Catawba College vs. University of South Carolina-Upstate

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

Catawba College University of South Carolina-Upstate
Location Salisbury, NC Spartanburg, SC
Setting Distant Town Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 1,172 4,913
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #515 #823
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website catawba.edu uscupstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Catawba College University of South Carolina-Upstate
Tuition (In State) $32,868 $11,208
Tuition (Out of State) $32,868 $22,170
Room & Board $11,576 $9,520
Avg Net Price $19,701 $13,835
Avg Grant Aid $26,913 $12,038
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

Catawba College University of South Carolina-Upstate
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,199 3,090
Admitted 2,146 2,428
Acceptance Rate 67.1% 78.6%
Enrolled % 13.9% 28.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.64 2.53
Typical High School Grades B+ C+
Admissions Standards Moderate Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/27 20/25
SAT Range 1000/1210 950/1150
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

Academics

Catawba College University of South Carolina-Upstate
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (32%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Health Professions (26%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

Catawba College University of South Carolina-Upstate
Graduation Rate 54% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,000 $39,300
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $22,500
Median Loan Payment $258 $232

Diversity

Catawba College University of South Carolina-Upstate
% Men 48% 32%
% Women 52% 68%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 69% 56%
% Black 19% 29%
% Hispanic 5% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Catawba College University of South Carolina-Upstate
% In-State 61% 92%
% Out-of-State 34% 6%

Campus

Catawba College University of South Carolina-Upstate
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 Upstate is larger than than Catawba College based on total student enrollment (4,913 students vs. 1,172 students)

Catawba College vs. University of South Carolina-Upstate Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Catawba College or University of South Carolina-Upstate?

  • Catawba College is 193.3% more expensive to attend than University of South Carolina-Upstate for in-state tuition ($32,868.00 vs. $11,208.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 48.3% higher at Catawba College than University of South Carolina Upstate ($32,868.00 vs. $22,170.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Carolina Upstate than Catawba College ($13,835 vs. $19,701)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Upstate are 21.6% lower than costs at Catawba College ($9,520 vs. $11,576)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Catawba College than University of South Carolina Upstate (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba College students is 123.6% larger than aid received University of South Carolina Upstate ($26,913 vs. $12,038)

Catawba College vs. University of South Carolina-Upstate Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Catawba College (990) is 40 points higher than at University of South Carolina-Upstate (950)
  • Incoming Catawba College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at University of South Carolina-Upstate (20)
  • Accepted freshman Catawba College students have a 1.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at University of South Carolina-Upstate (2.53)
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate has a higher acceptance rate (78.6%) than Catawba College (67.1%)

Catawba College vs. University of South Carolina-Upstate Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Catawba College or University of South Carolina-Upstate? 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 University of South Carolina-Upstate and Catawba College.

  • The graduation rate at Catawba College is higher than University of South Carolina Upstate (54% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Catawba College earn on average $2,700 more per year than University of South Carolina-Upstate graduates after ten years. ($42,000 vs. $39,300)
  • University of South Carolina Upstate students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Catawba College graduates. ($22,500 vs. $25,000)
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than Catawba College graduates. ($232 vs. $258)
  • More Catawba College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of South Carolina-Upstate students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 55%)

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