Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Gardner-Webb University #826 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,174 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Gardner-Webb University in the 63.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Gardner-Webb University #805 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Azimuth ranks Gardner-Webb University #826 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting broad strengths in access, mobility, and affordability working together. Graduates earn about $1,174 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 63.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Gardner-Webb University #826 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, Gardner-Webb University enrolls roughly 1,856 undergraduates. Retention stands at 55.3% and the six-year graduation rate is 55.4%, reflecting solid student persistence through degree completion. Gardner-Webb University delivers its strongest performance in return on investment. Azimuth ranks Gardner-Webb University #805 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $60,516, and Gardner-Webb University earn about $1,174 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 63.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This earnings advantage reflects the university's concentration in health-related fields, where demand and compensation remain strong across the region and nationally. Access and affordability represent areas where the composite is pulled down. Gardner-Webb University sits in the 42.0 percentile for access and the 60.8 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 37.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 35.5% are first-generation college students, reflecting a student body with meaningful financial need. Mobility outcomes sit in the 39.4 percentile, indicating that while graduates achieve solid earnings, the institution's low-income and first-generation students experience outcomes closer to national norms than to the strongest-performing peer institutions.
Gardner-Webb University's published cost of attendance is $47,091. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $15,304, middle-income families pay around $13,769, and higher-income families pay approximately $22,438. Azimuth ranks Gardner-Webb University #559 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Gardner-Webb participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The institution's aid structure emphasizes need-based support, with families applying through the FAFSA to determine eligibility and aid packages. Many students also work part-time or participate in work-study arrangements to help bridge remaining costs after aid is applied. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,222, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $19,524; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $60,516, median federal debt of $24,222 projects to a monthly payment of about $274 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Gardner-Webb University is a strong fit for students interested in health professions who want a private university experience in NC's South region. The university's program mix is concentrated in Health, representing 20% of graduates. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $60,516, placing Gardner-Webb University in the 45.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,174 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 63.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 37.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 35.5% are first-generation. Published cost of attendance is $22,438, with need-based aid available to close the gap for qualifying families. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 77.2% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors health-oriented fields over other disciplines. Students whose interests align with these areas will find strong outcomes relative to NC's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $30,928.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Gardner-Webb University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Gardner-Webb University's published cost of attendance is $47,091. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $15,304, middle-income families pay around $13,769, and higher-income families pay approximately $22,438.
Azimuth ranks Gardner-Webb University #559 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Gardner-Webb participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The institution's aid structure emphasizes need-based support, with families applying through the FAFSA to determine eligibility and aid packages.
Many students also work part-time or participate in work-study arrangements to help bridge remaining costs after aid is applied. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,222, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $19,524; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $60,516, median federal debt of $24,222 projects to a monthly payment of about $274 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Gardner-Webb University earn median 4-year earnings of $60,516, placing the institution in the 45.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,174 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Gardner-Webb University in the 63.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Gardner-Webb University #805 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects the institution's concentration in health and applied professional fields.
Nursing is the largest program with 96 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $75,117, performing at 0.8x the national benchmark for the field. The Business Administration program graduates 55 students earning $61,489, while Clinical, Counseling and Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology and Criminal Justice round out the top programs with 43 and 43 graduates respectively.
This program mix — anchored in Health — drives consistent outcomes across the student body and supports the institution's above-average return on investment profile.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
96 graduates
Computer Science
22 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
55 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
22 graduates
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
17 graduates
Gardner-Webb University's program mix is anchored in health professions and applied professional fields, reflecting the institution's identity as a private, faith-based university with deep roots in healthcare education. Nursing is the largest program with 96 graduates, followed by Business Administration, Clinical, Counseling and Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology, Criminal Justice, and Teacher Education.
Across 21 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with several delivering strong four-year earnings outcomes aligned with the institution's health-professions focus. The earnings pattern reflects the dominance of applied health and business fields.
Nursing leads with median four-year earnings of $75,117 from 96 graduates, while Computer Science delivers $68,175 from 22 graduates. Business Administration graduates earn $61,489, and Accounting and Criminal Justice round out the highest-earning cohorts with $58,918 and $51,709 respectively.
These outcomes are concentrated in fields where regional healthcare demand and professional credentialing create stable career pathways and consistent wage growth. Most of Gardner-Webb University's ranked programs are high-mobility direct-to-workforce pathways, particularly in nursing, allied health, and business fields where graduates enter employment immediately and earnings reflect labor-market outcomes.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how the institution's health-professions concentration aligns with national workforce demand in one of the fastest-growing occupational clusters.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Schreiner University Similar quality tier (#24287 ranked) | TX | 88% | $52,228 | #24287 | Compare |
Xavier University Of Louisiana Similar quality tier (#23763 ranked) | LA | 69% | $52,184 | #23763 | Compare |
Gonzaga University Similar quality tier (#23761 ranked) | WA | 82% | $78,892 | #23761 | Compare |
Stillman College Similar quality tier in Southeast (#24293 ranked) | AL | 62% | $35,421 | #24293 | Compare |
Saint Francis University Similar quality tier (#24815 ranked) | PA | 77% | $62,101 | #24815 | Compare |
