GWU vs. SU

Comparable Facts

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

Shenandoah University is larger than GWU based on total student enrollment (4,454 students vs. 3,104 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

GWU vs. SU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GWU or SU? 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 SU ($20,016 vs. $27,181).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gardner Webb University are 8.6% lower than at Shenandoah University ($11,410 vs. $12,490).
• Shenandoah University is 6.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than GWU (about $2,190 more per year; $36,950.00 vs. $34,760.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.3% higher at SU than at Gardner Webb University (about $2,190 more per year; $36,950.00 vs. $34,760.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Gardner Webb University as at Shenandoah University (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Gardner Webb University students is 9.5% larger than aid received by Shenandoah University students ($27,088 vs. $24,747).

GWU vs. SU Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Shenandoah University (1120) is 30 points higher than at GWU (1090).
• Incoming GWU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 22) as students at SU (22).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gardner Webb University 975/1198; Shenandoah University 1010/1230.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gardner Webb University 19/25; Shenandoah University 19/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: GWU - Test optional; SU - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: SU Aug 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman GWU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at SU (3.7).
• GWU has a higher acceptance rate (77.2%) than SU (77%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at GWU vs. 16.7% at SU.

GWU vs. SU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GWU and SU? 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 Shenandoah University's (45%).
• Graduates from Shenandoah University earn a median of about $7,800 more per year than GWU graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,300 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 SU graduates ($24,969 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Shenandoah University and GWU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($258 vs. $258).
• More SU 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.