Quad

Head-to-head

Catawba
Manchester

Key differences

The biggest gaps between these schools, largest first.

  1. 1

    Catawba graduates 6 pts more of its students than Manchester (58% vs. 52%)

    Graduation rate
  2. 2

    Manchester has 4 pts more first-gen students than Catawba (34% vs. 30%)

    First-generation students
  3. 3

    Catawba is a bit larger (1,235 vs. 936)

    Undergrads
  4. 4

    Manchester has 4 pts more Pell recipients than Catawba (45% vs. 41%)

    Pell Grant recipients
  5. 5

    Manchester grads earn $2.7K more ten years out than Catawba's ($51,504 vs. $48,793)

    Median earnings, 10 yrs
  6. 6

    Manchester's yield is 2 pts higher than Catawba's

    Yield rate

The shape of each school

Each axis is a national rank among 4-year colleges; further out = more of it.

SelectivityTest scoresSizePell shareFirst-genDiversity

Hollow dots at the center mean that measure isn't reported.

Who's hardest to get into

Manchester admits 71%, Catawba 75%; Manchester's yield is higher, at 15%.

Acceptance rate
Catawba75%
Manchester71%
Quad's selectivity
  • CatawbaAccessible
  • ManchesterAccessible
SAT middle 50%Axis 900–1600
Catawba
1030–1300
ManchesterTest-blind
How they read a recordfirst-years at 3.75+
  • CatawbaGPA, school record, and prep program required
  • ManchesterGPA and school record required

Who's on each campus

Catawba is a bit larger than Manchester (1,235 vs. 936 undergrads); Manchester has the larger Pell share.

Undergrads
Catawba1.2K
Manchester936
Pell Grant share
Catawba41%
Manchester45%

Majors and faculty

Business Administration and Management leads at Catawba, and Exercise Science and Kinesiology at Manchester.

Students per faculty member
Catawba13 to 1
Manchester12 to 1
Most popular majorshare of graduates
  • CatawbaBusiness Administration and Management, General19%
  • ManchesterExercise Science and Kinesiology11%

What each costs

Catawba and Manchester cost about the same a year on average; Catawba's grants cover the larger share of its price.

Average cost, all students
Catawba$20K
Manchester$20.1K
Aid generosity
Catawba61%
Manchester60%

What each pays off

Manchester's former students earn more, a median $51.5K ten years after enrolling; both graduate more than 50% within six years.

Median earnings, 10 years
Catawba$48.8K
Manchester$51.5K
Graduation rate
Catawba58%
Manchester52%

How each has changed

Applications grew at Manchester but held steady at Catawba; Manchester got more selective while Catawba got less.

Applications, 10-year change
  • CatawbaSteady−6%
  • ManchesterGrowing+28%
All the numbersEvery figure for these colleges in one table, with differences highlighted.
Sources for this comparisonEvery dataset and year behind the numbers in this comparison; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D), Fall 2024;IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2024–25 graduates;College Scorecard, 2023–24;IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients), Entered fall 2018About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why