HomeNorth CarolinaWelding schools › Catawba Valley Community College

Catawba Valley Community College

Hickory, North Carolina · public · mainly awards associate degrees · 2,741 students · WeldingMachining & CNCHVACElectricianElectrical LinemanDiesel MechanicsAutomotive TechnologyAviation MaintenanceDental AssistingCosmetologyBarberingEMT & ParamedicRadiologic Technology

Avg net price / yr
$10,528
cheaper than 36% of comparable schools
Completion rate
34%
Median debt at completion
$4,938
Median earnings (10 yrs after entry)
$36,977
earns ~$3,512.3 per $1k of yearly net price

About

Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory, NC, is a public institution mainly awarding associate degrees. With 2,741 students, it offers training in fields ranging from HVAC to vehicle maintenance.

What to know

The average annual net price after aid is $10,528, and the median student debt at completion is $4,938. The school reports a completion rate of 34%, which is typical for community colleges where many students transfer to four-year schools. Ten years after entry, graduates typically earn a median of $36,977.

Net price is 63% above the North Carolina median ($6,448) for schools offering these programs. Reported median earnings are 4% below the national median ($38,354) for comparable schools.

See what aid you may qualify for

28.4% of students here receive federal Pell Grants. Get aid deadlines and program matches for Welding programs in North Carolina.

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Programs & what graduates earn

ProgramCredentialMedian earnings 2 yrs after completion
Dental Support Services and Allied Professionsassociate degree$44,869
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professionsassociate degree$42,930
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Servicesundergraduate certificate$14,627
Electrical and Power Transmission Installersundergraduate certificatenot reported
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)undergraduate certificatenot reported
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)associate degreenot reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Techniciansundergraduate certificatenot reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Techniciansassociate degreenot reported
Precision Metal Workingundergraduate certificatenot reported
Precision Metal Workingassociate degreenot reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professionsundergraduate certificatenot reported
Show all 49 other programs at this school
ProgramCredentialMedian earnings (2 yr after completion)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursingassociate degree$47,963
Criminal Justice and Correctionsundergraduate certificate$32,925
Business Administration, Management and Operationsassociate degree$28,236
Accounting and Related Servicesassociate degree$27,476
Health and Medical Administrative Servicesassociate degree$27,155
Design and Applied Artsassociate degree$25,194
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanitiesassociate degree$24,679
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Servicesundergraduate certificatenot reported
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Servicesassociate degreenot reported
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Techniciansundergraduate certificatenot reported
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Techniciansassociate degreenot reported
Computer and Information Sciences, Generalundergraduate certificatenot reported
Computer and Information Sciences, Generalassociate degreenot reported
Computer Programmingassociate degreenot reported
Information Science/Studiesundergraduate certificatenot reported
Information Science/Studiesassociate degreenot reported
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunicationsassociate degreenot reported
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Managementassociate degreenot reported
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methodsundergraduate certificatenot reported
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methodsassociate degreenot reported
Engineering, Generalassociate degreenot reported
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Techniciansundergraduate certificatenot reported
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Techniciansassociate degreenot reported
Electromechanical Technologies/Techniciansundergraduate certificatenot reported
Electromechanical Technologies/Techniciansassociate degreenot reported
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Techniciansundergraduate certificatenot reported
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Techniciansassociate degreenot reported
Computer Engineering Technologies/Techniciansundergraduate certificatenot reported
Computer Engineering Technologies/Techniciansassociate degreenot reported
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Servicesundergraduate certificatenot reported
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanitiesundergraduate certificatenot reported
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitnessundergraduate certificatenot reported
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitnessassociate degreenot reported
Criminal Justice and Correctionsassociate degreenot reported
Fire Protectionundergraduate certificatenot reported
Fire Protectionassociate degreenot reported
Homeland Securityundergraduate certificatenot reported
Homeland Securityassociate degreenot reported
Security Science and Technologyundergraduate certificatenot reported
Security Science and Technologyassociate degreenot reported
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Otherundergraduate certificatenot reported
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Otherassociate degreenot reported
Health and Medical Administrative Servicesundergraduate certificatenot reported
Health/Medical Preparatory Programsassociate degreenot reported
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professionsassociate degreenot reported
Business Administration, Management and Operationsundergraduate certificatenot reported
Accounting and Related Servicesundergraduate certificatenot reported
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operationsundergraduate certificatenot reported
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operationsassociate degreenot reported

Get paid while you train instead

Registered apprenticeships are an alternative to paying for school — sponsors pay wages from day one. In North Carolina:

Questions students ask

Is Catawba Valley Community College a public or private school?
It is a public school located in Hickory, NC.
What programs are offered and at what credential levels?
The school offers associate degrees in Dental Support Services and Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. It also offers undergraduate certificates in Cosmetology, Electrical and Power Transmission Installers, HVAC maintenance technology, and Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies.
What are the typical earnings for graduates of specific programs?
For Dental Support Services and Allied Professions, median earnings two years after completion are $44,869. For Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions, the figure is $42,930. For Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services, median earnings are $14,627.
How many students finish the program according to the data?
The reported completion rate for the school is 34%. This metric may not include students who transfer to other institutions.
How large is the student body?
There are 2,741 students enrolled. The school also offers 52 additional programs beyond the trades listed.

Other options in North Carolina

SchoolCityNet price / yrCompletionEarnings (10 yr)
College of the AlbemarleElizabeth City$2,25334%$33,234
South Piedmont Community CollegePolkton$6,67526.9%$37,308
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community CollegeAsheville$11,60233.6%$36,048
Beaufort County Community CollegeWashington$6,50042.7%$32,519
Bladen Community CollegeDublin$9,55123.7%$30,591
Blue Ridge Community CollegeFlat Rock$5,75648.8%$36,324
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (most recent release, pulled July 2026), school ID 198233. Figures are federally reported medians and may lag current prices. "Not reported" means the federal dataset suppresses or lacks the value — often due to small cohort sizes. How we compute comparisons. This site is independent and not affiliated with any government agency or school.