CVCC vs. Isothermal Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Catawba Valley Community College is larger than Isothermal Community College based on total student enrollment (4,904 students vs. 1,918 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Catawba Valley Community College is located in Hickory, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Isothermal Community College is in Spindale, NC (Distant Town setting).
• Catawba Valley Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Isothermal Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Catawba Valley Community College 10:1; Isothermal Community College 11:1.

CVCC vs. Isothermal Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CVCC or Isothermal 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 Catawba Valley Community College than Isothermal Community College ($10,996 vs. $11,495).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Catawba Valley Community College are 36% lower than at Isothermal Community College ($12,734 vs. $19,885).
• Catawba Valley Community College is 19.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Isothermal Community College (about $397 more per year; $2,427.00 vs. $2,030.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.6% higher at CVCC than at Isothermal Community College (about $1,165 more per year; $7,803.00 vs. $6,638.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Isothermal Community College than at Catawba Valley Community College (92% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba Valley Community College students is 60.6% larger than aid received by Isothermal Community College students ($9,775 vs. $6,086).

CVCC vs. Isothermal Community College Admissions comparison

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

CVCC vs. Isothermal Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CVCC and Isothermal 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 $3,400 more per year than Isothermal Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,200 vs. $25,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More CVCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Isothermal Community College students, three years after graduation. (34% vs. 10%)

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.