Catawba College vs. WVU

Should I go to Catawba College or West Virginia University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Catawba College or WVU 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. West Virginia University comparison
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Catawba College West Virginia University
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Overview

Catawba College WVU
Location Salisbury, NC Morgantown, WV
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 1,172 24,741
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #515 #559
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website catawba.edu wvu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Catawba College WVU
Tuition (In State) $32,868 $9,360
Tuition (Out of State) $32,868 $26,568
Room & Board $11,576 $11,618
Avg Net Price $19,701 $12,202
Avg Grant Aid $26,913 $11,685
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 94%

Admission

Catawba College WVU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,199 18,206
Admitted 2,146 16,091
Acceptance Rate 67.1% 88.4%
Enrolled % 13.9% 28.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.64 3.45
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/27 20/26
SAT Range 1000/1210 1000/1220
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 WVU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (32%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)

Outcomes

Catawba College WVU
Graduation Rate 54% 57%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,000 $50,600
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 59%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $24,001
Median Loan Payment $258 $248

Diversity

Catawba College WVU
% Men 48% 47%
% Women 52% 53%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 69% 81%
% Black 19% 5%
% Hispanic 5% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 3% 6%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

Catawba College WVU
% In-State 61% 42%
% Out-of-State 34% 57%

Campus

Catawba College WVU
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

  • West Virginia University is larger than than Catawba College based on total student enrollment (24,741 students vs. 1,172 students)

Catawba College vs. WVU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Catawba College or WVU?

  • Catawba College is 251.2% more expensive to attend than WVU for in-state tuition ($32,868.00 vs. $9,360.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 23.7% higher at Catawba College than West Virginia University ($32,868.00 vs. $26,568.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at West Virginia University than Catawba College ($12,202 vs. $19,701)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Catawba College are 0.4% lower than costs at West Virginia University ($11,576 vs. $11,618)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Catawba College than West Virginia University (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba College students is 130.3% larger than aid received West Virginia University ($26,913 vs. $11,685)

Catawba College vs. WVU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at West Virginia University (1078) is 88 points higher than at Catawba College (990)
  • Incoming WVU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Catawba College (21)
  • Accepted freshman Catawba College students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at WVU (3.45)
  • WVU has a higher acceptance rate (88.4%) than Catawba College (67.1%)

Catawba College vs. WVU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Catawba College or WVU? 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 WVU and Catawba College.

  • The graduation rate at WVU is higher than Catawba College (57% vs. 54%)
  • Graduates from West Virginia University earn on average $8,600 more per year than Catawba College graduates after ten years. ($50,600 vs. $42,000)
  • West Virginia University students graduate with a $999 lower median federal student loan debt than Catawba College graduates. ($24,001 vs. $25,000)
  • WVU graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Catawba College graduates. ($248 vs. $258)
  • More Catawba College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WVU students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 59%)

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