Cornerstone University vs. Catawba College

Should I go to Cornerstone University or Catawba College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cornerstone University or Catawba College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Cornerstone University vs. Catawba College comparison
Cornerstone University Catawba College College 3 College 4
Cornerstone University Catawba College
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Overview

Cornerstone University Catawba College
Location Grand Rapids, MI Salisbury, NC
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 1,781 1,172
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #867 #515
Religious Affiliation Interdenominational - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cornerstone.edu catawba.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cornerstone University Catawba College
Tuition (In State) $27,580 $32,868
Tuition (Out of State) $27,580 $32,868
Room & Board $10,520 $11,576
Avg Net Price $20,935 $19,701
Avg Grant Aid $18,502 $26,913
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Cornerstone University Catawba College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,926 3,199
Admitted 1,575 2,146
Acceptance Rate 81.8% 67.1%
Enrolled % 18.4% 13.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.28 3.64
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/25 18/27
SAT Range 970/1220 1000/1210
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Cornerstone University Catawba College
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (56%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (11%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (3%)
  • Business (32%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Communication (5%)

Outcomes

Cornerstone University Catawba College
Graduation Rate 43% 54%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,800 $42,000
Making Student Loan Payments 62% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $258

Diversity

Cornerstone University Catawba College
% Men 40% 48%
% Women 60% 52%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 78% 69%
% Black 13% 19%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 2% 3%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

Cornerstone University Catawba College
% In-State 80% 61%
% Out-of-State 14% 34%

Campus

Cornerstone University Catawba College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Cornerstone University is larger than than Catawba College based on total student enrollment (1,781 students vs. 1,172 students)

Cornerstone University vs. Catawba College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cornerstone University or Catawba College?

  • Catawba College is 19.2% more expensive to attend than Cornerstone University for in-state tuition ($32,868.00 vs. $27,580.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 19.2% higher at Catawba College than Cornerstone University ($32,868.00 vs. $27,580.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Catawba College than Cornerstone University ($19,701 vs. $20,935)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cornerstone University are 10% lower than costs at Catawba College ($10,520 vs. $11,576)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Cornerstone University as Catawba College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba College students is 45.5% larger than aid received Cornerstone University ($26,913 vs. $18,502)

Cornerstone University vs. Catawba College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cornerstone University or Catawba College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Catawba College or Cornerstone University .

  • The average SAT score at Cornerstone University (1033) is 43 points higher than at Catawba College (990)
  • Incoming Cornerstone University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Catawba College (21)
  • Accepted freshman Catawba College students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at Cornerstone University (3.28)
  • Cornerstone University has a higher acceptance rate (81.8%) than Catawba College (67.1%)

Cornerstone University vs. Catawba College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cornerstone University 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 Cornerstone University.

  • The graduation rate at Catawba College is higher than Cornerstone University (54% vs. 43%)
  • Graduates from Catawba College earn on average $3,200 more per year than Cornerstone University graduates after ten years. ($42,000 vs. $38,800)
  • Catawba College and Cornerstone University graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($25,000 vs. $25,000)
  • Catawba College and Cornerstone University graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($258 vs. $258)
  • More Cornerstone University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Catawba College students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/