Eastern vs. GWU

Should I go to Eastern Kentucky University or Gardner Webb University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Eastern 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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Eastern Kentucky University vs. Gardner Webb University comparison
Eastern Kentucky University Gardner Webb University College 3 College 4
Eastern Kentucky University Gardner Webb University
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Overview

Eastern GWU
Location Richmond, KY Boiling Springs, NC
Setting Distant Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 14,324 3,144
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #854 #639
Religious Affiliation - Southern Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website eku.edu gardner-webb.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Eastern GWU
Tuition (In State) $9,544 $31,220
Tuition (Out of State) $19,922 $31,220
Room & Board $10,360 $10,770
Avg Net Price $10,806 $22,339
Avg Grant Aid $10,583 $24,130
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 100%

Admission

Eastern GWU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,821 5,728
Admitted 10,174 4,293
Acceptance Rate 64.3% 74.9%
Enrolled % 26.9% 9.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.39 3.74
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/24 20/25
SAT Range 940/1185 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 1, 2025

Academics

Eastern GWU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Business (30%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Education (5%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (4%)

Outcomes

Eastern GWU
Graduation Rate 38% 55%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,900 $40,500
Making Student Loan Payments 49% 52%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,695 $24,969
Median Loan Payment $245 $258

Diversity

Eastern GWU
% Men 39% 32%
% Women 61% 68%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 85% 67%
% Black 6% 17%
% Hispanic 2% 3%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 0%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 10%

Students

Eastern GWU
% In-State 91% 54%
% Out-of-State 9% 41%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Eastern Kentucky University is larger than than GWU based on total student enrollment (14,324 students vs. 3,144 students)

Eastern vs. GWU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Eastern or GWU?

  • Gardner Webb University is 227.1% more expensive to attend than Eastern for in-state tuition ($31,220.00 vs. $9,544.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 56.7% higher at GWU than Eastern Kentucky University ($31,220.00 vs. $19,922.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Eastern Kentucky University than GWU ($10,806 vs. $22,339)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eastern Kentucky University are 4% lower than costs at Gardner Webb University ($10,360 vs. $10,770)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Gardner Webb University than Eastern Kentucky University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Gardner Webb University students is 128% larger than aid received Eastern Kentucky University ($24,130 vs. $10,583)

Eastern vs. GWU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Eastern Kentucky University (1028) is 51 points higher than at GWU (977)
  • Incoming Eastern students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at GWU (21)
  • Accepted freshman GWU students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at Eastern (3.39)
  • GWU has a higher acceptance rate (74.9%) than Eastern (64.3%)

Eastern vs. GWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Eastern 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 Eastern.

  • The graduation rate at GWU is higher than Eastern Kentucky University (55% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from Gardner Webb University earn on average $2,600 more per year than Eastern graduates after ten years. ($40,500 vs. $37,900)
  • Eastern Kentucky University students graduate with a $1,274 lower median federal student loan debt than GWU graduates. ($23,695 vs. $24,969)
  • Eastern graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than GWU graduates. ($245 vs. $258)
  • More GWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Eastern students, three years after graduation. (52% vs. 49%)

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