CVCC vs. Gaston College

Comparable Facts

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

Gaston College is larger than CVCC based on total student enrollment (6,443 students vs. 4,904 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Catawba Valley Community College is located in Hickory, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Gaston College is in Dallas, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Catawba Valley Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Gaston College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Catawba Valley Community College 10:1; Gaston College 17:1.

CVCC vs. Gaston College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CVCC or Gaston 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 Gaston College than CVCC ($8,055 vs. $10,996).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gaston College are 5.6% lower than at Catawba Valley Community College ($12,018 vs. $12,734).
• Gaston College is 31.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than CVCC (about $759 more per year; $3,186.00 vs. $2,427.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.6% higher at Gaston College than at Catawba Valley Community College (about $1,527 more per year; $9,330.00 vs. $7,803.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gaston College than at Catawba Valley Community College (59% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba Valley Community College students is 15% larger than aid received by Gaston College students ($9,775 vs. $8,497).

CVCC vs. Gaston College Admissions comparison

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

CVCC vs. Gaston College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CVCC and Gaston 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 $1,300 more per year than Gaston College graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,200 vs. $27,900), 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.