Gardner-Webb University
- Graduation Rate
- 59% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $48,039 B-
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $17,674 C
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 77% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 15.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $15.0 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $15.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $989,465.
What The Data Says
-
A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Every $1 invested returns $15.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Gardner-Webb University Matters
Gardner-Webb University is a private doctoral / professional university in Boiling Springs, NC and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Doctoral / Professional University
- Carnegie Class
- Doctoral/Professional
- Enrollment
- 1,856
- Setting
- Rural
- Designations
- 75
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Education, Psychology
Why students choose Gardner-Webb University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 77% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 975–1198. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $17,674 a year after grants and scholarships — 3% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $48,039 ten years after enrolling — 18% above the typical college, against $24,222 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.41 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of 1,856 students, Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, NC, caters to those looking for a supportive community where they can pursue degrees in areas like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Education, and Biology & Biomedical. The acceptance rate is 77%, which indicates that many students have the opportunity to join this nurturing environment. It’s a place for those who value a smaller campus feel and want to engage closely with their peers and faculty.
Looking ahead to life after graduation, students can expect to earn about $48,039 within ten years of completing their degree. This figure reflects the potential for upward mobility, especially for graduates in high-demand fields. The affordability factor is also crucial; many students benefit from financial aid, making it easier to manage the cost of education and transition into their careers.
When we talk about the numbers that matter, the net price after aid stands at $17,674, which is relatively reasonable for a private university. Graduates graduate with a median debt of $24,222, a manageable amount for many. We see that students who thrive here often embrace the close-knit community and take advantage of the personal attention from faculty, which can lead to strong support systems and successful outcomes after graduation.
Rankings
- #22 Best Communications Colleges in North Carolina
- #28 Best Education Colleges in North Carolina
- #31 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in North Carolina
- #34 Best Online Nursing Programs in North Carolina
- #34 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in North Carolina
- #35 Best Online Computer Science Programs in North Carolina
- #36 Best Online Business Programs in North Carolina
- #36 Best Online Education Programs in North Carolina
Can I Get In?
How selective Gardner-Webb University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Gardner-Webb University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, Gardner-Webb University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 77%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,113. The graduation rate is roughly 59%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 77%
- Retention Rate
- 55%
- SAT Average
- 1113
- ACT Midpoint
- 21
- SAT Range
- 975–1198
- ACT Range
- 19–25
- Full-Time Faculty
- 99%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,375
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 11:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.73
- First-Gen Students
- 35%
- Applicants
- 5,728
- Admitted
- 4,293
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Gardner-Webb University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Gardner-Webb University is $34,760, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $17,674. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,304 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,222 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $34,760
- Out-of-State
- $34,760
- Avg Net Price
- $17,674
- Median Debt
- $24,222
- Pell Grant Rate
- 37%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 47%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $15,304
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $14,594
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $13,769
- Family Income $110K+
- $22,438
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Gardner-Webb University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Gardner-Webb University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Gardner-Webb University earn a median of $48,039, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $43,996
- 8 Years
- $46,747
- 10 Years
- $48,039
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.5x
- Earning > $25K
- 65%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (219)
- 45%
- 100% (219)
- 45%
- 100% (219)
- 45%
- 100% (219)
- 45%
How Gardner-Webb Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Gardner-Webb University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Gardner-Webb University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $17,674/year ($70,696 total). Graduates earn $48,039 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,060,161 in total earnings — a net gain of $989,465 (15.0× your investment). The median debt is $24,222, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 59% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $70,696
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,060,161
- Net Return
- $989,465
- ROI Multiple
- 15.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $17,674
- Median Debt
- $24,222
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 59%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $5,341,952
- Investment Income
- $-6,842,910
Top Programs
The fields Gardner-Webb University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 20% $70,864 early-career
- Business & Marketing 19% $56,154 early-career
- Education 13% $41,405 early-career
- Psychology 12% $34,195 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 11% $28,100 early-career
- Criminal Justice 4% $38,313 early-career
- Communications 4% $23,930 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 2% $53,434 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Gardner-Webb University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Gardner-Webb University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, Gardner-Webb University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 77%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,113. The graduation rate is roughly 59%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Gardner-Webb University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Gardner-Webb University is $34,760, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $17,674. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,304 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,222 in federal student loans.
Is Gardner-Webb University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Gardner-Webb University earn a median of $48,039, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Gardner-Webb University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Gardner-Webb University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.41, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Gardner-Webb University.
- University of Mount OliveMount Olive, NC · Close peer50% grad $47,139 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Mercyhurst UniversityErie, PA · Close peer59% grad $47,452 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Trevecca Nazarene UniversityNashville, TN · Close peer54% grad $49,378 earn 69% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Buena Vista UniversityStorm Lake, IA · Close peer54% grad $49,156 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- SUNY College at PotsdamPotsdam, NY · Close peer47% grad $47,866 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Cornerstone UniversityGrand Rapids, MI · Close peer62% grad $47,314 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Gardner-Webb University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Gardner-Webb University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.41, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note