CVCC vs. Southeastern Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Catawba Valley Community College is larger than Southeastern Community College based on total student enrollment (4,904 students vs. 1,426 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

CVCC vs. Southeastern Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CVCC or Southeastern 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 Southeastern Community College than CVCC ($10,862 vs. $10,996).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southeastern Community College are 25.8% lower than at Catawba Valley Community College ($9,450 vs. $12,734).
• Southeastern Community College is 7.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than CVCC (about $173 more per year; $2,600.00 vs. $2,427.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.1% higher at Southeastern Community College than at Catawba Valley Community College (about $941 more per year; $8,744.00 vs. $7,803.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southeastern Community College than at Catawba Valley Community College (81% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba Valley Community College students is 83.9% larger than aid received by Southeastern Community College students ($9,775 vs. $5,314).

CVCC vs. Southeastern Community College Admissions comparison

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

CVCC vs. Southeastern Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CVCC and Southeastern 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 $2,200 more per year than Southeastern Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,200 vs. $27,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southeastern Community College graduates have a $2,462 lower median loan debt than CVCC graduates ($4,957 vs. $7,419).
• Among borrowers, Southeastern Community College graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CVCC graduates ($51 vs. $76).
• More CVCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southeastern Community College students, three years after graduation. (34% vs. 19%)

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.