CVCC vs. Forsyth Tech

Comparable Facts

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

Forsyth Technical Community College is larger than CVCC based on total student enrollment (9,099 students vs. 4,904 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Catawba Valley Community College is located in Hickory, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Forsyth Technical Community College is in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting).
• Catawba Valley Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Forsyth Technical Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Catawba Valley Community College 10:1; Forsyth Technical Community College 12:1.

CVCC vs. Forsyth Tech Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CVCC or Forsyth Tech? 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 Forsyth Technical Community College than CVCC ($6,917 vs. $10,996).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Forsyth Technical Community College are 11.5% lower than at Catawba Valley Community College ($11,266 vs. $12,734).
• Catawba Valley Community College is 6.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Forsyth Tech (about $151 more per year; $2,427.00 vs. $2,276.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.3% higher at CVCC than at Forsyth Technical Community College (about $919 more per year; $7,803.00 vs. $6,884.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Forsyth Technical Community College than at Catawba Valley Community College (84% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba Valley Community College students is 59.2% larger than aid received by Forsyth Technical Community College students ($9,775 vs. $6,141).

CVCC vs. Forsyth Tech Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CVCC or Forsyth Tech? 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 Forsyth Tech 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; Forsyth Tech - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Forsyth Tech Jul 29, 2027.

CVCC vs. Forsyth Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CVCC and Forsyth Tech? 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 Forsyth Technical Community College earn a median of about $100 more per year than CVCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,300 vs. $29,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Catawba Valley Community College graduates have a $5,038 lower median loan debt than Forsyth Tech graduates ($7,419 vs. $12,457).
• Among borrowers, CVCC graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Forsyth Tech graduates ($76 vs. $128).
• More CVCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Forsyth Tech students, three years after graduation. (34% vs. 20%)

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.