BAC vs. GWU

Deciding between Belmont Abbey College and Gardner Webb University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Belmont Abbey College
Gardner Webb University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BAC Belmont, NC
  • GWU Boiling Springs, NC
  • Setting
  • BAC Midsize Suburban
  • GWU Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • BAC 1,388
  • GWU 3,104
  • Type
  • BAC Private 4 Year
  • GWU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BAC #858
  • GWU #691
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BAC Roman Catholic
  • GWU Southern Baptist
  • Status
  • BAC Non-profit
  • GWU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BAC
  • GWU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BAC $19,500
  • GWU $34,760
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BAC $19,500
  • GWU $34,760
  • Room & Board
  • BAC $12,974
  • GWU $11,410
  • Average Net Price
  • BAC $24,726
  • GWU $20,016
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BAC $10,168
  • GWU $27,088
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BAC 99%
  • GWU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BAC 4,221
  • GWU 5,212
  • Admitted
  • BAC 3,151
  • GWU 4,024
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BAC 74.7%
  • GWU 77.2%
  • Enrolled
  • BAC 12.6%
  • GWU 11.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BAC 1080
  • GWU 1090
  • Typical ACT score
  • BAC 22
  • GWU 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • BAC 3.32
  • GWU 3.74
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BAC B+
  • GWU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • BAC Moderate
  • GWU Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • BAC
  • GWU
  • ACT Range
  • BAC 18/26
  • GWU 19/25
  • SAT Range
  • BAC 960/1200
  • GWU 975/1198
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BAC Test optional
  • GWU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BAC
  • GWU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BAC 12:1
  • GWU 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BAC
    • Business (39%)
    • Education (25%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • GWU
    • Business (30%)
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Health Professions (18%)
    • Education (5%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BAC 38%
  • GWU 55%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BAC $41,900
  • GWU $40,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BAC 40%
  • GWU 52%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BAC $27,000
  • GWU $24,969
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BAC $279
  • GWU $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BAC 54%
  • GWU 33%
  • % Women
  • BAC 46%
  • GWU 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BAC Medium
  • GWU Low
  • HBCU
  • BAC No
  • GWU No
  • % White
  • BAC 45%
  • GWU 67%
  • % Asian
  • BAC 1%
  • GWU 1%
  • % Black
  • BAC 22%
  • GWU 17%
  • % Hispanic
  • BAC 1%
  • GWU 3%
  • % Native American
  • BAC 0%
  • GWU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BAC 0%
  • GWU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BAC 0%
  • GWU 0%
  • % International
  • BAC 2%
  • GWU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BAC 28%
  • GWU 10%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BAC 35%
  • GWU 59%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BAC 58%
  • GWU 37%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • BAC Yes
  • GWU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • BAC No
  • GWU No
  • Meal Plan
  • BAC Yes
  • GWU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • BAC Yes
  • GWU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • BAC No
  • GWU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, NC with Gardner Webb University in Boiling Springs, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Gardner Webb University is larger than BAC based on total student enrollment (3,104 students vs. 1,388 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Belmont Abbey College is located in Belmont, NC (Midsize Suburban setting); Gardner Webb University is in Boiling Springs, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Belmont Abbey College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Gardner Webb University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Belmont Abbey College 12:1; Gardner Webb University 12:1.

BAC vs. GWU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BAC or GWU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Gardner Webb University than BAC ($20,016 vs. $24,726).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gardner Webb University are 12.1% lower than at Belmont Abbey College ($11,410 vs. $12,974).
  • Gardner Webb University is 78.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than BAC (about $15,260 more per year; $34,760.00 vs. $19,500.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 78.3% higher at GWU than at Belmont Abbey College (about $15,260 more per year; $34,760.00 vs. $19,500.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gardner Webb University than at Belmont Abbey College (100% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Gardner Webb University students is 166.4% larger than aid received by Belmont Abbey College students ($27,088 vs. $10,168).

BAC vs. GWU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BAC or GWU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between GWU and BAC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Gardner Webb University (1090) is 10 points higher than at BAC (1080).
  • Incoming BAC students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 22) as students at GWU (22).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Belmont Abbey College 960/1200; Gardner Webb University 975/1198.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Belmont Abbey College 18/26; Gardner Webb University 19/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BAC - Test optional; GWU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman GWU students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at BAC (3.32).
  • GWU has a higher acceptance rate (77.2%) than BAC (74.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.6% at BAC vs. 11.2% at GWU.

BAC vs. GWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BAC and GWU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Gardner Webb University's six-year graduation rate (55%) is higher than Belmont Abbey College's (38%).
  • Graduates from Belmont Abbey College earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than GWU graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,900 vs. $40,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Gardner Webb University graduates have a $2,031 lower median loan debt than BAC graduates ($24,969 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, GWU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BAC graduates ($258 vs. $279).
  • More GWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BAC students, three years after graduation. (52% vs. 40%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.