Catawba College vs. GWU

Should I go to Catawba College or Gardner Webb University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Catawba College or GWU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Catawba College vs. Gardner Webb University comparison
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Catawba College Gardner Webb University
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Overview

Catawba College GWU
Location Salisbury, NC Boiling Springs, NC
Setting Distant Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 1,172 3,144
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #515 #639
Religious Affiliation - Southern Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website catawba.edu gardner-webb.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Catawba College GWU
Tuition (In State) $32,868 $31,220
Tuition (Out of State) $32,868 $31,220
Room & Board $11,576 $10,770
Avg Net Price $19,701 $22,339
Avg Grant Aid $26,913 $24,130
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Catawba College GWU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,199 5,728
Admitted 2,146 4,293
Acceptance Rate 67.1% 74.9%
Enrolled % 13.9% 9.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.64 3.74
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Moderate Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/27 20/25
SAT Range 1000/1210 1020/1210
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Catawba College GWU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (32%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Business (30%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Education (5%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (4%)

Outcomes

Catawba College GWU
Graduation Rate 54% 55%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,000 $40,500
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 52%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $24,969
Median Loan Payment $258 $258

Diversity

Catawba College GWU
% Men 48% 32%
% Women 52% 68%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 69% 67%
% Black 19% 17%
% Hispanic 5% 3%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 0%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 10%

Students

Catawba College GWU
% In-State 61% 54%
% Out-of-State 34% 41%

Campus

Catawba College GWU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Gardner Webb University is larger than than Catawba College based on total student enrollment (3,144 students vs. 1,172 students)

Catawba College vs. GWU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Catawba College or GWU?

  • Catawba College is 5.3% more expensive to attend than GWU for in-state tuition ($32,868.00 vs. $31,220.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 5.3% higher at Catawba College than Gardner Webb University ($32,868.00 vs. $31,220.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Catawba College than GWU ($19,701 vs. $22,339)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gardner Webb University are 7.5% lower than costs at Catawba College ($10,770 vs. $11,576)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Catawba College as Gardner Webb University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba College students is 11.5% larger than aid received Gardner Webb University ($26,913 vs. $24,130)

Catawba College vs. GWU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Catawba College or GWU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between GWU or Catawba College .

  • The average SAT score at Catawba College (990) is 13 points higher than at GWU (977)
  • Incoming Catawba College students have at the same average ACT score (21) as students at GWU (21)
  • Accepted freshman GWU students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at Catawba College (3.64)
  • GWU has a higher acceptance rate (74.9%) than Catawba College (67.1%)

Catawba College vs. GWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Catawba College or GWU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between GWU and Catawba College.

  • The graduation rate at GWU is higher than Catawba College (55% vs. 54%)
  • Graduates from Catawba College earn on average $1,500 more per year than GWU graduates after ten years. ($42,000 vs. $40,500)
  • Gardner Webb University students graduate with a $31 lower median federal student loan debt than Catawba College graduates. ($24,969 vs. $25,000)
  • Gardner Webb University and Catawba College graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($258 vs. $258)
  • More Catawba College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GWU students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 52%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/