College of the Albemarle vs. CVCC

Comparable Facts

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

Catawba Valley Community College is larger than College of the Albemarle based on total student enrollment (4,904 students vs. 2,905 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Albemarle is located in Elizabeth City, NC (Distant Town setting); Catawba Valley Community College is in Hickory, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• College of the Albemarle is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Catawba Valley Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Albemarle 13:1; Catawba Valley Community College 10:1.

College of the Albemarle vs. CVCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Albemarle or CVCC? 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 College of the Albemarle than CVCC ($3,931 vs. $10,996).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Catawba Valley Community College are 1.4% lower than at College of the Albemarle ($12,734 vs. $12,913).
• Catawba Valley Community College is 8.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Albemarle (about $185 more per year; $2,427.00 vs. $2,242.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2% higher at CVCC than at College of the Albemarle (about $151 more per year; $7,803.00 vs. $7,652.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Catawba Valley Community College than at College of the Albemarle (53% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba Valley Community College students is 22.4% larger than aid received by College of the Albemarle students ($9,775 vs. $7,984).

College of the Albemarle vs. CVCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Albemarle or CVCC? 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 CVCC and College of the Albemarle.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: College of the Albemarle - Open admission; CVCC - Open admission.

College of the Albemarle vs. CVCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Albemarle and CVCC? 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 $3,900 more per year than College of the Albemarle graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,200 vs. $25,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More CVCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Albemarle students, three years after graduation. (34% vs. 22%)

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.