CVCC vs. Central Piedmont Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory, NC with Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Central Piedmont Community College is larger than CVCC based on total student enrollment (20,375 students vs. 4,904 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Catawba Valley Community College is located in Hickory, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Central Piedmont Community College is in Charlotte, NC (Large City setting).
• Catawba Valley Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Central Piedmont Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Catawba Valley Community College 10:1; Central Piedmont Community College 15:1.

CVCC vs. Central Piedmont Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CVCC or Central Piedmont Community College? 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 Central Piedmont Community College than CVCC ($4,616 vs. $10,996).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Piedmont Community College are 11.7% lower than at Catawba Valley Community College ($11,239 vs. $12,734).
• Central Piedmont Community College is 15% more expensive for in-state tuition than CVCC (about $365 more per year; $2,792.00 vs. $2,427.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.5% higher at Central Piedmont Community College than at Catawba Valley Community College (about $1,133 more per year; $8,936.00 vs. $7,803.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Central Piedmont Community College than at Catawba Valley Community College (63% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba Valley Community College students is 75.3% larger than aid received by Central Piedmont Community College students ($9,775 vs. $5,576).

CVCC vs. Central Piedmont Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CVCC or Central Piedmont Community College? 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 Central Piedmont Community College and CVCC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CVCC - Open admission; Central Piedmont Community College - Open admission.

CVCC vs. Central Piedmont Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CVCC and Central Piedmont Community College? 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).

• Graduates from Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of about $700 more per year than CVCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,900 vs. $29,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Central Piedmont Community College graduates have a $435 lower median loan debt than CVCC graduates ($6,984 vs. $7,419).
• Among borrowers, Central Piedmont Community College graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CVCC graduates ($72 vs. $76).
• More CVCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Central Piedmont Community College students, three years after graduation. (34% vs. 28%)

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.