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Catawba Valley Community College

Catawba Valley Community College

Hickory, NC · City · 2,741 students
Website Scorecard
$10,528
Average net priceYour net price
In-state
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
35%
Graduation rate
31% typical
$36,977
Earnings 10 years on
$40,902 typical
Open admission
Acceptance rate
Accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
About

Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC) in Hickory, North Carolina, is widely recognized for its robust technical workforce training, accredited health sciences programs, and seamless university transfer pathways. The college distinguishes itself through premier facilities like the Workforce Solutions Complex and the Manufacturing Solutions Center, which provide students with hands-on, cutting-edge instruction in mechatronics, computer-integrated machining, and applied engineering. Campus life offers an engaging, career-focused environment supported by dedicated faculty mentorship and a competitive NJCAA Division II athletics program led by the CVCC Red Hawks. Through affordable tuition and specialized transfer partnerships with four-year universities across the state, CVCC serves as an accessible launchpad for both immediate technical careers and higher education advancement.

Wikipedia:Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC) is a public community college in Hickory, North Carolina. The college, established April 3, 1958, is part of the North Carolina Community College System. The main campus covers 162 acres (0.66 km2) and includes 16 buildings. The college also operates a Cosmetology Center in downtown Newton, the CVCC Alexander Center for Education in Taylorsville, and East Campus, where continuing education and business & industry services are provided. Specialty programs include the Manufacturing Solutions Center, where US manufacturers are provided assistance to increase sales, improve quality and improve efficiency. A 28,000-square-foot (2,600 m2) Regional Simulated Hospital, ValleySim Hospital, opened in 2011. CVCC now has two furniture academies, one in Newton, North Carolina, and one in Taylorsville, North Carolina.

Location
Hickory, NC, 28602-0699 · City campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
RDU · Raleigh-Durham
141 mi away
Open in Google Maps
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
These figures are federal data and may be out of date.
In-stateOut-of-state
Tuition & fees$2,427$7,803
Books & supplies$1,870$1,870
Cost of attendance$20,446$25,822 est.
Average net price$10,528Not published
Out-of-state prices
Tuition & fees$7,803
In-state: $2,427
Books & supplies$1,870
Cost of attendance$25,822 est.
In-state: $20,446
Average net priceNot published
In-state: $10,528
est. = the in-state cost of attendance with out-of-state tuition swapped in; no out-of-state figure is published.
Net price by family income · in-state students
$0–30k
$9,170
$30–48k
$9,639
$48–75k
$13,129
$75–110k
$15,469
Grants from the school
5% of first-years get a grant from the school, averaging $2,940
Source: College Navigator (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS)
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
35%
Pell students: 25.2% · others: 44.9% 
8 yrs after starting
43% graduated · 26% transferred · 1% still enrolled · 31% left or unknown
Earnings
6 yrs after entry$32,508
10 yrs after entry$36,977
Debt
Median at graduation$4,938
Monthly payment$52
Middle 50% owe$3k–$9.5k
90th percentile$14,375
Green marks a figure above the typical Associate's — high transfer: 31% graduate within 6 yrs.
Admissions

No admissions data available for this college.

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Essay prompts

If Catawba Valley Community College asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the school's application.

Student Body
Gender
Men 45%Women 55%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
10 : 1
Pell grant
28%
First-gen
50%
Family income
$22,585
Independent
41%
Age at entry
24.0
Part-time
64%
Where first-years come from
In state (NC)
97.7%
Out of state
2.3%
International
0.0%

Most out-of-state first-years from: OH 4 · SC 2 · AL 1 · CA 1 · FL 1

Race & ethnicity
White
61%
Hispanic
17%
Black
9%
Asian
7%
Two or more
3%
Non-resident
1%
Unknown
1%
Varsity sports
NJCAA Division II
  • Baseball
    Men's
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Other Sports
    Men's · Co-ed
  • Softball
    Women's
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$6M
Full-time faculty
22%
Faculty salary
$6,426/mo
Teaching spend
$8,662
per student
Federal loans
0%
Classification
Carnegie type
Associate's — high transfer
Undergraduate profile
Two-year, mostly part-time

Wondering if Catawba Valley Community College is the right fit for you?

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