Catawba College vs Meredith College: which has better ROI?
Meredith College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $89,952 in 28.3 years versus 165.2 years at Catawba College, on median earnings of $51,539 vs $48,793 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Catawba College | Meredith College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,879 | $22,488 |
| Total net cost | $71,516 | $89,952 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,793 | $51,539 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 165.2 yrs | 28.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$62,856 | -$26,372 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Catawba College or Meredith College?
Catawba College, at $17,879 a year after aid versus $22,488 — a gap of $4,609 a year, or $18,436 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Catawba College or Meredith College graduates earn more?
Meredith College graduates report a median $51,539 ten years after entry, $2,746 more than the $48,793 at Catawba College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Catawba College or Meredith College?
Completers at both borrow a median $25,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
Which graduates more of its students?
70% of students finish at Meredith College, against 47% at Catawba College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.