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Gardner-Webb University
Gardner-Webb University says yes to 77.2% of applicants. Focus less on getting in and more on what's below — starting with the $48,039 median earnings.
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Gardner-Webb University anchors the college town of Boiling Springs, NC, where the private campus and town largely share a footprint. The school maintains its Southern Baptist affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, where graduates median $75,117 four years out. 37.1% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 1,856 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 55.3% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1040 and 1260 — below the NC middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Gardner-Webb University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Gardner-Webb University received 4,670 applications and admitted 4,064 (87%), with 411 enrolling.
Gardner-Webb University is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 1040–1260 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically Gardner-Webb University's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 520 | 582 | 640 |
| SAT Math | 520 | 558 | 620 |
| ACT Composite | 20 | 23 | 26 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Gardner-Webb University compares
| Gardner-Webb University | North Carolina median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 77.2% | 75.1% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $34,760 | $19,500 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $48,039 | $45,873 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors Gardner-Webb University: $48,039 median at year ten, versus $45,873 across North Carolina institutions.
Cost, size & completion
Tuition runs $34,760 regardless of where you're from. At Gardner-Webb University, that sticker is a starting point for aid talks — not what the median family pays.
Enrollment sits at 1,856 — Gardner-Webb University is one of the smaller campuses on this site.
55.4% graduate within six years. Roughly 45% don't — ask a Gardner-Webb University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Gardner-Webb University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $75,117 |
| Computer Science | $68,175 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $61,489 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $58,918 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $58,061 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $51,709 |
| Psychology, General | $49,587 |
| Biology, General | $48,505 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $47,089 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $45,110 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | $42,936 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $35,982 |
Median earnings for these 12 Gardner-Webb University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $48,039 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 27 additional Gardner-Webb University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Gardner-Webb University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1040–1260 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 77.2% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Gardner-Webb University's acceptance rate?
87% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 4,064 admitted from 4,670 applicants.
How much does Gardner-Webb University cost?
At Gardner-Webb University, published tuition is $34,760 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Gardner-Webb University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Gardner-Webb University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $48,039 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in North Carolina
- Fayetteville State University — 82.2% admitted
- Greensboro College — 70.1% admitted
- Elon University — 66.3% admitted
- Guilford College — 80% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.