Higher Education
Catawba County is unique for a community of its size, being home to a public university, a private university, and a community college. Catawba Valley Community College, Lenoir-Rhyne University, and Appalachian State University's Hickory Campus, play complementary roles in workforce development across Catawba County.
Enrollment
12,951
Technical/Community College
(Curriculum & Continuing Education)
2,230
4-year Liberal Arts University
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511
4-year Public University
Catawba Valley Community College
Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC) serves as the region’s primary workforce training engine, offering short-term credentials, technical training, and customized programs aligned directly with local industry needs. Its Workforce Solutions Complex is designed specifically for industrial and engineering technology education, functioning as a regional hub connecting students, employers, and educators while preparing individuals for sustainable careers through hands-on learning, work-based training, and industry partnerships.
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CVCC’s Manufacturing Solutions Center is a community of innovators, creators, and problem solvers. Companies that partner with the MSC gain access to an ecosystem built to spark growth, collaboration and long-term success. The center has two state-of-the-art knitting labs to support Catawba County’s targeted recruitment of advanced textiles. Its prototyping lab brings ideas to life with welding, CNC machining, 3D printing, CAD design, and structural engineering while its sourcing expertise connects companies to the best domestic textile manufacturers and suppliers.
In addition, CVCC’s new Dale Earnhardt Regional Innovation Complex is located at the Hickory Regional Airport in the emerging Hickory Innovation District. The facility is designed to provide advanced workforce training and will incorporate simulation technology and cutting-edge educational tools. Programs will include aviation maintenance and testing, and marine technology, among others that align with emerging industry needs.
Lenoir Rhyne University
Lenoir-Rhyne University (LRU) complements these efforts by expanding access to four-year and graduate education while removing financial barriers through its Tuition-Free Guarantee program. This initiative covers 100 percent of tuition for new first-year and transfer students from North and South Carolina with a family income of $100,000 or less, beginning fall 2026. This program strengthens the region’s talent pipeline by allowing more local students—including those who begin at community colleges such as CVCC—to continue their education and develop advanced skills in fields such as healthcare, business, education, and science.
AppState Hickory
Appalachian State University Hickory Campus has undergone significant recent renovations to expand its workforce-aligned academic capacity. The six-story, 225,800-square-foot building is larger than any building on AppState’s Boone campus. with over 500 degree-seeking students, top areas of study at the Hickory Campus include Accounting, Computer Information Systems, Cybersecurity, Supply Chain Management, and more. Recent renovations include a new computer lab, a dedicated cybersecurity lab, two science labs, a conference room, and 12 new classrooms. These labs support growing programs in technology, science, and cybersecurity—fields strongly tied to regional workforce needs.
NC Community Colleges within 50 miles
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Private Colleges within 50 miles
