GWU vs. AU

Deciding between Gardner Webb University and Averett 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.

Gardner Webb University
Averett University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • GWU Boiling Springs, NC
  • AU Danville, VA
  • Setting
  • GWU Rural Fringe
  • AU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • GWU 3,104
  • AU 1,476
  • Type
  • GWU Private 4 Year
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • GWU #691
  • AU #637
  • Religious Affiliation
  • GWU Southern Baptist
  • AU -
  • Status
  • GWU Non-profit
  • AU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • GWU
  • AU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • GWU $34,760
  • AU $38,550
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • GWU $34,760
  • AU $38,550
  • Room & Board
  • GWU $11,410
  • AU $14,530
  • Average Net Price
  • GWU $20,016
  • AU $23,471
  • Average Grant Aid
  • GWU $27,088
  • AU $29,998
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • GWU 100%
  • AU 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • GWU 5,212
  • AU 2,573
  • Admitted
  • GWU 4,024
  • AU 1,456
  • Acceptance Rate
  • GWU 77.2%
  • AU 56.6%
  • Enrolled
  • GWU 11.2%
  • AU 18.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • GWU 1090
  • AU 1030
  • Typical ACT score
  • GWU 22
  • AU 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • GWU 3.74
  • AU 3.07
  • Typical High School Grades
  • GWU A-
  • AU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • GWU Easy
  • AU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • GWU
  • AU Low
  • ACT Range
  • GWU 19/25
  • AU 15/28
  • SAT Range
  • GWU 975/1198
  • AU 926/1143
  • Submit Test Scores
  • GWU Test optional
  • AU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • GWU
  • AU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • GWU 12:1
  • AU 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • GWU
    • Business (30%)
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Health Professions (18%)
    • Education (5%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (4%)
  • AU
    • Business (23%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • GWU 55%
  • AU 41%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • GWU $40,500
  • AU $48,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • GWU 52%
  • AU 51%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • GWU $24,969
  • AU $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • GWU $258
  • AU $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • GWU 33%
  • AU 45%
  • % Women
  • GWU 67%
  • AU 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • GWU Low
  • AU Medium
  • HBCU
  • GWU No
  • AU No
  • % White
  • GWU 67%
  • AU 58%
  • % Asian
  • GWU 1%
  • AU 1%
  • % Black
  • GWU 17%
  • AU 33%
  • % Hispanic
  • GWU 3%
  • AU 4%
  • % Native American
  • GWU 1%
  • AU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • GWU 0%
  • AU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • GWU 0%
  • AU 0%
  • % International
  • GWU 1%
  • AU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • GWU 10%
  • AU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • GWU 59%
  • AU 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • GWU 37%
  • AU 39%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Gardner Webb University is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (3,104 students vs. 1,476 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Gardner Webb University is located in Boiling Springs, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Averett University is in Danville, VA (Small City setting).
  • Gardner Webb University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Averett University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Gardner Webb University 12:1; Averett University 16:1.

GWU vs. AU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GWU or AU? 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 AU ($20,016 vs. $23,471).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gardner Webb University are 21.5% lower than at Averett University ($11,410 vs. $14,530).
  • Averett University is 10.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than GWU (about $3,790 more per year; $38,550.00 vs. $34,760.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.9% higher at AU than at Gardner Webb University (about $3,790 more per year; $38,550.00 vs. $34,760.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gardner Webb University than at Averett University (100% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Averett University students is 10.7% larger than aid received by Gardner Webb University students ($29,998 vs. $27,088).

GWU vs. AU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GWU or AU? 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 AU and GWU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Gardner Webb University (1090) is 60 points higher than at AU (1030).
  • Incoming GWU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 21 at AU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gardner Webb University 975/1198; Averett University 926/1143.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gardner Webb University 19/25; Averett University 15/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: GWU - Test optional; AU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman GWU students have a 0.67 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at AU (3.07).
  • GWU has a higher acceptance rate (77.2%) than AU (56.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at GWU vs. 18.1% at AU.

GWU vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GWU and AU? 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 Averett University's (41%).
  • Graduates from Averett University earn a median of about $7,900 more per year than GWU graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,400 vs. $40,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Gardner Webb University graduates have a $31 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($24,969 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Averett University and GWU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($258 vs. $258).
  • More GWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (52% vs. 51%)

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.