University of Alaska Fairbanks vs. Catawba College

Should I go to University of Alaska Fairbanks or Catawba College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if University of Alaska Fairbanks 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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University of Alaska Fairbanks vs. Catawba College comparison
University of Alaska Fairbanks Catawba College College 3 College 4
University of Alaska Fairbanks Catawba College
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Overview

University of Alaska Fairbanks Catawba College
Location Fairbanks, AK Salisbury, NC
Setting Small Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 6,640 1,241
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #1020 #659
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uaf.edu catawba.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of Alaska Fairbanks Catawba College
Tuition (In State) $6,936 $33,400
Tuition (Out of State) $20,520 $33,400
Room & Board $10,450 $12,550
Avg Net Price $9,985 $18,319
Avg Grant Aid $10,102 $29,599
% Receiving Grant Aid 84% 100%

Admission

University of Alaska Fairbanks Catawba College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 2,547
Admitted - 1,979
Acceptance Rate Open 77.7%
Enrolled % Open 15.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.4 3.64
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/27 20/25
SAT Range 1110/1360 1010/1186
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jun 15, 2025 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

University of Alaska Fairbanks Catawba College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (12%)
  • Engineering (10%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Business (32%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Communication (5%)

Outcomes

University of Alaska Fairbanks Catawba College
Graduation Rate 31% 54%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,200 $42,000
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $16,975 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $175 $258

Diversity

University of Alaska Fairbanks Catawba College
% Men 6% 3%
% Women 9% 4%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 42% 69%
% Black 2% 19%
% Hispanic 6% 5%
% Native American 14% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 1% 3%
% Unknown Race 29% 0%

Students

University of Alaska Fairbanks Catawba College
% In-State 81% 61%
% Out-of-State 18% 34%

Campus

University of Alaska Fairbanks 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

  • University of Alaska Fairbanks is larger than than Catawba College based on total student enrollment (6,640 students vs. 1,241 students)

University of Alaska Fairbanks vs. Catawba College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Alaska Fairbanks or Catawba College?

  • Catawba College is 381.5% more expensive to attend than University of Alaska Fairbanks for in-state tuition ($33,400.00 vs. $6,936.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 62.8% higher at Catawba College than University of Alaska Fairbanks ($33,400.00 vs. $20,520.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Alaska Fairbanks than Catawba College ($9,985 vs. $18,319)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Alaska Fairbanks are 20.1% lower than costs at Catawba College ($10,450 vs. $12,550)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Catawba College than University of Alaska Fairbanks (100% vs. 84%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba College students is 193% larger than aid received University of Alaska Fairbanks ($29,599 vs. $10,102)

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Alaska Fairbanks (1058) is 68 points higher than at Catawba College (990)
  • Incoming University of Alaska Fairbanks students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Catawba College (21)
  • Accepted freshman Catawba College students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at University of Alaska Fairbanks (3.4)

University of Alaska Fairbanks vs. Catawba College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of Alaska Fairbanks 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 University of Alaska Fairbanks.

  • The graduation rate at Catawba College is higher than University of Alaska Fairbanks (54% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from University of Alaska Fairbanks earn on average $200 more per year than Catawba College graduates after ten years. ($42,200 vs. $42,000)
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks students graduate with a $8,025 lower median federal student loan debt than Catawba College graduates. ($16,975 vs. $25,000)
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks graduates are paying $83 less per month on federal student loans than Catawba College graduates. ($175 vs. $258)
  • More Catawba College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Alaska Fairbanks students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 53%)

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