Gardner-Webb University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. It enrolls 1,856 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
60/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes28
Value51
Affordability62
Selectivity38
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 77.2%, Gardner-Webb University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
77.2%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
975 – 1198
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
19 – 25
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Gardner-Webb University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
20.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Gardner-Webb University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $17,674 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$17,674
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
37%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
47%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$34,760
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,410
Room & Board (off-campus)
$7,500
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,500
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,700
Total Cost of Attendance
$47,091
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$15,304
$30,001 – $48,000
$14,594
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,769
$75,001 – $110,000
$15,946
Over $110,000
$22,438
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,84710%percentile
$6,81825%percentile
$24,222Medianpercentile
$26,69775%percentile
$33,89990%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $18,430
↓ $5,792
No Pell $12,625
↓ $11,597
Dependent students $15,000
↓ $9,222
Independent students $19,549
↓ $4,673
Female students $18,500
↓ $5,722
Male students $12,000
↓ $12,222
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($24,222), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
59% of full-time students who enrolled at Gardner-Webb University graduate within six years, and 62% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
59%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
62%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Gardner-Webb University earn a median of $48,039 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$48,039
Earning > $25K
79%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$39,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$46,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$34,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$42,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$46,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,900, about 17% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
17.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 73% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Gardner-Webb University is home to 1,856 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 35% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,856
Part-Time
12%
First-Generation
35%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 49.0%909
Black 16.1%298
Hispanic 4.0%74
Other 3.3%61
Asian 0.9%17
International 0.1%2
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Gardner-Webb University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: DistantBoiling Springs, North Carolina
Housing
Strongly residential1,368 beds for 1,856 students
Adult Learners
25%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Gardner-Webb University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
60 distinct programs across
19 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Gardner-Webb University is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$126M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$60,555
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
128 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
47
37%
$74,758
Associate Professors
32
25%
$58,793
Assistant Professors
29
23%
$51,885
Instructors
20
16%
$42,564
Pros & Cons of Gardner-Webb University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Gardner-Webb University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
CONS
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, Gardner-Webb University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Gardner-Webb University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Gardner-Webb University.
Is Gardner-Webb University hard to get into?
Gardner-Webb University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 77.2%.
What is the acceptance rate at Gardner-Webb University?
Gardner-Webb University has an acceptance rate of 77.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Gardner-Webb University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Gardner-Webb University scored between 975 and 1198 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Gardner-Webb University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Gardner-Webb University scored between 19 and 25 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Gardner-Webb University cost?
The average net price after aid at Gardner-Webb University is $17,674 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Gardner-Webb University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $48,039 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $17,674 per year. That's roughly 2.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Gardner-Webb University known for?
Gardner-Webb University is best known for its programs in Educational Administration, Business Administration, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Gardner-Webb University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Gardner-Webb University are $48,039, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Gardner-Webb University accredited?
Yes. Gardner-Webb University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Gardner-Webb University?
Gardner-Webb University enrolls 1,856 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Gardner-Webb University?
Gardner-Webb University graduates 59% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Gardner-Webb University a public or private college?
Gardner-Webb University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Gardner-Webb University located?
Gardner-Webb University is located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina.
What programs does Gardner-Webb University offer?
Gardner-Webb University offers 60 distinct programs. The most popular include Educational Administration, Business Administration, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Gardner-Webb University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Gardner-Webb University is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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