Catawba Valley Community College

2550 Hwy 70 SE
Hickory, NC 28602
Top Ranked (2024-25): View Rankings
  • The mission of Catawba Valley Community College is to empower individuals and enrich the community by providing quality education and workforce training for economic and personal development.

School Highlights

Catawba Valley Community College serves 4,168 students (29% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 8:1 is lower than the state community college average of 9:1.
Minority enrollment is 97% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the state average of 95%.

Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • Enrollment: 4,168 students
  • In-state tuition: $2,502
  • Out-state tuition: $8,646
  • Student:teacher ratio: 8:1
  • Minority enrollment: 97%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Top Rankings

Catawba Valley Community College ranks among the top 20% of public schools in North Carolina for:

Category
Attribute
Community Size

School Overview

The teacher population of 510 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Catawba Valley Community College
(NC) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associates Colleges
Associates Colleges
Institution Level
At least 2 but less than 4 years
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Public
Public
Total Faculty
510 staff
256 staff
This chart displays total faculty of Catawba Valley Community College and community college average number of faculty in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Student Body

The student population of Catawba Valley Community College has declined by 11% over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 8:1 has decreased from 9:1 over five years.
The Catawba Valley Community College diversity score of 0.52 is less than the state average of 0.65. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Total Enrollment
4,168 students
1,993 students
This chart displays the total enrollment of Catawba Valley Community College and community college average number of enrollment of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
8:1
9:1
This chart displays the student staff ratio of Catawba Valley Community College and community college average student staff ratio of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
# Full-Time Students
1,207 students
644 students
This chart displays the total number of Full-time students enrollment of Catawba Valley Community College and average number of community college Full-time students enrollment of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
# Part-Time Students
2,961 students
1,349 students
This chart displays the total number of Part-time students enrollment of Catawba Valley Community College and average number of community college Part-time students enrollment of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the Full-time students and Part-time students enrollment breakdown of Catawba Valley Community College.
This chart displays community college average Full-Time students and Part-Time students enrollment breakdown of North Carolina.
# Enrollment Undergraduate
279 students
252 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
1,207 students
644 students
This chart displays the total number of Full-time undergraduate students enrollment of Catawba Valley Community College and average number of community college Full-time undergraduate  students enrollment of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
# Full-Time Graduate Students
n/a
10 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
2,961 students
1,404 students
# Part-Time Graduate Students
n/a
27 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
n/a
717 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
7%
3%
This chart displays the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan students in Catawba Valley Community College and the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan community college students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Asian
6%
19%
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Catawba Valley Community College and the percentage of Asian community college students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hispanic
n/a
1%
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Catawba Valley Community College and the percentage of Hispanic community college students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
% Black
14%
13%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Catawba Valley Community College and the percentage of Black community college students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% White
3%
5%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Catawba Valley Community College and the percentage of White community college students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hawaiian
67%
54%
This chart displays the percentage of Hawaiian students in Catawba Valley Community College and the percentage of Hawaiian community college students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Two or more races
2%
4%
This chart displays the percentage of Two or more races students in Catawba Valley Community College and the percentage of Two or more races community college students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Non Resident races
n/a
n/a
This chart displays the percentage of Non Resident students in Catawba Valley Community College and the percentage of Non Resident community college students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Unknown races
1%
1%
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Catawba Valley Community College.
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in North Carolina.
Diversity Score
0.52
0.65
This chart displays the diversity score of Catawba Valley Community College and the community college average diversity score of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
0.3664%
0.3863%
This chart displays completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of Catawba Valley Community College and community college average completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
n/a
0.5387%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$29,700
$27,500
This chart displays average graduate earnings (10 Years) of Catawba Valley Community College and community college average graduate earnings (10 Years) of North Carolina by year, disaggregated by student subgroups with the latest 2012-13 school year data.

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

The public in-state tuition of $2,502 is less than the state average of $3,915. The in-state tuition has grown by 6% over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $8,646 is less than the state average of $9,508. The out-state tuition has grown by 11% over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$2,502
$3,915
This chart displays tuition fees for an in-state student of Catawba Valley Community College and the public community college average tuition fees for an in-state student of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Out-State Tuition Fees
$8,646
$9,508
This chart displays tuition fees for an out-of-state student of Catawba Valley Community College and the public community college average tuition fees for an out-of-state student of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
91%
82%
This chart displays the percent of students who is receiving some financial aid in Catawba Valley Community College and the percent of community college students who is receiving some financial aid in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Median Debt for Graduates
$6,750
$11,865
This chart displays median debt for students who have completed a certificate or degree in Catawba Valley Community College and average median debt for community college students who have completed a certificate or degree in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Median Debt for Dropouts
$5,351
$5,846
This chart displays median debt for students who have not completed a certificate or degree in Catawba Valley Community College and average median debt for community college students who have not completed a certificate or degree in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Acceptance Rate
n/a
82%
SAT Reading
n/a
488
SAT Math
n/a
498
ACT Composite
n/a
20
ACT English
n/a
13
ACT Math
n/a
16
Source: 2023 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

School Notes

  • Through the concerted efforts of concerned and united Catawba County citizens and North Carolina educational leaders, on April 3, 1958, Catawba Valley Community College was established by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction as the ninth school of its kind in the state. In July 1963. the General Assembly of North Carolina enacted into law G.S. 115A which provided for the establishment of the present North Carolina System of Community Colleges. On January 9, 1964, Catawba Valley Technical Institute was among the original seven institutes chartered by the Department. At that time, CVTI established its own Board of Trustees and began operation as a member of the Department of Community Colleges. Thus, it was in August 1964, that the College awarded its first Associate Degree in Applied Science. Catawba Valley Community College, located about half way between Hickory and Newton on Highways 70 and 321, is in Catawba County, North Carolina. The campus covers 120 acres and includes ten buildings for a total of 270.000 square feet of floor space. In addition, there is a college Art Center on the Startown Highway, an Education Center in downtown Newton, the Alexander County Center, Balls Creek Center, and an East Campus. CVCC offers a variety of education programs including but not limited to the following: College Transfer, Automotive Systems, Business, Criminal Justice, Engineering Technology, Environmental Life Science, Furniture Technology, Health Science, Humanities, Industrial Technologies, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, Corporate & Continuing Education. CVCC offers a variety of vocational and technical education programs that can be completed in two years or less. Our College transfer programs are designed to give students the first two years of a four-year college education. A student's experience at Catawba Valley Community College does not begin and end in the classroom. Various activities, opportunities, and functions of a social and professional nature are offered by Student Government in order to provide a well rounded campus atmosphere. The College encourages participation in student organizations and activities. Programs sponsored include Fall and Spring Flings, N4C SGA conferences, co-curricular activities, NJCAA women's volleyball and NJCAA men's basketball and much more.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Catawba Valley Community College cost?
Catawba Valley Community College's tuition is approximately $2,502 for In-State students and $8,646 for Out-State students.
What is Catawba Valley Community College's ranking?
Catawba Valley Community College ranks among the top 20% of community college in North Carolina for: Largest student body and Least debt for graduating students.

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Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • Enrollment: 4,168 students
  • In-state tuition: $2,502
  • Out-state tuition: $8,646
  • Student:teacher ratio: 8:1
  • Minority enrollment: 97%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Related School Videos

Did You Know?

For North Carolina public community colleges, the average tuition is approximately $3,915 per year for in-state students and $9,508 for out-of-state students. For private community colleges, the average yearly tuition is approximately $19,438 per year. Read more about average community college tuition costs across the country.

The average community college acceptance rate in North Carolina is 77%. Read more about national community college acceptance rates.

North Carolina community colleges have a diversity score of 0.65, which is lower than the national average of 0.75. The most diverse community college in North Carolina is Durham Technical Community College. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.

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