CVCC vs. Southwestern Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Catawba Valley Community College is larger than Southwestern Community College based on total student enrollment (4,904 students vs. 2,157 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

CVCC vs. Southwestern Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CVCC or Southwestern 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 Southwestern Community College than CVCC ($6,176 vs. $10,996).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Catawba Valley Community College are 2.4% lower than at Southwestern Community College ($12,734 vs. $13,050).
• Southwestern Community College is 69.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than CVCC (about $1,685 more per year; $4,112.00 vs. $2,427.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 69% higher at Southwestern Community College than at Catawba Valley Community College (about $5,381 more per year; $13,184.00 vs. $7,803.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern Community College than at Catawba Valley Community College (80% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Community College students is 2.5% larger than aid received by Catawba Valley Community College students ($10,024 vs. $9,775).

CVCC vs. Southwestern Community College Admissions comparison

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

CVCC vs. Southwestern Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CVCC and Southwestern 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 $2,000 more per year than Southwestern Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,200 vs. $27,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Catawba Valley Community College graduates have a $3,331 lower median loan debt than Southwestern Community College graduates ($7,419 vs. $10,750).
• Among borrowers, CVCC graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Southwestern Community College graduates ($76 vs. $111).
• More Southwestern Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CVCC students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 34%)

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.