Catawba College is somewhat selective in its admission process. The acceptance rate of Catawba College is 67.08%. This means that 67 out of every 100 applicants get admitted.
How Competitive are Catawba College Admissions?
- Competitive: Applicants need good academics and extracurriculars.
- GPA, SAT/ACT, and AP/IB courses significantly impact admission chances.
- A holistic review considers essays, recommendations, and leadership roles.

To secure admission, you must convince the admission staff that you are both mentally and physically fit for the course of study. More importantly, your GPA, class performance, SAT/ACT scores, and IB or AP courses can help your application stand out. Additionally, if you do not perform well in one area, you can showcase your strengths in other areas, as the Catawba College is not very strict in its admission process, so improving other areas will help you secure admission.
As the acceptance rate is above 50%, you still have a chance if your GPA is not excellent. You can make up for a lower GPA by scoring high on the SAT, and ACT, and taking IB or AP courses.
Additionally, a well-written letter of recommendation, your participation in co-curricular and extracurricular activities, and your interpersonal communication skills can enhance your admission chances.
Catawba College Admission Requirements
Catawba College GPA Requirement
If your GPA is less than 2.4 and higher than 2.1 then you need higher SAT or ACT scores to compensate. You need a minimum of 2 GPA, to secure admission at Catawba College. Below this, the chances of admission will be very slim.
Can I Get Into Catawba College Without SAT Or ACT?: Catawba College considers admission test scores (SAT/ACT) during the application process but does not require them. Although it is not strictly a requirement, the test scores are considered for admission decisions. Hence, it is advisable to prepare well for the test and submit the best scores. Normally, students may appear in the test 4 to 5 times to improve their scores. Hence you are required to plan early and appear in upcoming SAT / ACT tests. Check the schedule of the test and plan accordingly. It is advisable to appear multiple times in the test unless you score well above the average SAT / ACT score of the admitted students, as given below.
Catawba College SAT Requirements
Each school has different requirements for SAT and ACT testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them. The test score policy is already mentioned.
Catawba College Average SAT Score: 1124
The average SAT score of the admitted students at Catawba College is 1124 on the 1600 SAT scale.
Catawba College SAT Competitiveness

This score makes it less competitive for SAT test scores. You need to put average efforts to score 1124 on the SAT.
Key Insight:Aim for the 75th percentile (1210 SAT or 27 ACT) to stand out. If your scores are below average, consider retaking the test. Catawba College allows Score Choice for the SAT and Superscoring for the ACT, giving you flexibility to submit your best scores.
If your score is below 1000, you must retake the SAT to improve your chances of admission to Catawba College. It is not strange to appear multiple times for the SAT to improve scores. Colleges don’t mind if you have appeared multiple times, but not more than 5 times.
Catawba College SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
---|---|---|---|
SAT Math | 555 | 500 | 610 |
SAT Reading | 550 | 500 | 600 |
SAT Composite | 1124 | 1000 | 1210 |
It means that if you have scored less than 1000 then you are below most of the admitted students at Catawba College and your chances of admission are very few. But if you have scored 1210 or more, your chances of admission are higher. 25th percentile means that only 25% of the admitted students have fewer scores than this score. 75th percentile marks the score of the upper 25% of the students. View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1100
Can I get into Catawba College with a 1200 SAT?
With a 1200 SAT Score, your chances of admission at Catawba College are good but the admission staff at Catawba College tests your all-around personality and your academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores, and AP or IB Courses can help your application stand out. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and interpersonal communication skills are very important. Additionally, if you cannot perform well in one area, you have a chance to showcase your strengths and abilities in other areas, improving other areas will help you secure admission. You need to show better performance in all areas. An equally high GPA, taking IB or AP Courses and your role in leadership activities will increase your chances of admission. However, if you equally compete well in all other areas, your chances of admission are high.
Catawba College ACT Requirements
The average ACT Score at Catawba College is 23.
Catawba College ACT Competitiveness

This score makes Catawba College slightly Competitive for ACT scores. You need to well to score 23 on the ACT.
Catawba College ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
---|---|---|---|
ACT Math | 22 | 17 | 26 |
ACT English | 21 | 15 | 26 |
ACT Composite | 23 | 18 | 27 |
Can I get into Catawba College with a 27 ACT?
With a 27 ACT Score, your chances of admission at Catawba College are good but the admission staff does not check your ACT Score only. The College Admission process tests your all-around personality and academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores, and AP or IB Courses can help your application stand out. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and interpersonal communication skills are very important. Additionally, if you cannot perform well in one area, you have a chance to showcase your strengths and abilities in other areas, improving other areas will help you secure admission.
SAT Vs ACT: Which score to send
You can compare your scores in SAT and ACT to the average SAT and ACT Scores of the admitted students at Catawba College. More importantly, comparing your scores with the 25th and 75th percentiles of SAT and ACT scores will give you a better understanding of where you stand. If your score on the SAT is near the 75th percentile SAT score, then you must send your SAT score. If your ACT score is near the 75th percentile, then you must send your ACT Score.
But there is more, if both of your scores are in the same range, then it is better to send an ACT Score, as in the case of ACT, you can control which score to send as opposed to SAT.
Here is how: When sending the ACT Score, you can decide which score you want to send to the colleges. You could take 8 ACT tests, and only send your highest one. This is not the case with the SAT, where your score report mentions all of your attempts.
View a list of all colleges with an average ACT score of 23.Catawba College Profile
Name: Catawba College
City: Salisbury
URL: www.catawba.edu/
State: North Carolina
Type: Non-Profit Private
Zip: 28144
Campus: Main
Accredited by: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
How much does a degree from Catawba College Cost?
The average annual cost of the degree at Catawba College is USD: 46573. As most of the students receive Pell Grants and Federal Grants the average annual net price a student has to pay at Catawba College is much less than this.
How can I get a scholarship?
39.22% of the students are receiving Pell Grant and 61.59 percent are receiving Federal Grants. So it is a better choice to go to Catawba College and apply for PELL or federal loan grants.
At Catawba College, you will have no problem receiving any scholarship from the federal government. Fill in the FAFSA application form at the earliest and enlist Catawba College as your choice in the form.
How much a Catawba College Graduate make?
The average annual salary of the Catawba College graduate after 4-6 years of graduation is USD 48793. An average Catawba College graduate makes this much after 10 years of enrollment (4-6 years after graduation).
The average annual income of a graduate in the United States is USD: 40595

Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Catawba College. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower than the requirements of Catawba College, you'll be competitive for these schools.
School | Location | SAT | ACT |
---|---|---|---|
Huntingdon College | Huntingdon College, AL | 1086 | 21 |
Spring Hill College | Spring Hill College, AL | 1094 | 22 |
Tuskegee University | Tuskegee University, AL | 1091 | 21 |
University of Arkansas at Little Rock | University of Arkansas at Little Rock, AR | 1089 | 21 |
Arkansas Tech University | Arkansas Tech University, AR | 1090 | 21 |
University of the Ozarks | University of the Ozarks, AR | 1087 | 22 |
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus, AR | 1088 | 21 |
Pacific Union College | Pacific Union College, CA | 1075 | 21 |
Southern California Institute of Architecture | Southern California Institute of Architecture, CA | 1100 | NA |
University of Northern Colorado | University of Northern Colorado, CO | 1106 | 24 |

Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Catawba College. If your SAT or ACT score are competitive for Catawba College, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
School | Location | SAT | ACT |
---|---|---|---|
University of South Alabama | University of South Alabama, AL | 1118 | 23 |
Arkansas State University | Arkansas State University, AR | 1119 | 22 |
University of Central Arkansas | University of Central Arkansas, AR | 1118 | 22 |
Azusa Pacific University | Azusa Pacific University, CA | 1132 | 25 |
University of La Verne | University of La Verne, CA | 1116 | 22 |

More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Catawba College. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
School | Location | SAT | ACT |
---|---|---|---|
University of Arkansas | University of Arkansas, AR | 1167 | 25 |
Harding University | Harding University, AR | 1182 | 24 |
Ouachita Baptist University | Ouachita Baptist University, AR | 1180 | 25 |
Dominican University of California | Dominican University of California, CA | 1192 | 24 |
University of Colorado Colorado Springs | University of Colorado Colorado Springs, CO | 1180 | 25 |
Degree Programs
Bachelor Degree Programs
- Accounting and Related Services
- Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
- Applied Mathematics
- Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management
- Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
- Biology, General
- Business Administration, Management and Operations
- Chemistry
- Communication and Media Studies
- Computer and Information Sciences, General
Full list of All degree programs offered by Catawba College.
Data on this page is sourced from IPEDS, College Scorecard's latest data as provided in 2024, US Department of Education's latest 2024 statistics, Institute's official websites and printed material as well as additional publicly available sources.