Program Payoff

Catawba Valley Community College

Hickory, North Carolina. 60 certificate and associate programs, public. 60 of them report what graduates earn; for the rest, the figure below is what the occupation pays in North Carolina.

ProgramCredentialMedian debtGraduates earnThe occupation pays
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Associate's degree $5,500 $47,963 (38) $84,350
Registered Nurses
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions Associate's degree $44,869 (26) $50,380
Dental Assistants
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Associate's degree $42,930 (50) $74,450
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
Criminal Justice and Corrections Undergraduate certificate $32,925 (16) $35,010
Security Guards
Business Administration, Management and Operations Associate's degree $28,236 (47) $101,950
General and Operations Managers
Accounting and Related Services Associate's degree $27,476 (18) $82,050
Accountants and Auditors
Health and Medical Administrative Services Associate's degree $27,155 (54) $44,190
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
Design and Applied Arts Associate's degree $25,194 (12) $58,450
Graphic Designers
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Associate's degree $5,500 $24,679 (79) $74,240
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services Undergraduate certificate $14,627 (12) $38,410
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Undergraduate certificate not published $74,450
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
Accounting and Related Services Undergraduate certificate not published $82,050
Accountants and Auditors
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services Undergraduate certificate not published $47,760
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services Associate's degree not published $47,760
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians Undergraduate certificate not published $46,700
Audio and Video Technicians
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians Associate's degree not published $46,700
Audio and Video Technicians
Business Administration, Management and Operations Undergraduate certificate not published $101,950
General and Operations Managers
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians Undergraduate certificate not published $134,710
Software Developers
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians Associate's degree not published $134,710
Software Developers
Computer Programming Associate's degree not published $134,710
Software Developers
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications Associate's degree not published $134,710
Software Developers
Computer and Information Sciences, General Undergraduate certificate not published $134,710
Software Developers
Computer and Information Sciences, General Associate's degree not published $134,710
Software Developers
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management Associate's degree not published $100,820
Project Management Specialists
Criminal Justice and Corrections Associate's degree not published $35,010
Security Guards
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers Undergraduate certificate not published $75,270
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians Undergraduate certificate not published $76,040
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians Associate's degree not published $76,040
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians Undergraduate certificate not published $59,190
Medical Equipment Repairers
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians Associate's degree not published $59,190
Medical Equipment Repairers
Engineering, General Associate's degree not published $167,840
Architectural and Engineering Managers
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations Undergraduate certificate not published $101,950
General and Operations Managers
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations Associate's degree not published $101,950
General and Operations Managers
Fire Protection Undergraduate certificate not published $141,160
Managers, All Other
Fire Protection Associate's degree not published $141,160
Managers, All Other
Health and Medical Administrative Services Undergraduate certificate not published $44,190
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs Associate's degree not published
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) Undergraduate certificate not published $57,260
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) Associate's degree not published $57,260
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
Homeland Security Undergraduate certificate not published $141,160
Managers, All Other
Homeland Security Associate's degree not published $141,160
Managers, All Other
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other Undergraduate certificate not published
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other Associate's degree not published
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services Undergraduate certificate not published $35,710
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
Information Science/Studies Undergraduate certificate not published $134,710
Software Developers
Information Science/Studies Associate's degree not published $134,710
Software Developers
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Undergraduate certificate not published $74,240
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians Undergraduate certificate not published $48,200
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians Associate's degree not published $48,200
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions Associate's degree not published $59,610
Child, Family, and School Social Workers
Precision Metal Working Undergraduate certificate not published $50,590
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
Precision Metal Working Associate's degree not published $50,590
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
Security Science and Technology Undergraduate certificate not published $82,050
Accountants and Auditors
Security Science and Technology Associate's degree not published $82,050
Accountants and Auditors
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness Undergraduate certificate not published $46,450
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness Associate's degree not published $46,450
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Undergraduate certificate not published $54,930
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Associate's degree not published $54,930
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Undergraduate certificate not published $48,200
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate's degree not published $48,200
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics

"Graduates earn" is the median two years after completing, from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, released 2026-06-10; the number in brackets is how many graduates it covers. A dash means the Department has not published a figure — it withholds any median computed from too few graduates — and never that the figure is zero. "The occupation pays" is the state median for the occupation the program leads to, from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, and describes everyone in that job rather than graduates of this school.