Catawba Valley Community College

Hickory, North Carolina · Public · 2,741 undergraduates

Of 14 programs with reported earnings, 12 leave graduates out-earning a typical North Carolina high-school graduate (about $34,059/yr) and 2 fall short. Another 47 programs did not have enough data to judge.

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What families actually pay

Family income	Net price per year
Under $30k	$9,170
$30k to $48k	$9,639
$48k to $75k	$13,129
$75k to $110k	$15,469
All families (average)	$10,528

Net price is the yearly cost after grants and scholarships, by family income (College Scorecard). Credit: TuitionTracker.

Program earnings vs a high-school graduate

Program	Credential	Median earnings	vs HS grad	Verdict	Median debt	Payback
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities	Associate's Degree	$41,497	+$7,438	clears the bar	$5,500	0.7 yrs
Business Administration, Management and Operations	Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma	$43,380	+$9,321	clears the bar	n/a	n/a
Health and Medical Administrative Services	Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma	$35,653	+$1,594	clears the bar	n/a	n/a
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	Associate's Degree	$66,385	+$32,326	clears the bar	$5,500	0.2 yrs
Precision Metal Working	Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma	$43,883	+$9,824	clears the bar	n/a	n/a
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions	Associate's Degree	$58,094	+$24,035	clears the bar	n/a	n/a
Criminal Justice and Corrections	Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma	$43,919	+$9,860	clears the bar	n/a	n/a
Accounting and Related Services	Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma	$43,703	+$9,644	clears the bar	n/a	n/a
Business Administration, Management and Operations	Associate's Degree	$43,089	+$9,030	clears the bar	n/a	n/a
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services	Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma	$25,908	-$8,151	falls short	n/a	n/a
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions	Associate's Degree	$66,069	+$32,010	clears the bar	n/a	n/a
Health and Medical Administrative Services	Associate's Degree	$36,141	+$2,082	clears the bar	n/a	n/a
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods	Associate's Degree	$27,722	-$6,337	falls short	n/a	n/a
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions	Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma	$53,870	+$19,811	clears the bar	n/a	n/a

Access and outcomes: 28% of students receive Pell grants · 35% complete their program.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10). Earnings are median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing, compared to the state high-school-graduate earnings threshold. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Something look wrong? Report it.