Catawba College vs. VMI

Comparable Facts

Compare Catawba College in Salisbury, NC with Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Virginia Military Institute is larger than Catawba College based on total student enrollment (1,527 students vs. 1,376 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Catawba College is located in Salisbury, NC (Distant Town setting); Virginia Military Institute is in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting).
• Catawba College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Military Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Catawba College 13:1; Virginia Military Institute 9:1.

Catawba College vs. VMI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Catawba College or VMI? 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 Catawba College than VMI ($18,447 vs. $18,825).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 16.6% lower than at Catawba College ($11,310 vs. $13,565).
• Catawba College is 63% more expensive for in-state tuition than VMI (about $13,254 more per year; $34,300.00 vs. $21,046.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 53.5% higher at VMI than at Catawba College (about $18,338 more per year; $52,638.00 vs. $34,300.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Catawba College than at Virginia Military Institute (100% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba College students is 29.3% larger than aid received by Virginia Military Institute students ($30,808 vs. $23,821).

Catawba College vs. VMI Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Catawba College (1170) is 10 points higher than at VMI (1160).
• Incoming VMI students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 21 at Catawba College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Catawba College 1030/1300; Virginia Military Institute 1050/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Catawba College 17/25; Virginia Military Institute 24/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Catawba College - Test optional; VMI - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Catawba College Aug 15, 2027; VMI Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman VMI students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at Catawba College (3.64).
• Catawba College has a higher acceptance rate (75.2%) than VMI (71.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.5% at Catawba College vs. 31.7% at VMI.

Catawba College vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Catawba College and VMI? 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).

• Virginia Military Institute's six-year graduation rate (69%) is higher than Catawba College's (54%).
• Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn a median of about $20,100 more per year than Catawba College graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $42,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Virginia Military Institute and Catawba College graduates have the same median loan debt ($25,000 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Virginia Military Institute and Catawba College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($258 vs. $258).
• More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Catawba College students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.