Soar to new heights.

The college experience you’ve waited for on the horizon.

Why Choose Catawba Valley?

We are serious about student success. We believe that college is more than classrooms – it’s also a chance to discover what your future holds. See why Red Hawk Nation has been the thriving community cornerstone for Catawba Valley for over 60 years.

Students to Faculty icon. Shows elements.

12:1

Students-to-Faculty Ratio

Graphic of four squares with a square in each of them and a symbol in that square. Symbols: Top left - Plus sign; Top Right - Minus sign; Bottom left - multiplication sign; Botton Right - 1/2

50+

Programs of Study

18+

Comprehensive Articulation Agreements

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35+

Clubs and Organizations

Get To Know CVCC

An Education Designed for You.

Explore the options below to find the path that fits your goals—whether you’re earning a degree, still in high school, or growing your career.

Graduates wearing purple graduation gowns raise their arms as purple mortarboard caps are thrown into the air at a commencement ceremony.

Challenger High School

Students graduate with an associate’s degree and a high school diploma.

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A student wearing glasses and a green hoodie concentrates on his computer screen in a modern cybersecurity lab. Rows of Dell desktop monitors fill the room, creating a structured learning environment. Another student in the background, also in a green hoodie, is engaged in his work, emphasizing the collaborative yet focused nature of the program. The setting highlights the technical skills and problem-solving mindset required for careers in cybersecurity, including ethical hacking, network defense, and data security.

Career and College Promise Students

Earn tuition-free college credits while still a high school student.

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A CVCC Mechatronics student uses a screwdriver to adjust wiring in a control panel, focusing on the components of an industrial automation system.

Veteran and Dependent Students

Veterans of the Armed Forces or their dependents using VA benefits.

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A smiling student wearing a red hoodie and backpack walks outdoors while holding a smartphone. He is looking upward with a joyful expression, and the background features large frosted glass windows set in a white wall.

Previous and Returning Students

If you are a previous student, you can restart your education.

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A woman wearing blue latex gloves holds up a transparent plastic sheet with a visible fingerprint, carefully inspecting it. She has a focused expression, and her attire, along with her gloves, suggests a forensic or laboratory setting. Her arms feature tattoos, and she wears a smartwatch on her wrist. The background includes a wooden door and a bulletin board, indicating a classroom or lab environment, possibly for forensic science training or analysis.

College Transfer Students

CVCC has exceptional college transfer programs leading to four-year degrees.

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Alexander Early College

Students graduate with an associate’s degree and a high school diploma.

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Three students sit side by side, focused on their laptops and working together in a collaborative learning environment. The student in the foreground wears a red hoodie and black cap, while the others wear blue and teal. The background features a bulletin board filled with colorful posters and announcements.

Visiting and Special Credit Students

If you’re visiting from another university, get ahead while you’re home on break.

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A focused student with long braided hair and a nose ring is sitting at a table, writing in a notebook. She is wearing a gray jacket and a graphic t-shirt, concentrating on her work. A blurred laptop screen is visible in the foreground, and other people are out of focus in the background, suggesting a classroom or study environment.

Degree Seeking Students

Earn a degree, diploma, or certificate at CVCC. New students start here.

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What’s College Without Community?

Did you Know?

Studies show students are more likely to achieve academic goals when participating in campus activities. With over 36 campus-wide clubs & organizations to choose from, you’re bound to find your place at Red Hawk Nation.

Discover Campus Life

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Discover Red Hawk Nation.

Real stories, real students.

A smiling student wearing a light pink hoodie reads a book while standing between bookshelves in a library. She holds the book open with both hands and appears engaged with the content. The setting is bright and organized, with overhead lights and additional study spaces visible in the background.

Redefine Your Future

Explore CVCC

A student wearing a red “RED HAWKS” t-shirt focuses intently while writing in a notebook during class. She has blonde hair, glasses with colorful frames, and is seated at a desk surrounded by school supplies. Bookshelves and other students are visible in the background, indicating a classroom setting.

An Education for Everyone

Access to Achievement

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College Close to Home

Alexander Complex

News & Events

Catawba Valley Community College Celebrates Ribbon Cutting for Dale Earnhardt Regional Innovation Complex

23rd April 2026

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3:00pm

Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC) and the CVCC Foundation, in partnership with the City of Hickory and regional leaders, celebrated the official ribbon cutting of the Dale Earnhardt Regional Innovation Complex on April 22, 2026.

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The Dale Earnhardt Regional Innovation Complex, a modern glass-and-steel building under a clear sky, features large windows, minimal landscaping, and reflective surfaces that emphasize its sleek, contemporary design.

Future in Flight

The Dale Earnhardt Regional Innovation Complex advances aviation and workforce training in Catawba Valley.

20th May 2026

Marcus and Piper stand behind an information table with career program brochures and promotional items at a career fair.

Blueprint for Success

From student to instructor, discover Marcus Sigmon’s and Piper Strong’s return to Red Hawk Nation.

20th May 2026

Members of the Dungeons and Dragons club sit around a table playing a tabletop role‑playing game with character sheets, dice, and a dungeon master screen.

Roll For Initiative

Adventure is near with CVCC’s Dungeons & Dragons Club.

20th May 2026

Popping with Purpose

“Trust me, it’s good!” CVCC alum Malcolm Linebarger is the ‘Boss Man’ and the cover face of Pooter Pop Kettle Corn, LLC. Pooter Pop is a small business owned and operated by the Linebarger family in Newton, North Carolina.

20th May 2026