Catawba Valley Community College
Hickory, NC · Public · offers Associate's degrees
—Acceptance rate
$10,528Average net price / year
35%Graduation rate
$36,977Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$4,938Median debt at graduation
2,741Undergraduates
Cost
- In-state tuition & fees
- $2,427
- Out-of-state tuition
- $7,803
- Total cost of attendance
- $20,446
- Books & supplies
- $1,870
- Average net price
- $10,528
Net price by family income
- $0–30k
- $9,170
- $30–48k
- $9,639
- $48–75k
- $13,129
- $75–110k
- $15,469
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- —
Outcomes
- Graduation rate
- 35%
- First-year retention
- 65%
- Median earnings (6 yrs)
- $32,508
- Median earnings (10 yrs)
- $36,977
- Median debt (graduates)
- $4,938
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0.0%
- Students with Pell grants
- 28%
- Students with federal loans
- 0%
Programs: what graduates earn
16 of 61 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).
Undergraduate certificate
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 8 | $41,191 | — |
| Accounting and Related Services | 26 | $35,972 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 100 | $32,230 | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 64 | $27,562 | — |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | 24 | $16,506 | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 24 | $43,919 | — |
| Precision Metal Working | 96 | $43,883 | — |
Associate's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 64 | $64,707 | $5,500 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | 15 | $55,128 | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 40 | $52,273 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 32 | $41,425 | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 22 | $29,469 | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 437 | $23,951 | $5,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 8 | $27,722 | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 7 | $30,183 | — |
| Accounting and Related Services | 7 | $33,124 | — |
Students
- Undergraduates
- 2,741
- Part-time
- 64%
- Women / men
- 55% / 45%
- White
- 61%
- Hispanic
- 17%
- Black
- 9%
- Asian
- 7%
- International
- 1%
Faculty & school
- Student–faculty ratio
- 10:1
- Avg faculty salary
- $57,834 / year
- Full-time faculty
- 22%
- Accreditor
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Website
- cvcc.edu
- Also known as
- CVCC
Most popular fields
- Computer & Information Sciences – 4% of degrees
- Personal & Culinary Services – 2% of degrees
- Engineering – 2% of degrees
- Engineering Technologies – 3% of degrees
- Liberal Arts & General Studies – 40% of degrees
- Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting – 5% of degrees
Frequently asked questions
How much does Catawba Valley Community College cost?
The average net price after grants is $10,528 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $2,427 and the full cost of attendance is $20,446.
How much do Catawba Valley Community College graduates earn?
Students who enrolled earn a median of $36,977 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.
What is the graduation rate?
35% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.
Other colleges in Hickory
| College | Net price | Acceptance | Graduation | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lenoir-Rhyne University Hickory, NC · Private nonprofit · 1,359 students |
$20,689 | 85% | 48% | $45,543 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.