CVCC vs. McDowell Technical Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Catawba Valley Community College is larger than McDowell Technical Community College based on total student enrollment (4,904 students vs. 1,249 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Catawba Valley Community College is located in Hickory, NC (Rural Fringe setting); McDowell Technical Community College is in Marion, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Catawba Valley Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. McDowell Technical Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Catawba Valley Community College 10:1; McDowell Technical Community College 8:1.

CVCC vs. McDowell Technical Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CVCC or McDowell 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 McDowell Technical Community College than CVCC ($8,024 vs. $10,996).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at McDowell Technical Community College are 6.2% lower than at Catawba Valley Community College ($11,943 vs. $12,734).
• Catawba Valley Community College is 19.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than McDowell Technical Community College (about $395 more per year; $2,427.00 vs. $2,032.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.5% higher at CVCC than at McDowell Technical Community College (about $1,163 more per year; $7,803.00 vs. $6,640.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at McDowell Technical Community College than at Catawba Valley Community College (59% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba Valley Community College students is 6% larger than aid received by McDowell Technical Community College students ($9,775 vs. $9,220).

CVCC vs. McDowell Technical Community College Admissions comparison

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

CVCC vs. McDowell Technical Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CVCC and McDowell 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 Catawba Valley Community College earn a median of about $3,800 more per year than McDowell Technical Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,200 vs. $25,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More CVCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former McDowell Technical Community College students, three years after graduation. (34% vs. 24%)

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.