CVCC vs. Tri-County Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Catawba Valley Community College is larger than Tri-County Community College based on total student enrollment (4,904 students vs. 1,023 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Catawba Valley Community College is located in Hickory, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Tri County Community College is in Murphy, NC (Remote Rural setting).
• Catawba Valley Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Tri County Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Catawba Valley Community College 10:1; Tri County Community College 13:1.

CVCC vs. Tri-County Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CVCC or Tri-County 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 Tri County Community College than CVCC ($7,905 vs. $10,996).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Catawba Valley Community College are 27.2% lower than at Tri County Community College ($12,734 vs. $17,488).
• Tri County Community College is 8.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than CVCC (about $209 more per year; $2,636.00 vs. $2,427.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.5% higher at Tri-County Community College than at Catawba Valley Community College (about $977 more per year; $8,780.00 vs. $7,803.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Tri County Community College than at Catawba Valley Community College (76% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Tri County Community College students is 9.6% larger than aid received by Catawba Valley Community College students ($10,711 vs. $9,775).

CVCC vs. Tri-County Community College Admissions comparison

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

CVCC vs. Tri-County Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CVCC and Tri-County 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 $5,600 more per year than Tri-County Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,200 vs. $23,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More CVCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tri-County Community College students, three years after graduation. (34% vs. 31%)

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.