Gardner-Webb University
Boiling Springs, NC · Private nonprofit · offers Graduate degrees
77%Acceptance rate
$17,674Average net price / year
55%Graduation rate
$48,039Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$24,222Median debt at graduation
1,856Undergraduates
Cost
- In-state tuition & fees
- $34,760
- Total cost of attendance
- $47,091
- Room & board
- $11,410
- Books & supplies
- $1,000
- Average net price
- $17,674
Net price by family income
- $0–30k
- $15,304
- $30–48k
- $14,594
- $48–75k
- $13,769
- $75–110k
- $15,946
- $110k+
- $22,438
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 77.2%
- Average SAT
- 1113
- SAT reading (25–75%)
- 495–608
- SAT math (25–75%)
- 480–590
- ACT composite (25–75%)
- 19–25
Outcomes
- Graduation rate
- 55%
- First-year retention
- 55%
- Median earnings (6 yrs)
- $43,996
- Median earnings (10 yrs)
- $48,039
- Median debt (graduates)
- $24,222
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0.0%
- Students with Pell grants
- 37%
- Students with federal loans
- 47%
Programs: what graduates earn
29 of 81 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).
Associate's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 13 | $67,979 | $19,500 |
Bachelor's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 74 | $71,337 | $18,875 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 20 | $44,261 | $24,511 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 37 | $42,840 | $26,980 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 35 | $39,850 | $27,000 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 9 | $39,472 | $24,289 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 25 | $35,433 | $24,580 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 39 | $34,491 | $25,886 |
| Computer Science | 5 | $68,175 | — |
| Sociology | 5 | $42,282 | — |
| Psychology, General | 26 | $30,342 | $21,375 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 17 | $39,813 | — |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 20 | $44,048 | $20,500 |
| Biology, General | 19 | $48,505 | $27,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 13 | $35,982 | — |
| Religion/Religious Studies | 11 | $37,084 | — |
Master's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 32 | $110,028 | $118,500 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 26 | $94,355 | $41,319 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 15 | $67,370 | $29,937 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 95 | $60,802 | $27,409 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 173 | $59,751 | $27,882 |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 12 | $55,011 | $27,860 |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | 18 | $52,313 | — |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 12 | $47,147 | $55,998 |
Doctoral degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 37 | $111,589 | $32,492 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 26 | $81,929 | $62,630 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 27 | $76,129 | $51,147 |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 21 | $72,305 | $63,824 |
First professional degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theological and Ministerial Studies | — | $36,346 | — |
Students
- Undergraduates
- 1,856
- Graduate students
- 1,422
- Part-time
- 12%
- Women / men
- 62% / 38%
- White
- 49%
- Hispanic
- 4%
- Black
- 16%
- Asian
- 1%
- International
- 0%
Faculty & school
- Student–faculty ratio
- 12:1
- Avg faculty salary
- $66,375 / year
- Full-time faculty
- 99%
- Accreditor
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Website
- www.gardner-webb.edu
- Also known as
- GWU
Most popular fields
- Communication & Journalism – 4% of degrees
- Computer & Information Sciences – 2% of degrees
- Education – 13% of degrees
- Foreign Languages – 2% of degrees
- English – 1% of degrees
- Biological Sciences – 11% of degrees
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at Gardner-Webb University?
77.2% of applicants were admitted, and admitted students averaged 1113 on the SAT.
How much does Gardner-Webb University cost?
The average net price after grants is $17,674 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $34,760 and the full cost of attendance is $47,091.
How much do Gardner-Webb University graduates earn?
Students who enrolled earn a median of $48,039 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.
What is the graduation rate?
55% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.