Catawba Valley Community College

Hickory, NC

Public midsize campus City: Small 2,741 undergrads

Affordability & debt

Average net price
$10,528per year, after aid
Undergraduates with a federal loan
0%
Undergraduates receiving a Pell grant
28%need-based, not repaid
Typical debt at graduation
$4,938federal loans, students who finished
Reducing their balance within 3 years
36%of borrowers who entered repayment

What that debt costs to repay. Typical debt here is about $4,938. At 7% over 10 years — the standard federal plan — that is roughly $57 a month, about $6,880 repaid in total, of which $1,942 is interest.

Stretch the same balance over 25 years and the payment drops to $35 a month — but the total climbs to $10,470, roughly $3,590 more in interest. A smaller payment is not a smaller loan.

An estimate, not financial advice: straight amortization at a fixed rate, ignoring fees, interest accrued while enrolled, and any forgiveness or income-driven plan. Figures on this page are averages and medians — what any one family borrows and pays varies widely. Try your own numbers.

Catawba Valley Community College’s net price calculator — every college is required to publish one. It is the only way to get a cost estimate based on your family’s own finances rather than an average.

Published tuition

In-state tuition
$2,427published rate
Out-of-state tuition
$7,803published rate

The sticker price before any aid. Most students pay less than this — the net price above is what aided students actually paid on average.

Outcomes

Median earnings
$36,97710 years after entry

Median earnings of former students who received federal aid, measured 10 years after they started.

Campus life

Campus setting
City: Small

Most common fields of study

  • Liberal arts & humanities40%
  • Health professions12%
  • Precision production10%
  • Construction trades9%
  • Business & marketing7%
  • Homeland security & law enforcement5%

Share of degrees awarded, by broad field.

Athletics

NJCAA Division II

  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Softball

What borrowing would really cost

Starting from the typical debt at Catawba Valley Community College. Change any figure to see your own.

Federal undergraduate loans have recently been near 7%. Private loans are often higher.

Standard plan — 10 years

$57per month

Total repaid
$6,880
Interest paid
$1,942

Longer term — 25 years

$35per month

Total repaid
$10,470
Interest paid
$5,532

Borrow $4,938 and repay it over 25 years instead of 10, and you pay $3,590 more — $10,470 in all, about 2.1× what you borrowed. The monthly payment is smaller; the loan is not.

An estimate, not financial advice. Straight amortization at a fixed rate: it assumes every payment is made on time and the rate never changes, and it leaves out fees, interest that accrues while you’re still enrolled, and any forgiveness or income-driven plan. Planning4College is not a financial advisor and sells no loans. Check real terms with your school’s financial aid office and studentaid.gov.

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Data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Equity in Athletics survey. Figures reflect the most recent reporting year available and may be out of date or incomplete — confirm anything decision-critical with the college directly. Official site: Catawba Valley Community College.