Education

Higher Education

Catawba County is home to Appalachian State University Hickory Campus, a public four-year university; Lenoir Rhyne University, a four-year liberal arts school and Catawba Valley Community College.

Catawba Valley Community College's (CVCC) commitment to solving workforce needs for local industries is evident in the creation of its Workforce Solutions Complex.  A culmination of many years of planning and collaboration with the three public school systems, this $23 million dollar, 86,000 square foot facility houses technology and engineering programs for college students, and junior & senior high school students from all schools in Catawba County.  Business-driven programs include:  Computer Engineering Technology, Electrical Engineering Technology, Computer Integrated Machining, Electronics Engineering Technology, Welding, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Mechatronics, and Robotics.   

The new 225,800 s.f. Appalachian State University Hickory Campus opened in Fall 2023 with more than 100 undergraduate majors available and an inaugural enrollment of 363 students. The facility is larger than any building on App State's main campus in Boone and sits on 115.7 acres of land including large open spaces.  It is a short drive from the NC School of Science and Mathematics western campus in Morganton which opened in June 2022.

Lenoir Rhyne University (LRU), a private Lutheran school, is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. The University has nearly 2,700 students, including both undergraduate and graduate.  LRU offers 50 majors, 53 minors, and 20 graduate programs.  Academic programs include Accounting, Business Administration, Information Technology, International Business, Management, Marketing, Nursing, and more.  There are 140 full-time faculty, 81% of which hold terminal degrees.  

Colleges & Universities within 50 miles of Catawba County

K-12 Education