CVCC vs. Richmond Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Catawba Valley Community College is larger than Richmond Community College based on total student enrollment (4,904 students vs. 2,384 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Catawba Valley Community College is located in Hickory, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Richmond Community College is in Hamlet, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Catawba Valley Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Richmond Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Catawba Valley Community College 10:1; Richmond Community College 14:1.

CVCC vs. Richmond Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CVCC or Richmond 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 Richmond Community College than CVCC ($6,865 vs. $10,996).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Catawba Valley Community College are 23.4% lower than at Richmond Community College ($12,734 vs. $16,614).
• Catawba Valley Community College is 24.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Richmond Community College (about $471 more per year; $2,427.00 vs. $1,956.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.9% higher at CVCC than at Richmond Community College (about $1,239 more per year; $7,803.00 vs. $6,564.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Richmond Community College than at Catawba Valley Community College (97% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba Valley Community College students is 29% larger than aid received by Richmond Community College students ($9,775 vs. $7,580).

CVCC vs. Richmond Community College Admissions comparison

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

CVCC vs. Richmond Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CVCC and Richmond 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 $3,900 more per year than Richmond Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,200 vs. $25,300), 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.