CVCC vs. WPCC

Comparable Facts

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

Catawba Valley Community College is larger than WPCC based on total student enrollment (4,904 students vs. 1,813 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

CVCC vs. WPCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CVCC or WPCC? 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 Western Piedmont Community College than CVCC ($6,448 vs. $10,996).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Piedmont Community College are 26.4% lower than at Catawba Valley Community College ($9,370 vs. $12,734).
• Western Piedmont Community College is 9.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than CVCC (about $223 more per year; $2,650.00 vs. $2,427.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.7% higher at WPCC than at Catawba Valley Community College (about $991 more per year; $8,794.00 vs. $7,803.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Piedmont Community College than at Catawba Valley Community College (78% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Western Piedmont Community College students is 4.3% larger than aid received by Catawba Valley Community College students ($10,194 vs. $9,775).

CVCC vs. WPCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CVCC or WPCC? 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 WPCC 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; WPCC - Open admission.

CVCC vs. WPCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CVCC and WPCC? 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 $1,600 more per year than WPCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,200 vs. $27,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Piedmont Community College graduates have a $3,919 lower median loan debt than CVCC graduates ($3,500 vs. $7,419).
• Among borrowers, WPCC graduates have an estimated $40 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CVCC graduates ($36 vs. $76).
• More CVCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WPCC students, three years after graduation. (34% vs. 26%)

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.