At $18,210/yr net price, Catawba College graduates earn $48,793/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $14,793/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $18,210 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $72,840 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $48,793/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$14,793/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 4.9 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 52.1% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $25,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $15,892/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,838/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,971/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,531/yr |
| $110,001+ | $25,348/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor | $48,198 | $23,250 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Bachelor | $34,259 | $19,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies. | Bachelor | $33,993 | $24,625 |
| Biology, General. | Bachelor | $26,739 | $25,863 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness. | Bachelor | $26,121 | $25,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | Bachelor | $23,693 | |
| Music. | Bachelor | $22,482 | $27,000 |
The Risk Factor
52.1% of students at Catawba College graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
Catawba College gives you a middling financial return. You pay about $18,210 a year and earn a median of $48,793 ten years out, which lands you in modest-payoff territory for a private nonprofit. The median debt of $25,000 is manageable against that income, but the payoff depends heavily on your major.
Business Administration is the clear winner here. Graduates earn nearly $48,200 while carrying the lowest debt of any tracked program at $23,250. That combination makes it the one major where the math clearly works in your favor. Everything else falls off sharply. Teacher Education and Communication both land in the low $34,000s, which is thin but survivable given teacher debt sits under $19,000.
Biology and Health/Physical Education are the real problems. Both pay around $26,000 ten years out while loading you with roughly $25,000 in debt. If you plan to stop at a bachelor's in biology, this school's numbers don't support it, and you'd carry the highest debt for the lowest pay. Biology only makes sense here if you treat it as a step toward medical or graduate school, which is your own gamble.
The other risk is completion. Only 52 percent of students graduate, and about a quarter don't return after freshman year. If you borrow and leave without a degree, you get the debt and none of the earnings.
The net price tiers reward lower-income families. If your family earns under $48,000, you pay under $14,000 a year, less than families earning over $110,000 who pay above $25,000. Catawba is a reasonable financial fit if you're aiming at business or coming from a lower-income household and can finish. If you want biology or a fitness degree and expect to stop at a bachelor's, look elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Catawba College worth the money?
Catawba College graduates earn a median of $48,793 ten years after graduation, which is below average for the $18,210 annual net price. With a 52% graduation rate and $25,000 in median debt, the financial return is modest compared to peer institutions.
What are the best paying majors at Catawba College?
Business Administration graduates from Catawba College earn the highest median salary at $48,198. Education majors earn significantly less at $34,259, while Biology and Health/Physical Education graduates start around $26,000.
How much debt do Catawba College students graduate with?
Catawba College graduates have a median debt of $25,000. This debt level is manageable for business majors but creates financial strain for education and health majors who earn significantly less after graduation.
Does Catawba College have good job placement after graduation?
Catawba College's 52% graduation rate indicates that nearly half of students don't complete their degree. While business program graduates see decent earnings, other majors face limited earning potential relative to their investment.