CVCC vs. Wilkes Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Catawba Valley Community College is larger than Wilkes Community College based on total student enrollment (4,904 students vs. 2,593 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Catawba Valley Community College is located in Hickory, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Wilkes Community College is in Wilkesboro, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Catawba Valley Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Wilkes Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Catawba Valley Community College 10:1; Wilkes Community College 8:1.

CVCC vs. Wilkes Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CVCC or Wilkes 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 Wilkes Community College than CVCC ($658 vs. $10,996).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wilkes Community College are 3.5% lower than at Catawba Valley Community College ($12,291 vs. $12,734).
• Wilkes Community College is 6% more expensive for in-state tuition than CVCC (about $145 more per year; $2,572.00 vs. $2,427.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.7% higher at Wilkes Community College than at Catawba Valley Community College (about $913 more per year; $8,716.00 vs. $7,803.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wilkes Community College than at Catawba Valley Community College (90% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba Valley Community College students is 16.8% larger than aid received by Wilkes Community College students ($9,775 vs. $8,372).

CVCC vs. Wilkes Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CVCC or Wilkes 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 Wilkes 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; Wilkes Community College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Wilkes Community College Aug 12, 2027.

CVCC vs. Wilkes Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CVCC and Wilkes 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 $3,100 more per year than Wilkes Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,200 vs. $26,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Catawba Valley Community College graduates have a $831 lower median loan debt than Wilkes Community College graduates ($7,419 vs. $8,250).
• Among borrowers, CVCC graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wilkes Community College graduates ($76 vs. $85).
• More CVCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wilkes Community College students, three years after graduation. (34% 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.