Gardner-Webb University
Boiling Springs, NC
Gardner-Webb University at a glance
Gardner-Webb University is a private university in Boiling Springs, North Carolina with 3,104 students (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). It admitted 77% of applicants (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Its published tuition is $34,760 (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25); students who received federal aid paid an average net price of $17,674 a year after grants (College Scorecard, a prior cohort). 55% of students finish within the federal tracking window (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021); 47% of students take federal loans, and borrowers leave with a median $24,222 (College Scorecard). By program, the highest graduate earnings four years after finishing are in Allied Health (diagnostic and treatment), master's ($125,727) and Nursing (RN), master's ($104,141) (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates).
Tuition
$34,760
2024-25
Acceptance
77%
Fall 2024 applicants
Students
3,104
Fall 2024
Type
University
Setting
Rural
Cost & Financial Aid
In-State Tuition
$34,760
Out-of-State Tuition
$34,760
Avg On-Campus Living
$11,410
Avg Off-Campus Living
$7,500
Financial Aid & Outcomes
College Scorecard
What will it actually cost?
Most students pay the net price after financial aid, not the sticker price.
Net price by family income
Can federal loans cover it? (2026 limits)
At every income level reported here, the average net price is within the $25,500 a first-year dependent student and their parents can borrow from the federal government for loans made from 1 July 2026.
The ceiling is $5,500 in the student’s own Direct Loan plus up to $20,000 in Parent PLUS, which requires that the parent has no adverse credit history. Net prices are averages for a prior cohort of aid recipients, not a quote. Source: Federal Student Aid loan limits. Where this gap is largest.
After graduation
Earnings-to-debt ratio
Moderate · 2.0×Graduates earn about 2.0× their median debt every year.
Financial access
Pell Grants are federal aid for students from low-income families.
Share of students who borrowed to pay for school.
Some fields may not be reported by this institution. Verify final details with the school directly.
How does cost line up with outcomes across colleges? See our analysis of college cost vs. graduation and earnings, an association shaped by selectivity and sector, not proof a pricier college pays off.
FAFSA earnings check
: Not flaggedGardner-Webb University does not trigger the FAFSA's "lower earnings" notice. Its graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $63,819, above the $32,616 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 in North Carolina.
This is one figure for the whole institution, not for any program: earnings differ by credential and field. It covers graduates who completed in 2017-18 and 2018-19, received federal aid, and were working and not enrolled when earnings were measured in 2022 and 2023, in January 2026 dollars. The Department says the notice is informational only: it does not change aid eligibility. Source: U.S. Department of Education, FSA Data Center, March 2026 release. Which colleges are flagged, and what changed.
Student Outcomes
Graduation Rate
55%
Freshman Retention
55%
Source: IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25 (provisional release)
Final aid offers, scholarships, and net price vary per family. Always verify with the school's financial aid office.
Admissions
Acceptance rate
77%
SAT range
975 - 1198
ACT range
19 - 25
Source: IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024 (provisional release)
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Location
Institution does not report this
Boiling Springs, NC 28017
Academics
Studying online: a large share study entirely online
In Fall 2023, 1,152 of Gardner-Webb University's 3,125 students (37%) were enrolled entirely at a distance. A further 853 (27%) took at least one distance course alongside in-person study.
Distance-education figures count STUDENTS enrolled in Fall 2023, not programs on offer. "Exclusively at a distance" means a student took only distance courses that term. A college with few or no such students may still run online courses or an online degree, so a low figure is not evidence that online study is unavailable, and a high one is not a judgement of quality either way.
U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Fall Enrollment (distance education status), Fall 2023
Fields of study
Gardner-Webb University reported conferring credentials in 40 different fields to the federal government. See which ones, and at what credential level.
Campus & Student Life
Area Safety Rating
Decision support
Similar schools
Worth a closer look if Gardner-Webb University caught your interest.
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Tuition $31,900 85% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar acceptance.Catawba College
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Tuition $34,300 75% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar acceptance.North Carolina Wesleyan University
Rocky Mount, NC
Tuition $35,736 80% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar acceptance.Wingate University
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Tuition $41,636 91% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar size.Barton College
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Tuition $37,250 94% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Same school type.Brevard College
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Tuition $32,280 42% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Same school type.
Graduate earnings by program
What Gardner-Webb University graduates earn, by program
Gardner-Webb University's master's graduates in Business Administration earned a median $86,886 four years after graduating, 16% below the $103,485 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $60,802; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $27,409 in federal loans at this college (about $312 a month on a 10-year plan).
26 programs at Gardner-Webb University have federal earnings or debt figures, largest graduating classes first. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Debt: graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20. The national median is the same measure for every program in that field and credential in the U.S.
| Program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after | National median | Federal debt borrowed at this college (median) | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Master's | $86,886 | $103,485, −16% | $27,409 | $312/mo |
| Educational Administration, Master's | $70,841 | $71,685, about the same | $27,882 | $317/mo |
| Nursing (RN), Bachelor's | $75,117 | $88,910, −16% | $18,875 | $200/mo |
| Business Administration, Bachelor's | $61,489 | $68,257, −10% | $26,980 | $286/mo |
| Nursing (RN), Doctoral | $109,715 | $138,131, −21% | $32,492 | $370/mo |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychology, Bachelor's | $42,936 | $50,523, −15% | $25,886 | $274/mo |
| Educational Administration, Doctoral | $94,213 | $100,573, −6% | $62,630 | $712/mo |
| Teacher Education (by grade level), Bachelor's | $45,110 | $47,382, −5% | $27,000 | $286/mo |
| Allied Health (diagnostic and treatment), Master's | $125,727 | $127,347, about the same | $118,500 | $1,348/mo |
| Criminal Justice, Bachelor's | $51,709 | $55,378, −7% | $24,580 | $261/mo |
| Psychology, Bachelor's | $49,587 | $50,706, about the same | $21,375 | $227/mo |
| Business Administration, Doctoral | $84,386 | $113,566, −26% | $51,147 | $582/mo |
Compare what Business Administration pays at other colleges
What the job pays locally
- Nursing (RN) graduates train as registered nurses: median $84,350 in North Carolina.
- Accounting graduates train as accountants and auditors: median $82,050 in North Carolina.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: everyone working in the job, every experience level, not only recent graduates.
Show 14 more programs
| Program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after | National median | Federal debt borrowed at this college (median) | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing (RN), Master's | $104,141 | $120,193, −13% | $41,319 | $470/mo |
| Biology, Bachelor's | $48,505 | $57,214, −15% | $27,000 | $286/mo |
| Accounting, Bachelor's | $58,918 | $76,194, −23% | $24,511 | $260/mo |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences, Bachelor's | — | $62,172 | $20,500 | $217/mo |
| Curriculum and Instruction, Doctoral | $78,398 | $83,031, −6% | $63,824 | $726/mo |
| Accounting, Master's | $79,048 | $95,833, −18% | $29,937 | $341/mo |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science, Bachelor's | $58,061 | $54,562, +6% | — | — |
| Nursing (RN), Associate's | $67,538 | $80,813, −16% | $19,500 | $207/mo |
| Curriculum and Instruction, Master's | $60,926 | $63,399, −4% | $27,860 | $317/mo |
| Computer Science, Bachelor's | $68,175 | $107,009, −36% | — | — |
| Mental Health and Social Services, Master's | $56,338 | $59,571, −5% | $55,998 | $637/mo |
| Communication, Bachelor's | $35,982 | $56,359, −36% | — | — |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design, Master's | — | $70,644 | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administration, Bachelor's | $47,089 | $58,716, −20% | $24,289 | $258/mo |
Median earnings of graduates who received federal student aid, worked, and were not enrolled in school; debt is the median federal loans borrowed at this college by graduates who borrowed (Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS; not Parent PLUS, private loans or interest). Programs with too few graduates are suppressed by the Department of Education. Monthly payment assumes a standard 10-year plan. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field-of-study data, 10 June 2026. Download every program (CSV). Same degree, different paycheck: what the national data show. Over the Cap: graduate programs where typical debt exceeds the federal loan limits in force since July 2026. Nursing graduates vs RN pay by state: the early-career benchmark.
Frequently asked questions
About Gardner-Webb University
Built from CampusPin profile data. Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with the institution before applying. See our data methodology and data dictionary.
- Where is Gardner-Webb University located?
- Gardner-Webb University is located in Boiling Springs, NC, in the United States.
- What type of institution is Gardner-Webb University?
- Gardner-Webb University is a private university based in NC. CampusPin classifies institutions as either four-year universities or two-year community colleges, with control labeled public or private.
- What is the acceptance rate at Gardner-Webb University?
- The most recently reported acceptance rate at Gardner-Webb University is approximately 77% (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Acceptance rate signals selectivity but does not predict any individual applicant's outcome and is not a measure of school quality. CampusPin reports the federally-published value; verify the current cycle with the institution.
- What is the tuition at Gardner-Webb University?
- Gardner-Webb University's published in-state tuition is approximately $34,760 per year (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25). This is the published price before financial aid; the net price most students actually pay is typically lower. Verify the current academic-year tuition with the institution before applying.
- How many students attend Gardner-Webb University?
- Gardner-Webb University reports total enrollment of approximately 3,104 students (undergraduate plus graduate) (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). Total enrollment is a useful sizing signal, see the institutional profile for additional breakdowns when available.
- How much does Gardner-Webb University actually cost after financial aid?
- The average net price at Gardner-Webb University is approximately $17,674 per year. Net price is the total cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships that never have to be repaid, so it is what students actually paid rather than the published sticker price. What families pay varies with income: students from families earning under $30,000 paid about $15,304 on average, and those from families earning $110,000 or more about $22,438. These are averages for students who received federal aid in a prior cohort, not a quote for any individual family. Run the institution's own Net Price Calculator for a figure specific to you.
- What is the graduation rate at Gardner-Webb University?
- Gardner-Webb University reports a graduation rate of approximately 55% (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021). This measures the share of a prior entering cohort who completed their degree within the federal tracking window. It reflects who enrolls as much as what the institution does, so it is not on its own a measure of teaching quality, and it is not comparable across institutions serving very different students.
- How much student debt do graduates of Gardner-Webb University have?
- Students who borrowed at Gardner-Webb University left with a median of approximately $24,222 in federal loans, and about 47% of students took federal loans at all. Both numbers matter: a median describes only the students who borrowed, so it reads very differently at a school where most students borrow than at one where few do. Federal loans only, so private and parent borrowing are not included.
- How much do graduates of Gardner-Webb University earn?
- Median earnings approximately ten years after entry are $48,039 for students who received federal financial aid at Gardner-Webb University. This reflects the mix of programs the institution offers and the students who enroll, not the effect of attending, and it covers aid recipients rather than all graduates.
- How should I verify final details about Gardner-Webb University?
- CampusPin compiles institutional data from public datasets like IPEDS and the College Scorecard, plus institutional websites and editorial review. Before applying, paying a deposit, or making a final decision, confirm admissions requirements, current tuition, financial aid, deadlines, and program details directly with Gardner-Webb University.
- How much do Business Administration graduates from Gardner-Webb University earn?
- Gardner-Webb University's master's graduates in Business Administration earned a median $86,886 four years after graduating, 16% below the $103,485 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $60,802; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $27,409 in federal loans at this college (about $312 a month on a 10-year plan).
- How much do Educational Administration graduates from Gardner-Webb University earn?
- Gardner-Webb University's master's graduates in Educational Administration earned a median $70,841 four years after graduating, about the same as the $71,685 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $59,751; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $27,882 in federal loans at this college (about $317 a month on a 10-year plan).
- Which programs at Gardner-Webb University have the highest graduate earnings?
- Among the 15 programs at Gardner-Webb University with a federal earnings figure from at least 30 graduates, the highest medians four years after graduating were Allied Health (diagnostic and treatment), master's ($125,727); Nursing (RN), master's ($104,141); and Educational Administration, doctoral ($94,213) (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). That order is one federal measure, not a ranking of program quality: earnings reflect the field and where graduates go to work as well as the program.
- Does Gardner-Webb University get a "lower earnings" warning on the FAFSA?
- No. In the Department of Education's March 2026 data, which the FAFSA uses now, Gardner-Webb University's graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $63,819, above the $32,616 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 in North Carolina, so first-year students who list it do not see the lower-earnings notice. The figure describes the whole institution, not any one program.
Fields this college awarded credentials in
The 14 largest of 40 fields Gardner-Webb University reported, by credentials conferred in 2024-25, using the federal classification of each field. The level is the highest credential actually awarded, which is not always the one a field is best known for.
| Field | Awarded | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 152 | Graduate |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 134 | Graduate (49 graduate · 73 bachelor's · 12 associate) |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 126 | Graduate (82 graduate · 44 bachelor's) |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 57 | Bachelor's |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 44 | Bachelor's |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 41 | Graduate (20 graduate · 21 bachelor's) |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 39 | Graduate |
| Public Administration | 37 | Graduate |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 33 | Graduate (5 graduate · 28 bachelor's) |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 32 | Graduate |
| Accounting and Related Services | 29 | Graduate (10 graduate · 19 bachelor's) |
| Biology, General | 24 | Bachelor's |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 19 | Bachelor's |
| Religion/Religious Studies | 17 | Graduate (3 graduate · 14 bachelor's) |
Fields are as classified in the federal IPEDS completions collection, which records credentials already conferred. A field listed here was awarded in the reporting year; it does not confirm the program is currently admitting students, and a field CampusPin has no guide for is still shown under its official federal title. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Explore more
Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with Gardner-Webb University before applying.
Data sources & methodology
Facts on this profile of Gardner-Webb University are compiled from federal datasets and the institution's own published information.
Sources used across this page
Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.
IPEDS / NCES College Navigator
Federal enrollment, admissions, tuition, retention, and program data. Released annually with a 1–2 year lag.
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
Net price by income band, post-graduation earnings, and federal aid context.
Clery Act campus security reports
Annual campus security and fire-safety disclosures required of U.S. institutions.
Institutional websites
Each school's official admissions, registrar, and financial-aid pages are the authoritative source for current details.
Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. (2024). Gardner-Webb University, college profile. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/schools/gardner-webb-university
About this information
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