts 1140/1370.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Catawba College 17/25; University of North Carolina School of the Arts 22/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Catawba College - Test optional; UNCSA - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Catawba College Aug 15, 2027; UNCSA Mar 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UNCSA students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Catawba College (3.64).
• Catawba College has a higher acceptance rate (75.2%) than UNCSA (30%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.5% at Catawba College vs. 55.5% at UNCSA.

Catawba College vs. UNCSA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Catawba College and UNCSA? 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 School of the Arts's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than Catawba College's (54%).
• Graduates from Catawba College earn a median of about $2,900 more per year than UNCSA graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,000 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Catawba College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than UNCSA graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Catawba College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UNCSA graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More Catawba College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNCSA 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.