CVCC vs. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Rowan Cabarrus Community College is larger than CVCC based on total student enrollment (7,028 students vs. 4,904 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Catawba Valley Community College is located in Hickory, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Rowan Cabarrus Community College is in Salisbury, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Catawba Valley Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Rowan Cabarrus Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Catawba Valley Community College 10:1; Rowan Cabarrus Community College 15:1.

CVCC vs. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CVCC or Rowan-Cabarrus 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 Rowan Cabarrus Community College than CVCC ($9,548 vs. $10,996).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Catawba Valley Community College are 21.4% lower than at Rowan Cabarrus Community College ($12,734 vs. $16,196).
• Catawba Valley Community College is 17.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (about $363 more per year; $2,427.00 vs. $2,064.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17% higher at CVCC than at Rowan Cabarrus Community College (about $1,131 more per year; $7,803.00 vs. $6,672.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rowan Cabarrus Community College than at Catawba Valley Community College (69% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba Valley Community College students is 31.8% larger than aid received by Rowan Cabarrus Community College students ($9,775 vs. $7,417).

CVCC vs. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Admissions comparison

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

CVCC vs. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CVCC and Rowan-Cabarrus 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 $2,900 more per year than Rowan-Cabarrus Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,200 vs. $26,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Catawba Valley Community College graduates have a $2,097 lower median loan debt than Rowan-Cabarrus Community College graduates ($7,419 vs. $9,516).
• Among borrowers, CVCC graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rowan-Cabarrus Community College graduates ($76 vs. $98).
• More CVCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rowan-Cabarrus Community College students, three years after graduation. (34% vs. 23%)

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.