Catawba College vs. USC Aiken

Should I go to Catawba College or University of South Carolina Aiken? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Catawba College or USC Aiken 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. University of South Carolina Aiken comparison
Catawba College University of South Carolina Aiken College 3 College 4
Catawba College
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Overview

Catawba College USC Aiken
Location Salisbury, NC Aiken, SC
Setting Distant Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 1,241 3,855
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #659 #883
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website catawba.edu usca.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Catawba College USC Aiken
Tuition (In State) $33,400 $10,398
Tuition (Out of State) $33,400 $20,856
Room & Board $12,550 $8,736
Avg Net Price $18,319 $11,697
Avg Grant Aid $29,599 $9,701
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 98%

Admission

Catawba College USC Aiken
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,547 2,905
Admitted 1,979 2,316
Acceptance Rate 77.7% 79.7%
Enrolled % 15.6% 26.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.64 3.19
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/25 17/23
SAT Range 1010/1186 970/1200
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 USC Aiken
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (32%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)

Outcomes

Catawba College USC Aiken
Graduation Rate 54% 41%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,000 $39,600
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $268

Diversity

Catawba College USC Aiken
% Men 3% 6%
% Women 4% 13%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 69% 58%
% Black 19% 27%
% Hispanic 5% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 3% 4%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Catawba College USC Aiken
% In-State 61% 88%
% Out-of-State 34% 11%

Campus

Catawba College USC Aiken
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

  • University of South Carolina Aiken is larger than than Catawba College based on total student enrollment (3,855 students vs. 1,241 students)

Catawba College vs. USC Aiken Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Catawba College or USC Aiken?

  • Catawba College is 221.2% more expensive to attend than USC Aiken for in-state tuition ($33,400.00 vs. $10,398.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 60.1% higher at Catawba College than University of South Carolina Aiken ($33,400.00 vs. $20,856.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Carolina Aiken than Catawba College ($11,697 vs. $18,319)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Aiken are 43.7% lower than costs at Catawba College ($8,736 vs. $12,550)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Catawba College than University of South Carolina Aiken (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba College students is 205.1% larger than aid received University of South Carolina Aiken ($29,599 vs. $9,701)

Catawba College vs. USC Aiken Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Catawba College (990) is 14 points higher than at USC Aiken (976)
  • Incoming Catawba College students have at the same average ACT score (21) as students at USC Aiken (21)
  • Accepted freshman Catawba College students have a 0.45 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at USC Aiken (3.19)
  • USC Aiken has a higher acceptance rate (79.7%) than Catawba College (77.7%)

Catawba College vs. USC Aiken Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Catawba College or USC Aiken? 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 USC Aiken and Catawba College.

  • The graduation rate at Catawba College is higher than University of South Carolina Aiken (54% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Catawba College earn on average $2,400 more per year than USC Aiken graduates after ten years. ($42,000 vs. $39,600)
  • Catawba College students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than USC Aiken graduates. ($25,000 vs. $26,000)
  • Catawba College graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than USC Aiken graduates. ($258 vs. $268)
  • More Catawba College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USC Aiken students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 54%)

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