Catawba Valley Community College

2550 Hwy 70 SE
Hickory, NC 28602
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Tel: (828) 327-7000
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  • 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 4,742 students (44% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 21:1 is higher than the state community college average of 19:1.
Minority enrollment is 25% of the student body (majority Asian and Hispanic), which is less than the state average of 38%.

Top Placements

Catawba Valley Community College places among the top 20% of community colleges in North Carolina for:

School Overview

The teacher population of 229 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Catawba Valley Community College(NC) Community College Avg.
Institution LevelAt least 2 but less than 4 yearsAt least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution ControlPublicPublic
Total Faculty229 staff139 staff
This chart display total faculty of Catawba Valley Community College and community college average number of faculty in NC by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.

Student Body

The student population of Catawba Valley Community College has stayed relatively flat over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 21:1 has increased from 18:1 over five years.
The Catawba Valley Community College diversity score of 0.42 is less than the state average of 0.56. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Total Enrollment4,742 students2,380 students
This chart display the total enrollment of Catawba Valley Community College and community college average number of enrollment of NC by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio21:119:1
This chart display the student staff ratio of Catawba Valley Community College and community college average student staff ratio of NC by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
# Full-Time Students2,100 students1,019 students
This chart display the total number of Full-Time students enrollment of Catawba Valley Community College and average number of community college Full-Time students enrollment of NC by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
# Part-Time Students2,642 students1,361 students
This chart display the total number of Part-Time students enrollment of Catawba Valley Community College and average number of community college Part-Time students enrollment of NC by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
This chart display the Full-Time students and Part-Time students enrollment breakdown of Catawba Valley Community College. This chart display community college average Full-Time students and Part-Time students enrollment breakdown of NC.
% American Indian/Alaskan
1%
1%
This chart display the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan students in Catawba Valley Community College and the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan community college students in NC by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
% Asian
10%
2%
This chart display the percentage of Asian students in Catawba Valley Community College and the percentage of Asian community college students in NC by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
% Hispanic
7%
6%
This chart display the percentage of Hispanic students in Catawba Valley Community College and the percentage of Hispanic community college students in NC by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
% Black
5%
21%
This chart display the percentage of Black students in Catawba Valley Community College and the percentage of Black community college students in NC by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
% White
75%
62%
This chart display the percentage of White students in Catawba Valley Community College and the percentage of White community college students in NC by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
% Unknown races
2%
6%
This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Catawba Valley Community College. This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in NC.
Diversity Score0.420.56
This chart display the diversity score of Catawba Valley Community College and the community college average diversity score of NC by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
College Completion Rate
14%
16%
This chart display 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 NC by year, with the latest 2014-15 school year data.
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)$29,700$27,500
This chart display average graduate earnings (10 Years) of Catawba Valley Community College and community college average graduate earnings (10 Years) of NC by year, disaggregated by student subgroups with the latest 2012-13 school year data.

Finances and Admission

The public in-state tuition of $2,502 is less than the state average of $3,911. The in-state tuition has grown by 12% over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $8,646 is less than the state average of $9,514. The out-state tuition has stayed relatively flat over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees$2,502$3,911
This chart display 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 NC by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
Out-State Tuition Fees$8,646$9,514
This chart display 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 NC by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid67%78%
This chart display 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 NC by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
Median Debt for Graduates$8,835$10,500
This chart display 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 NC by year, with the latest 2014-15 school year data.
Median Debt for Dropouts$4,000$6,000
This chart display 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 NC by year, with the latest 2014-15 school year data.
Source: 2016 (or latest year available) 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.

Nearby Schools

The nearest community college to Catawba Valley Community College is Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute (15.3 miles away).
  • College Location Mi. Students
  • Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute
    Public
    3,876 students | 15.30 Mi2855 Hickory Blvd.
    Hudson,  NC  28638
    (828) 726-2200     15.303,876
  • Western Piedmont Community College
    Public
    2,056 students | 22.70 Mi1001 Burkemont Ave
    Morganton,  NC  28655
    (828) 438-6000     22.702,056
  • Mitchell Community College
    Public
    3,106 students | 22.80 Mi500 W Broad Street
    Statesville,  NC  28677
    (704) 878-3200     22.803,106
  • Gaston College
    Public
    5,777 students | 28.40 Mi201 Hwy 321 S
    Dallas,  NC  28034
    (704) 922-6200     28.405,777
  • Wilkes Community College
    Public
    2,718 students | 30.70 Mi1328 South Collegiate Dr
    Wilkesboro,  NC  28697
    (336) 838-6100     30.702,718
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Quick Stats (2021)
  • Top Ranked NC Community College:
    View Top Placements
  • Students: 4,742 students
  • In-state tuition: $2,502
  • Out-state tuition: $8,646
  • Student:teacher ratio: 21:1
  • Minority enrollment: 25%
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Did You Know?
For North Carolina public community colleges, the average tuition is approximately $3,911 per year for in-state students and $9,514 for out-of-state students. For private community colleges, the average yearly tuition is approximately $16,515 per year. Read more about average community college tuition costs across the country.

The average community college acceptance rate in North Carolina is 72%. Read more about national community college acceptance rates.

North Carolina community colleges have a diversity score of 0.56, which is lower than the national average of 0.65. The most diverse community college in North Carolina is Fayetteville Technical Community College. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.
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