Catawba Valley Community College
Hickory, NC · Public two-year · City: Small
4,413undergraduates
$9,821average net price per year
36%finish in 3 years
69%return for year two
Admissions
Open admission: everyone with a high school diploma or equivalent is admitted.
Majors
41 undergraduate programs that awarded a degree or certificate last year, grouped by field. Numbers are how many were awarded.
Liberal arts and sciences, general studies and humanities (2)
- General Studies Associate (15 awarded)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies Associate (443 awarded)
Health professions and related programs (11)
- Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Associate (16 awarded)
- Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic) Certificate (under 1 year) (1 awarded), Associate (2 awarded)
- Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician Associate (6 awarded)
- Health/Health Care Administration/Management Certificate (under 1 year) (13 awarded), Associate (4 awarded)
- Medical Office Management/Administration Certificate (under 1 year) (11 awarded), Certificate (1-2 years) (4 awarded), Associate (13 awarded)
- Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions, Other Associate (8 awarded)
- Pre-Nursing Studies Associate (1 awarded)
- Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer Associate (12 awarded)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse Associate (66 awarded)
- Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Associate (7 awarded)
- Surgical Technology/Technologist Associate (6 awarded)
Business, management, marketing, and related support services (3)
- Accounting and Finance Certificate (under 1 year) (11 awarded), Associate (12 awarded)
- Business Administration and Management, General Certificate (under 1 year) (60 awarded), Certificate (1-2 years) (3 awarded), Associate (36 awarded)
- Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies Certificate (under 1 year) (1 awarded), Certificate (1-2 years) (1 awarded), Associate (5 awarded)
Precision production (2)
- Machine Shop Technology/Assistant Certificate (under 1 year) (1 awarded), Certificate (1-2 years) (2 awarded), Associate (1 awarded)
- Welding Technology/Welder Certificate (under 1 year) (100 awarded), Certificate (1-2 years) (7 awarded), Associate (15 awarded)
Engineering/engineering-related technologies/technicians (5)
- Computer Engineering Technology/Technician Certificate (under 1 year) (10 awarded)
- Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician Certificate (under 1 year) (10 awarded), Associate (2 awarded)
- Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians, Other Associate (5 awarded)
- Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician Certificate (under 1 year) (10 awarded), Associate (4 awarded)
- Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering Technology/Technician Certificate (under 1 year) (18 awarded), Associate (11 awarded)
Construction trades (1)
- Electrician Certificate (under 1 year) (42 awarded), Certificate (1-2 years) (15 awarded), Associate (7 awarded)
Mechanic and repair technologies/technicians (2)
- Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician Certificate (under 1 year) (24 awarded), Certificate (1-2 years) (6 awarded), Associate (15 awarded)
- Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician Certificate (under 1 year) (4 awarded), Certificate (1-2 years) (1 awarded), Associate (1 awarded)
Computer and information sciences and support services (1)
- Information Technology Certificate (under 1 year) (19 awarded), Certificate (1-2 years) (4 awarded), Associate (17 awarded)
Homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting and related protective services (5)
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies Certificate (under 1 year) (5 awarded), Associate (3 awarded)
- Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management Associate (4 awarded)
- Fire Prevention and Safety Technology/Technician Certificate (under 1 year) (4 awarded), Associate (4 awarded)
- Forensic Science and Technology Associate (7 awarded)
- Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other Certificate (under 1 year) (3 awarded), Associate (8 awarded)
Visual and performing arts (1)
- Commercial and Advertising Art Associate (21 awarded)
Culinary, entertainment, and personal services (1)
- Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General Certificate (1-2 years) (17 awarded)
Education (1)
- Early Childhood Education and Teaching Certificate (under 1 year) (7 awarded), Associate (6 awarded)
Agricultural/animal/plant/veterinary science and related fields (2)
- Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations, General Associate (1 awarded)
- Turf and Turfgrass Management Certificate (under 1 year) (2 awarded), Associate (6 awarded)
Communications technologies/technicians and support services (1)
- Photographic and Film/Video Technology/Technician Certificate (under 1 year) (2 awarded), Associate (5 awarded)
Engineering (1)
- Pre-Engineering Associate (5 awarded)
Parks, recreation, leisure, fitness, and kinesiology (1)
- Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, Other Certificate (under 1 year) (1 awarded), Associate (3 awarded)
Family and consumer sciences/human sciences (1)
- Child Development Certificate (under 1 year) (2 awarded)
Cost and aid
- Tuition and fees, in-state
- $2,367
- Tuition and fees, out-of-state
- $7,743
- Books and supplies
- $1,100
- Total cost living at home
- $14,253
Published prices for 2023-24.
| Family income | Per year |
|---|---|
| $0-30,000 | $8,728 |
| $30,001-48,000 | $9,310 |
| $48,001-75,000 | $10,862 |
| $75,001-110,000 | $11,295 |
Net price is the full cost minus grants and scholarships, for full-time first-year students who got aid in 2022-23 and paid in-state tuition.
- First-year students who got any aid
- 95%
- Got grants or scholarships
- 49%
- Average grant or scholarship
- $10,604
- Got a grant from the college
- 6%
- Average grant from the college
- $1,467
- Undergraduates with a Pell grant
- 33%
- First-year students who borrowed
- 1%
- Average amount borrowed
- $15,556
Graduation
- Finished in 2 years
- 17%
- Finished in 3 years
- 36%
- Finished in 4 years
- 38%
- Transferred to another college
- 36%
- Came back for year two
- 69%
| Pell grant students | 33% |
|---|---|
| Neither | 38% |
| Group | Students | Graduated |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 150 | 33% |
| Men | 156 | 38% |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 1 | 0% (small group) |
| Asian | 24 | 46% |
| Black | 19 | 5% (small group) |
| Hispanic | 57 | 47% |
| White | 192 | 34% |
| Two or more races | 10 | 30% (small group) |
| Race unknown | 3 | 33% (small group) |
| Started | Students | Earned a degree or certificate here | Enrolled at another college |
|---|---|---|---|
| Started here, full-time | 594 | 40% | 27% |
| Started here, part-time | 429 | 20% | 24% |
| Transferred in, full-time | 179 | 45% | 26% |
| Transferred in, part-time | 213 | 28% | 36% |
Graduation rates follow students who started full-time for the first time in fall 2020. Groups under 20 students are marked because a few students change the rate a lot.
Students
- Total students
- 4,413
- Undergraduates
- 4,413
- Full-time undergraduates
- 1,128
- Part-time undergraduates
- 3,285
- Students per faculty member
- 13 to 1
- Undergraduates age 25 and up
- 15%
- Undergraduates taking all classes online
- 66%
| Women | 55% |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 0% |
| Asian | 7% |
| Black | 6% |
| Hispanic | 17% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 0% |
| White | 64% |
| Two or more races | 4% |
| Race unknown | 1% |
| International | 1% |
Campus life
- Setting
- City: Small
- Address
- 2550 Hwy 70 SE, Hickory, NC, 28602-0699
- County
- Catawba County
- Part of
- North Carolina Community College System
- Type
- Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional
- Highest degree
- Associates
- Academic calendar
- Semester
- Athletics
- NJCAA
- Offers
- Weekend or evening classes, Online programs, Credit for AP exams
- Open admission
- Yes
Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2022-23 to 2024-25 surveys), and the College Scorecard.