CVCC vs. Surry Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Catawba Valley Community College is larger than Surry Community College based on total student enrollment (4,904 students vs. 2,796 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

CVCC vs. Surry Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CVCC or Surry 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 Surry Community College than CVCC ($7,020 vs. $10,996).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Catawba Valley Community College are 0.4% lower than at Surry Community College ($12,734 vs. $12,780).
• Surry Community College is 9.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than CVCC (about $241 more per year; $2,668.00 vs. $2,427.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.9% higher at Surry Community College than at Catawba Valley Community College (about $1,009 more per year; $8,812.00 vs. $7,803.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Surry Community College than at Catawba Valley Community College (80% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba Valley Community College students is 41% larger than aid received by Surry Community College students ($9,775 vs. $6,931).

CVCC vs. Surry Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CVCC or Surry 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 Surry 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; Surry Community College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Surry Community College Aug 2, 2027.

CVCC vs. Surry Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CVCC and Surry 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 Surry Community College earn a median of about $500 more per year than CVCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,700 vs. $29,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Surry Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CVCC students, three years after graduation. (42% 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.