Gardner-Webb University

Boiling Springs, NC · SoutheastQuad's selectivityOpen

Known forGenerous aidTest-optional heavy

Website Admissions Apply Visit Financial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

8 in 10 applicants admitted

Gardner-Webb admits about 8 in 10 applicants (77%). That puts it in the "Open" tier, more selective than 50% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

77%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityOpen

Applied

5,212

Admitted

4,024

Yield

11%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

975–1198

8001600

ACT middle 50%

19–25

1836

Applications +55% since fall 2014 · admit rate 67% → 77%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 1,856 undergrads, where 37% receive Pell Grants, a typical share compared to other colleges.

1.9K

undergrads · larger than 55% of colleges

Diversity index

0.66

Pell Grant

37%

above the median

First generation

35%

above the median

Rural, distantNCAA D-I FCS · Big South ConferenceROTCStudy abroad

Undergrads −31% since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (16% of graduates). 12 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 59% of colleges. 99% of faculty are full-time. Spends $8,808 a year on instruction per student.

12 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 59% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $20,598 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $3.7K less than the national median. The 100% who received grants paid $20,016 on average; the other 0% paid the full sticker price of $47,620.

57%

$20.6K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $3.7K below the national median

Full price: $47,620 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid: 11% · avg $8K; of first-years got a grant without federal aid (a proxy: at most colleges that's merit aid)

Aid generosity

Very generous

grants cover 57% of full price

Federal loans

47%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office

Cost falling · −32% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $48,039 ten years after enrolling, more than at 33% of colleges; 54% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.7 years of that salary.

54%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$48K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$24.2K

≈ $257/month for 10 years

Retention

55%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 54% → 55% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price fell 4% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 32%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 55% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 67% to 77%.

Cost
Falling
−32% after inflation
Applications
Growing
+55%
Selectivity
Less selective
admit rate 67% → 77%
Diversity
Reported

Every series, year by year

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
4
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12
18
Gardner-Webb University (2026)
Gardner-Webb University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 198561 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything