Catawba College vs. Wright State

Comparable Facts

Compare Catawba College in Salisbury, NC with Wright State University Main Campus in Dayton, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Wright State University Main Campus is larger than Catawba College based on total student enrollment (10,603 students vs. 1,376 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Catawba College is located in Salisbury, NC (Distant Town setting); Wright State University Main Campus is in Dayton, OH (Large Suburban setting).
• Catawba College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Wright State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Catawba College 13:1; Wright State University Main Campus 16:1.

Catawba College vs. Wright State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Catawba College or Wright State? 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 Wright State University Main Campus than Catawba College ($15,254 vs. $18,447).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wright State University Main Campus are 17.1% lower than at Catawba College ($11,250 vs. $13,565).
• Catawba College is 197.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wright State (about $22,778 more per year; $34,300.00 vs. $11,522.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 61.6% higher at Catawba College than at Wright State University Main Campus (about $13,078 more per year; $34,300.00 vs. $21,222.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Catawba College than at Wright State University Main Campus (100% vs. 92%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba College students is 244.5% larger than aid received by Wright State University Main Campus students ($30,808 vs. $8,942).

Catawba College vs. Wright State Admissions comparison

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

• Wright State University Main Campus reports an open admissions policy.
• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Catawba College (1170) is 100 points higher than at Wright State (1070).
• Incoming Catawba College students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 21) as students at Wright State (21).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Catawba College 1030/1300; Wright State University Main Campus 913/1230.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Catawba College 17/25; Wright State University Main Campus 17/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Catawba College - Test optional; Wright State - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Catawba College Aug 15, 2027; Wright State Aug 23, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Catawba College students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at Wright State (3.41).
• Wright State has a higher acceptance rate (96.3%) than Catawba College (75.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.5% at Catawba College vs. 20.4% at Wright State.

Catawba College vs. Wright State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Catawba College and Wright State? 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).

• Catawba College's six-year graduation rate (54%) is higher than Wright State University Main Campus's (40%).
• Graduates from Wright State University Main Campus earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than Catawba College graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,400 vs. $42,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wright State University Main Campus and Catawba College graduates have the same median loan debt ($25,000 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Wright State University Main Campus and Catawba College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($258 vs. $258).
• More Catawba College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wright State students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 51%)

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.