SCHOLARSHIPS & GRANTS
Merit-Based Scholarships
Merit-based scholarships range from $8,000 to full tuition and are based on a student’s academic performance in high school and/or prior college. All students are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships once they are granted admission to Catawba College.
2026 Merit Scholarship Levels
First-Year Students
Transfer Students
AVERAGE PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS TUITION AND FEES IN 2024-25
- U.S. News & World Report
CATAWBA COLLEGE TUITION AND FEES IN 2025-26
AVERAGE TUITION AND FEES SAVING AT CATAWBA COLLEGE
Catawba Need-Based Scholarships
Catawba need-based scholarships may be awarded to incoming students based on their financial need determined via the FAFSA.
Academic Scholarships
Academic scholarships range from $1,000 to $12,000 and are based on a student’s interest in a particular major at Catawba College. Each scholarship has its own criteria and requirements to retain the scholarship.
Additional Catawba Scholarships
Additional Catawba scholarships are awarded to students based on a student’s participation in athletic teams, programs, and clubs.
Additional Outside Scholarships
Additional scholarships can be added on top of a student’s financial aid package to help reduce the out-of-pocket cost or reduce the amount a student may need in student loans.
Grants & Loans
GRANTS
Pell Grant
The Federal Pell Grant is a grant awarded to undergraduate students based on their Student Aid Index (SAI) from the FAFSA and does not need to be paid back.
The Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG) is awarded on first-come, first served basis. The SEOG is also based on a student’s SAI and does not need to be paid back.
LOANS
Federal Direct Loan
The Federal Direct Stafford Loan is a fixed-rate loan available from the federal government. Fixed- rate means that the rate will remain the same. The Federal Direct Stafford Loan comes in two versions: subsidized and unsubsidized. Subsidized
The subsidized loan is based on financial need. If you qualify for this version, the federal government pays the interest on the loan while you’re in school. Unsubsidized
The unsubsidized loan is not based on financial need. You are charged interest on the loan as soon as the funds are disbursed. The subsidized and unsubsidized versions of the Federal Direct Stafford Loan require that repayment begin six months after graduation or upon termination of studies.
North Carolina Scholarships And Loans The North Carolina Need-Based Scholarship is a scholarship awarded to North Carolina residents attending private colleges as an undergraduate student. The award is based on a student’s SAI and does not need to be paid back.
Additional opportunities for North Carolina residents can be found by visiting the College Foundation of North Carolina website at www. cfnc.org. Each additional scholarship and loan opportunity has specific criteria and an application processes.
Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loans
The Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan is a loan a parent of an undergraduate student can use to pay a student’s out of pocket cost to attend. Repayment options are flexible. Origination fees are taken prior to disbursement to the student account. Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loans can be applied for by visiting www.studentaid.gov. Maximum loan per academic year is $20,000. Maximum aggregate PLUS Loan is $65,000.
Private Loan Programs
Alternative lenders are free to set their own repayment terms, interest rates, guarantee fees, etc. It is wise to compare several lenders to discover which ones are best suited to you. Alternative lenders often have fee and interest rate structures that are competitive with the federal loan programs.
FEDERAL AND CAMPUS WORK-STUDY
Federal and Campus Work-Study programs are a financial aid award offered based on a student’s SAI to allow undergraduate students to work as a part-time employee of Catawba College. Federal or Campus Work-Study will be listed as financial aid on a student’s financial aid letter if the student qualifies and funds are available. Learn about the Catawba College’s work-study process at catawba.edu/workstudy.
PAYMENT PLANS
Catawba offers a 5-pay interest free payment plan for each Fall and Spring semester is provided as an alternative to paying for tuition, housing and meal plans in one lump sum. The plan runs through the semester and can be set up on the student's TouchNet account. To learn more about the college’s payment plan, contact the Finance Office at 704.637.4388 or studentaccounts@catawba.edu.