CVCC vs. Johnston Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Johnston Community College is larger than CVCC based on total student enrollment (5,371 students vs. 4,904 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

CVCC vs. Johnston Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CVCC or Johnston 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 Johnston Community College than CVCC ($3,824 vs. $10,996).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Catawba Valley Community College are 9.8% lower than at Johnston Community College ($12,734 vs. $14,121).
• Johnston Community College is 13.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than CVCC (about $329 more per year; $2,756.00 vs. $2,427.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.1% higher at Johnston Community College than at Catawba Valley Community College (about $1,097 more per year; $8,900.00 vs. $7,803.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Johnston Community College than at Catawba Valley Community College (76% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba Valley Community College students is 41.4% larger than aid received by Johnston Community College students ($9,775 vs. $6,915).

CVCC vs. Johnston Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CVCC or Johnston 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 Johnston 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; Johnston Community College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Johnston Community College Aug 13, 2027.

CVCC vs. Johnston Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CVCC and Johnston 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 Johnston Community College earn a median of about $1,600 more per year than CVCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($30,800 vs. $29,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Catawba Valley Community College graduates have a $2,081 lower median loan debt than Johnston Community College graduates ($7,419 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, CVCC graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Johnston Community College graduates ($76 vs. $98).
• More CVCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Johnston Community College students, three years after graduation. (34% vs. 30%)

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.