Gardner-Webb University
Boiling Springs, North Carolina · Private Nonprofit · 77.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 35/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Gardner-Webb University scores 35 (Below Benchmark) on the CampusROI scale. The institution is a Baptist-affiliated private university in Boiling Springs, North Carolina with 1,856 enrolled students and a net price of $17,674. The repayment rate sub-score is 17: 59.1% of borrowers are reducing principal at three years, meaning more than 4 in 10 borrowers are not making progress on their debt. Combined with a 55.4% completion rate and 16.2-year payback period, the institutional profile is characterized by high non-completion risk and weak post-graduation earnings relative to debt. The one program that clearly justifies enrollment is Registered Nursing: 74 graduates, $71,337 year-one, $75,117 four-year, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.349 (ROI grade B+). Business Administration (37 graduates, $42,840 year-one) and Teacher Education (35 graduates, $39,850 year-one) both earn C grades and offer only moderate earnings at Gardner-Webb's net price. The low repayment rate is the signal that warrants deepest scrutiny before enrollment.
How Gardner-Webb University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score35/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Payback period16.2 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Gardner-Webb University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $34,760/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $34,760/yr |
| Average net price | $17,674/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $70,696 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $48,039 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $35,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,222 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $257 |
| Estimated payback period | 16.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 55.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,856 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $34,760/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $17,674/year, or roughly $70,696 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $15,304/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $22,438/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $24,222, which works out to about $257 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($35,100) and comes to 0.69, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $15,304 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,594 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $13,769 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $15,946 |
| $110,001+ | $22,438 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students in the 0-30000 income bracket pay $15,304 net price per year at Gardner-Webb - approximately $61,216 over four years. The 30001-48000 bracket pays $14,594 - the lowest price in the entire income table, likely reflecting maximum Pell plus institutional aid. Nursing students at this price achieve a clear positive ROI; most other program pathways remain marginal.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $13,769 - actually the lowest across all income bands, which may reflect Scorecard reporting methodology or specific middle-income aid programs. The 75001-110000 bracket rises to $15,946. The relatively flat pricing across the lower-middle income bands suggests Gardner-Webb's aid structure does not sharply penalize moderate-income families.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $22,438 per year - approximately $89,752 over four years. At this price, only nursing graduates achieve clearly positive ROI. The 16.2-year payback period and 59.1% repayment rate mean higher-income families considering Gardner-Webb for business, education, or liberal arts programs should weigh the outcomes data carefully before committing at full price.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Gardner-Webb University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $75,117 | B+ |
| Clinical Psychology | $42,936 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $61,489 | C |
| Teacher Education | $45,110 | C |
| Psychology | $49,587 | C+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $51,709 | D |
| Accounting | $58,918 | C |
| Biology | $48,505 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $58,061 | - |
| Communication and Media Studies | $35,982 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is Gardner-Webb's strongest program by a significant margin: 74 graduates, $71,337 year-one, $75,117 four-year, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.349 (ROI grade B+). Median debt of $24,922 is below the institutional median of $24,222, suggesting nursing students borrow at typical institutional rates. Year-one earnings of $71k are competitive for the Charlotte-Gastonia regional healthcare market. For students committed to nursing in the Western North Carolina corridor, Gardner-Webb delivers a good-value nursing outcome at this net price.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration has 37 graduates with $42,840 year-one and $61,489 four-year, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.630 (ROI grade C). The C grade reflects median debt of $27,000 against moderate regional earnings. Gardner-Webb's location outside major metropolitan markets limits the recruiting depth for business graduates. The four-year earnings trajectory ($61,489) is modest but functional for students pursuing careers in the Piedmont region.
Clinical Psychology
Clinical Psychology is Gardner-Webb's largest graded program: 39 graduates, $34,491 year-one, $42,936 four-year, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.846 (ROI grade D). Median debt of $29,166 - above the institutional median - against year-one earnings of $34k creates a severe immediate financial burden. The D grade is appropriate. Clinical Psychology at the undergraduate level rarely leads directly to licensure; students planning careers in clinical practice must account for graduate school debt on top of this baseline.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 55.8% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 59.1% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 59.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 67.0% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Gardner-Webb University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 77.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 480-590 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 495-608 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 19-25 |
| Enrollment | 1,856 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 37.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,375 |
At 77.2%, Gardner-Webb is accessible. SAT Math 25th percentile at 480 and ACT at 19 indicate a wide range of academic preparation. The admissions process does not impose high barriers, but the more consequential filter is completion: just over half of enrolled students graduate. Students who enroll should plan their program carefully and monitor academic progress benchmarks, particularly in the first two years.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardner-Webb University (this school) | 35 | $17,674 | $48,039 |
| Felician University | 40 | $40,045 | $57,602 |
| Eckerd College | 31 | $38,071 | $51,819 |
| United Talmudical Seminary | 26 | $6,640 | $25,113 |
| Barton College | 24 | $23,626 | $47,913 |
| Belmont Abbey College | 24 | $24,639 | $47,937 |
Who Thrives Here
SAT Math ranges 480-590, SAT Reading 495-608, ACT Composite 19-25 - a broad, accessible range. The Pell grant rate of 37.1% indicates meaningful lower-income enrollment. GWU is a historically Baptist institution with a divinity school and strong religious campus culture. Students drawn to the Baptist faith community and committed to nursing will find the clearest value proposition. The repayment rate is 59.1% and the completion rate is 55.4%.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Gardner-Webb University scores 35/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $17,674 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $48,039 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 16.2 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 59.1% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $24,222 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $35,100 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Gardner-Webb University: Common Questions
Is Gardner-Webb University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Gardner-Webb University scores 35/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $17,674 a year after aid against $48,039 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 16.2 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Gardner-Webb University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $17,674 a year, or roughly $70,696 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Gardner-Webb University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $48,039 ten years after enrolling, roughly $6,239 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Gardner-Webb University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 16.2 years for Gardner-Webb University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Gardner-Webb University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $24,222, against average earnings of $35,100 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Gardner-Webb University?
The six-year graduation rate is 55.4%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.