CVCC vs. Durham Technical Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Durham Technical Community College is larger than CVCC based on total student enrollment (5,157 students vs. 4,904 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Catawba Valley Community College is located in Hickory, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Durham Technical Community College is in Durham, NC (Midsize City setting).
• Catawba Valley Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Durham Technical Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Catawba Valley Community College 10:1; Durham Technical Community College 7:1.

CVCC vs. Durham Technical Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CVCC or Durham Technical 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 Durham Technical Community College than CVCC ($7,163 vs. $10,996).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Durham Technical Community College are 14.6% lower than at Catawba Valley Community College ($10,872 vs. $12,734).
• Catawba Valley Community College is 22.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Durham Technical Community College (about $441 more per year; $2,427.00 vs. $1,986.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.3% higher at CVCC than at Durham Technical Community College (about $1,209 more per year; $7,803.00 vs. $6,594.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Durham Technical Community College than at Catawba Valley Community College (69% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba Valley Community College students is 47.5% larger than aid received by Durham Technical Community College students ($9,775 vs. $6,625).

CVCC vs. Durham Technical Community College Admissions comparison

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

CVCC vs. Durham Technical Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CVCC and Durham Technical 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 Durham Technical Community College earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than CVCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($30,600 vs. $29,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Catawba Valley Community College graduates have a $5,733 lower median loan debt than Durham Technical Community College graduates ($7,419 vs. $13,152).
• Among borrowers, CVCC graduates have an estimated $59 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Durham Technical Community College graduates ($76 vs. $135).
• More CVCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Durham Technical Community College students, three years after graduation. (34% vs. 25%)

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.