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Lenoir-Rhyne University Pfeiffer University Wingate University WSSU UNC Charlotte ISU Guilford College UNCG Bradley Barton College University of Alaska Fairbanks Simpson College| Central College | Catawba College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Central College | Catawba College | ||
| Location | Pella, IA | Salisbury, NC | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 1,169 | 1,172 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #519 | #515 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Reformed Church in America | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | central.edu | catawba.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Central College | Catawba College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $19,800 | $32,868 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $19,800 | $32,868 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,860 | $11,576 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $23,303 | $19,701 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,999 | $26,913 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 100% |
Admission |
Central College | Catawba College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 1,970 | 3,199 | ||
| Admitted | 1,561 | 2,146 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 79.2% | 67.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.5% | 13.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.52 | 3.64 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/26 | 18/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1040/1218 | 1000/1210 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Central College | Catawba College | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Central College | Catawba College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 63% | 54% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $48,000 | $42,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 78% | 60% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $258 |
Diversity |
Central College | Catawba College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 52% | 48% | ||
| % Women | 48% | 52% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 87% | 69% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 19% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 1% | 3% | ||
| % International | 0% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 0% |
Students |
Central College | Catawba College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 73% | 61% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 26% | 34% | ||
Campus |
Central College | Catawba College | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Catawba College is larger than than Central College based on total student enrollment (1,172 students vs. 1,169 students)
Central College vs. Catawba College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Central College or Catawba College?
- Catawba College is 66% more expensive to attend than Central College for in-state tuition ($32,868.00 vs. $19,800.00)
- Out of state tuition is 66% higher at Catawba College than Central College ($32,868.00 vs. $19,800.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Catawba College than Central College ($19,701 vs. $23,303)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central College are 6.6% lower than costs at Catawba College ($10,860 vs. $11,576)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Central College as Catawba College (100% vs. 100%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba College students is 144.7% larger than aid received Central College ($26,913 vs. $10,999)
Central College vs. Catawba College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Central College or Catawba College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Catawba College or Central College .
- The average SAT score at Central College (1068) is 78 points higher than at Catawba College (990)
- Incoming Central College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Catawba College (21)
- Accepted freshman Catawba College students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at Central College (3.52)
- Central College has a higher acceptance rate (79.2%) than Catawba College (67.1%)
Central College vs. Catawba College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Central College or Catawba College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Catawba College and Central College.
- The graduation rate at Central College is higher than Catawba College (63% vs. 54%)
- Graduates from Central College earn on average $6,000 more per year than Catawba College graduates after ten years. ($48,000 vs. $42,000)
- Catawba College students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Central College graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
- Catawba College graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Central College graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
- More Central College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Catawba College students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 60%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/