CVCC vs. Rockingham Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Catawba Valley Community College is larger than Rockingham Community College based on total student enrollment (4,904 students vs. 1,803 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Catawba Valley Community College is located in Hickory, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Rockingham Community College is in Wentworth, NC (Distant Rural setting).
• Catawba Valley Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Rockingham Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Catawba Valley Community College 10:1; Rockingham Community College 12:1.

CVCC vs. Rockingham Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CVCC or Rockingham 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 Rockingham Community College than CVCC ($3,158 vs. $10,996).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rockingham Community College are 40.3% lower than at Catawba Valley Community College ($7,600 vs. $12,734).
• Catawba Valley Community College is 23.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rockingham Community College (about $461 more per year; $2,427.00 vs. $1,966.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.7% higher at CVCC than at Rockingham Community College (about $1,229 more per year; $7,803.00 vs. $6,574.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rockingham Community College than at Catawba Valley Community College (75% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba Valley Community College students is 28% larger than aid received by Rockingham Community College students ($9,775 vs. $7,638).

CVCC vs. Rockingham Community College Admissions comparison

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

CVCC vs. Rockingham Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CVCC and Rockingham 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 $200 more per year than Rockingham Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,200 vs. $29,000), 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.