What is the acceptance rate at Gardner-Webb University?

Gardner-Webb University's acceptance rate is approximately 77% (Boiling Springs, NC), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.

What SAT score do you need for Gardner-Webb University?

Admitted students at Gardner-Webb University typically score 975–1198 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

How much does Gardner-Webb University cost?

At Gardner-Webb University, the average net price (after aid) is about $17,674 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.

How many undergraduates attend Gardner-Webb University?

Gardner-Webb University enrolls approximately 1,856 undergraduate students.

Where is Gardner-Webb University located?

Gardner-Webb University is located in Boiling Springs, NC.

Gardner-Webb University: Acceptance Rate, SAT & Cost — QuantAdmit

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Gardner-Webb University

Boiling Springs, NCprivate nonprofitwww.gardner-webb.edu/

Acceptance

77%

SAT 25–75

975–1198

Avg net price

$17,674

Earnings (10 yr)

$48,039

Graduation rate

55%

Admit rate has ranged 67%–87% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.

Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.

Gardner-Webb University is a small, faith-based liberal arts school in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, where students get close faculty attention and a tight-knit community vibe. With a 77% acceptance rate and a focus on hands-on learning, it attracts students who want a personalized education with strong ties to local service and Christian values. Its 62% graduation rate and $45K+ early-career earnings suggest it punches above its weight for regional outcomes.

Admission requirements

Test-optional — scores considered if submitted

Required

High school transcript
Grade point average
Class rank
Letters of recommendation
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)

Considered (not required)

Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Demonstrated competencies

Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.

More details

Undergrad enrollment: 1,856
In-state tuition: $34,760
Out-of-state tuition: $34,760
Location: Boiling Springs, NC
Campus Vibe: Faith-based, community-focused
Acceptance Rate: 77%
Graduation Rate: 62%
Median Early Career Earnings: $45,413

Outcomes & value

Median earnings (10 yr): $48,039
Value (earnings ÷ net price): 2.7×
Median debt at graduation: $24,222
Graduation rate: 55%
First-year retention: 55%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr): 51%
Pell (lower-income) share: 66%
First-generation share: 35%
Endowment / student: $42,699

Financial health

2.8 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard

U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.

Top-earning majors

Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$59,640
Accounting and Related Services$47,260
Computer Science$44,971
Business Administration, Management and Operations$34,908
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$34,847
Criminal Justice and Corrections

Campus & location

Campus safety

On-campus violent crimes (2024): 0
Per 1,000 students: 0.00

On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.

Climate

Pleasant days / yr: 103
Summer high: 88°F
Winter low: 37°F
Annual rain: 48.7"
Annual snow: 2.8"
Natural-hazard risk: Relatively Low

Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.

Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility

Research output

Institutional h-index: 35
Scholarly works: 907

Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.

Economic mobility

Mobility rate: 1.2%
Bottom → top quintile: 17%
From bottom quintile: 7%

Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.

Quick answers

What is the acceptance rate at Gardner-Webb University?: Gardner-Webb University's acceptance rate is approximately 77% (Boiling Springs, NC), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Gardner-Webb University?: Admitted students at Gardner-Webb University typically score 975–1198 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Gardner-Webb University cost?: At Gardner-Webb University, the average net price (after aid) is about $17,674 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Gardner-Webb University?: Gardner-Webb University enrolls approximately 1,856 undergraduate students.
Where is Gardner-Webb University located?: Gardner-Webb University is located in Boiling Springs, NC.

Admissions

Gardner-Webb's admissions process is moderately selective, with a 77.2% acceptance rate (4,024 admitted from 5,212 applicants in 2024). The university describes its entrance difficulty as 'moderately difficult' and maintains minimum thresholds of a 2.5 GPA, 18 ACT, or 950 SAT (Critical Reading + Math), though it's now test-optional. Admitted students typically have SAT scores between 980-1200 or ACT scores around 18-24. Notably, nearly half of accepted applicants enroll—a high rate for a regional school—suggesting strong appeal to its target demographic of faith-oriented students from the Southeast.