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Colleges in and near Salisbury

Salisbury is home to three colleges, with 5,221 students on campus

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (3,353 students on campus) and Catawba College (1,054) are inside the city. About 9% of Salisbury’s residents are enrolled in college, above North Carolina (6%).

Catawba College

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Salisbury. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
3
5,221 students on campus
Nearest college
0.6 mi
Livingstone College
Residents in college
9%
Above NC (6%)
Nearest community college
1.9 mi
Rowan-Cabarrus · $2,064 tuition
Nearest public university
28.3 mi
University of North Carolina at Charlotte · $7,239 in-state
Median household income
$54K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Salisbury

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A college in SalisburyCatawba College has 1,054 students on campus in Salisbury, 47% of whom graduate within six years.A community college 1.9 miles awayRowan-Cabarrus Community College in Salisbury: tuition and fees $2,064 a year for North Carolina residents.In-state price at University of North Carolina at CharlotteLiving in North Carolina, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte charges $7,239 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $22,492. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 9% of residentsAbove North Carolina (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Salisbury

Two private colleges within 1.8 miles, and Rowan-Cabarrus Community College 1.9 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, is 28.3 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miRowan-CabarrusCatawba CollegeLivingstone CollegeSalisbury
University or collegeCommunity college
Livingstone CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 814 on campus · In Salisbury59%admitted$13knet price28%graduate$33kearningsCatawba CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,054 on campus · In Salisbury75%admitted$18knet price47%graduate$49kearningsRowan-Cabarrus Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,353 on campus · In Salisbury · mostly online$8knet price35%graduate$35kearnings51% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $2,064 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Salisbury’s median household income ($53,716) falls.

Rowan-Cabarrus Community CollegeIn Salisbury · mostly online · sticker $17,338 · tuition $2,064$8,903a year
Livingstone CollegeIn Salisbury · sticker $28,305$11,028a year
University of North Carolina at Charlotte28.3 mi · Charlotte · sticker $23,010$13,690a year
Catawba CollegeIn Salisbury · sticker $49,516$15,412a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Livingstone CollegeCatawba CollegeRowan-CabarrusUniversity of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Charlotte69% graduate$57k earnings$22k typical debt
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College35% graduate$35k earnings$9k typical debt
Catawba College47% graduate$49k earnings$25k typical debt
Livingstone College28% graduate$33k earnings$31k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Salisbury

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Salisbury’s 2 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 24%Parks & recreation 18%Biology 9%Education 7%Liberal arts 4%Natural resources 4%Everything else 33%

Biggest programs

Business Administration, Management and OperationsCatawba College · 49 graduates a year
$61k4 yrs out
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessCatawba College · 40 graduates a year
$44k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsCatawba College · 28 graduates a year
$49k4 yrs out
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessLivingstone College · 21 graduates a year
$42k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsLivingstone College · 21 graduates a year
$40k4 yrs out
Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchCatawba College · 18 graduates a year
$43k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralCatawba College · 17 graduates a year
$53k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsLivingstone College · 14 graduates a year
$35k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating. Left out: Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, where most students study only online.

Questions about college in Salisbury

Is Salisbury a college town?

No. About 9 of every 100 Salisbury residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above North Carolina (6). The largest campus in the city, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, has 3,353 students on campus.

What colleges are in Salisbury?

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Catawba College and Livingstone College are inside the city.

What is the closest community college to Salisbury, and what does it cost?

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College in Salisbury, 1.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $2,064 a year for North Carolina residents; the federal net price, $7,981, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does the University of North Carolina at Charlotte cost if we live in North Carolina?

Tuition and fees are $7,239 a year in-state and $22,492 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $10,357 (under $30,000 income) to $21,761 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Salisbury. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →