Wingate University vs Catawba College: which has better ROI?
Wingate University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $82,992 in 19.3 years versus 165.2 years at Catawba College, on median earnings of $52,649 vs $48,793 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Wingate University | Catawba College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,748 | $17,879 |
| Total net cost | $82,992 | $71,516 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,649 | $48,793 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 19.3 yrs | 165.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $2,788 | -$62,856 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Wingate University or Catawba College?
Catawba College, at $17,879 a year after aid versus $20,748 — a gap of $2,869 a year, or $11,476 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Wingate University or Catawba College graduates earn more?
Wingate University graduates report a median $52,649 ten years after entry, $3,856 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, Wingate University or Catawba 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?
47% of students finish at Catawba College, against 46% at Wingate University. 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.