Catawba College — College Profile

About

Catawba College is a private liberal arts institution in Salisbury, North Carolina, best known for its nationally recognized theatre arts program alongside strong offerings in environmental science, nursing, and business. A leader in sustainability, Catawba distinguishes itself as the first certified carbon-neutral college in the Southeast, boasting a 189-acre on-campus ecological preserve that serves as a living laboratory for undergraduate research. The campus culture is tight-knit and active, offering personalized faculty mentorship, a vibrant arts scene, and spirited NCAA Division II athletic competition.

Wikipedia:Catawba College is a private college in Salisbury, North Carolina. Founded in 1851 by the North Carolina Classis of the Reformed Church in Newton, the college adopted its name from its county of origin, Catawba County, before moving to its current home of Salisbury in 1925. Catawba College still holds loose ties with the successor to the Reformed Church, the United Church of Christ. It offers over 70 undergraduate degrees. As of August 2024, Catawba has an endowment over $580 million.

Location

Salisbury, NC, 28144 · Suburb campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

RDU · Raleigh-Durham

96 mi away

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Cost

Cost of attendance

$49,516

Avg net price

$17,879

Room & board

$13,565

Tuition

$34,300

Books & supplies

$1,400/yr

Average net price by family income

$0–30k

$13,618

$30–48k

$17,495

$48–75k

$15,412

$75–110k

$17,440

$110k+

$24,420

Admissions

Admit rate

75%

Test policy

Test optional

SAT average

1096

Reading 520–650

Math 510–650

ACT midpoint

Composite 17–25

English 15–24

Math 16–24

SAT range (25th–75th percentile)

40080012001600

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Essay Requirements

Catawba College accepts the Common Application. All Common App schools require the personal statement essay. Some schools also require supplemental essays — check the school's page on Common App for current prompts and word limits.

See the current Common App essay prompts for the personal statement options.

Outcomes

Graduation rate

50%

4-yr on-time completion

47%

1st-yr retention

77%

Transfer-out rate

8-year outcomes

Graduated

57%

Transferred

28%

Still enrolled

Dropped out / unknown

15%

Median earnings (6yr)

$36,912

Median earnings (10yr)

$48,793

Median debt

$25,000

Monthly loan payment

$265

Debt range (25th–75th)

$7,495–$27,000

Debt (90th percentile)

$35,480

Student Body

Men 48%Women 52%

Student : Faculty ratio

■Students ■ Faculty

Pell grant recipients

41%

First-generation

30%

Median family income

$48,930

Independent students

20%

Avg age at entry

22.0

Part-time students

Race & ethnicity

White

54%

Hispanic

10%

Black

21%

Asian

Two or more

Non-resident

Unknown

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings for graduates across all programs

6 years after entry

$36,912

10 years after entry

$48,793

Business Administration, Management and Operations49

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness40

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods28

Natural Resources Conservation and Research18

Biology, General17

Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions16

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing11

Communication and Media Studies9

Criminal Justice and Corrections9

Special Education and Teaching8

Computer and Information Sciences, General7

Psychology, General7

Political Science and Government7

Accounting and Related Services6

Management Information Systems and Services6

Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology4

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Endowment

$386M

Classification

Baccalaureate (Diverse)

Undergraduate profile

Four-year, inclusive admissions

Full-time faculty

81%

Avg faculty salary

$8,682/mo

Instructional spend/student

$12,087