CVCC vs. Craven Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Catawba Valley Community College is larger than Craven Community College based on total student enrollment (4,904 students vs. 3,103 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Catawba Valley Community College is located in Hickory, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Craven Community College is in New Bern, NC (Distant Town setting).
• Catawba Valley Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Craven Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Catawba Valley Community College 10:1; Craven Community College 13:1.

CVCC vs. Craven Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CVCC or Craven 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 Craven Community College than CVCC ($3,596 vs. $10,996).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Craven Community College are 2.2% lower than at Catawba Valley Community College ($12,456 vs. $12,734).
• Catawba Valley Community College is 20% more expensive for in-state tuition than Craven Community College (about $405 more per year; $2,427.00 vs. $2,022.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.7% higher at CVCC than at Craven Community College (about $1,173 more per year; $7,803.00 vs. $6,630.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Craven Community College than at Catawba Valley Community College (58% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba Valley Community College students is 63.8% larger than aid received by Craven Community College students ($9,775 vs. $5,968).

CVCC vs. Craven Community College Admissions comparison

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

CVCC vs. Craven Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CVCC and Craven 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 Craven Community College earn a median of about $3,400 more per year than CVCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($32,600 vs. $29,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Craven Community College graduates have a $1,419 lower median loan debt than CVCC graduates ($6,000 vs. $7,419).
• Among borrowers, Craven Community College graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CVCC graduates ($62 vs. $76).
• More CVCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Craven Community College students, three years after graduation. (34% vs. 33%)

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.