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Catawba Valley Community College
Hickory, North Carolina · Public community college · Training programs available:
Address: 2550 Hwy 70 SE, Hickory, NC 28602 · Phone: (828) 327-7000 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Catawba Valley Community College is a public trade school in Hickory, NC, offering welding, electrician, and auto mechanic programs, accredited by SACS and other specialized bodies.
Catawba Valley Community College has a 35.2% completion rate, below the state average of 47.8%, with median graduate debt of $4,938 and median earnings of $36,977 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Catawba Valley Community College; the school participates in federal financial aid (Title IV), and 28.3% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $38,540 | $50,590 | $60,870 |
| Electricians | $40,130 | $56,800 | $61,920 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $31,500 | $48,200 | $63,170 |
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $26,880 | $38,410 | $48,300 |
| Machinists | $37,110 | $55,230 | $62,680 |
| Dental hygienists | $77,270 | $97,850 | $100,930 |
| Emergency medical technicians | $35,190 | $44,250 | $49,310 |
| Medical records specialists | $36,840 | $49,620 | $64,800 |
| Surgical technologists | $45,990 | $60,920 | $68,520 |
| HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers | $37,780 | $57,260 | $64,310 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | $52,860 | $74,450 | $83,340 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in North Carolina (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 82 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 37 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 35 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 24 | not reported | $14,627 | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Certificate, 1–2 years | 17 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 17 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Associate degree | 15 | not reported | $44,869 | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 11 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 10 | $46,010 | $42,930 | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 9 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 9 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 8 | $31,634 | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 7 | $46,010 | $42,930 | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 7 | $46,010 | $42,930 | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Associate degree | 5 | $20,861 | $27,155 | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Certificate, 1–2 years | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Catawba Valley Community College is a public trade and career training campus in Hickory, North Carolina. It participates in federal Title IV financial aid, meaning students can use FAFSA, federal loans, and Pell Grants to help pay for programs here. The school holds accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, along with program-specific accreditors including the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation, and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. Across 22 program offerings, the most-awarded trade credentials are in welding, electrical work, and auto mechanics, with 318 total trade completers recorded.
Federal data shows a completion rate of 35.2%, below the state average of 47.8% for similar programs. Graduates carry a median debt of $4,938, and median earnings ten years after entry are $36,977. About 28.3% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating meaningful representation of lower-income students. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data.
This campus offers a mix of short-term trade certificates and longer associate-level programs across fields like welding, HVAC, dental hygiene, and radiologic technology, which may suit both recent high school graduates and adult career changers depending on program length and format — details not fully specified in this data. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status and outcome figures directly through the College Scorecard or by contacting the school, since some numbers, including cost of attendance, are not reported here.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Catawba Valley Community College offers 22 trade and career programs, with the most completers in welding (102), electrician training (52), and auto mechanics (51). Other program families include cosmetology, CNC machining, dental hygiene, EMT training, medical billing/coding, surgical technology, HVAC, and radiology technology.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, along with specialized accreditors including the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation, and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can apply for FAFSA-based aid including Pell Grants and federal loans.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 35.2%, which is below the state average of 47.8% for comparable programs, according to federal data.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $4,938, per federal Scorecard data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings ten years after entry are $36,977, per the College Scorecard.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school directly at (828) 327-7000 or via https://www.cvcc.edu/ for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Catawba Valley Community College is a public institution, which often means lower tuition for in-state residents compared to private for-profit trade schools, though exact cost data is not reported here.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Specific program lengths are not reported in this data; the mix of certificate and associate-level offerings suggests both short-term and multi-year options, but applicants should confirm timelines with the school.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can review official outcome data through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?198233, or confirm accreditation status directly with the listed accrediting bodies.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The presence of both short trade certificates and longer associate programs in fields like welding, HVAC, and radiologic technology may suit career changers, though specific scheduling or adult-learner services are not detailed in this data.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Catawba Valley Community College at (828) 327-7000 or through its website, https://www.cvcc.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
This data does not include comparative information on nearby schools; prospective students should use the College Scorecard to compare completion rates, debt, and earnings across institutions.
Nearby trade and career schools in North Carolina
- Wilkes Community CollegeWilkesboro, NC · 55% completion
- Caldwell Community College and Technical InstituteHudson, NC · 45% completion
- Mitchell Community CollegeStatesville, NC · 28% completion
- Western Piedmont Community CollegeMorganton, NC · 49% completion
- 2nd Opportunity Trucking SchoolStatesville, NC
- Caldwell Community College & Technical InstituteHudson, NC
- Mayland Community CollegeNewland, NC
- Wake Technical Community CollegeRaleigh, NC · 33% completion
See all trade and career schools in North Carolina or search by ZIP code.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.