CVCC vs. Cleveland Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Catawba Valley Community College is larger than Cleveland Community College based on total student enrollment (4,904 students vs. 1,558 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

CVCC vs. Cleveland Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CVCC or Cleveland 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 Cleveland Community College than CVCC ($706 vs. $10,996).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cleveland Community College are 78.8% lower than at Catawba Valley Community College ($2,700 vs. $12,734).
• Cleveland Community College is 7.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than CVCC (about $175 more per year; $2,602.00 vs. $2,427.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.1% higher at Cleveland Community College than at Catawba Valley Community College (about $943 more per year; $8,746.00 vs. $7,803.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cleveland Community College than at Catawba Valley Community College (100% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba Valley Community College students is 54% larger than aid received by Cleveland Community College students ($9,775 vs. $6,347).

CVCC vs. Cleveland Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CVCC or Cleveland 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 Cleveland 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; Cleveland Community College - Open admission.

CVCC vs. Cleveland Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CVCC and Cleveland 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 Catawba Valley Community College earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than Cleveland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,200 vs. $27,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.