GWU vs. WSSU

Deciding between Gardner Webb University and Winston Salem State 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
Winston Salem State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • GWU Boiling Springs, NC
  • WSSU Winston-Salem, NC
  • Setting
  • GWU Rural Fringe
  • WSSU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • GWU 3,104
  • WSSU 4,782
  • Type
  • GWU Private 4 Year
  • WSSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • GWU #691
  • WSSU #940
  • Religious Affiliation
  • GWU Southern Baptist
  • WSSU -
  • Status
  • GWU Non-profit
  • WSSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • GWU
  • WSSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • GWU $34,760
  • WSSU $6,126
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • GWU $34,760
  • WSSU $16,782
  • Room & Board
  • GWU $11,410
  • WSSU $11,484
  • Average Net Price
  • GWU $20,016
  • WSSU $12,989
  • Average Grant Aid
  • GWU $27,088
  • WSSU $10,057
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • GWU 100%
  • WSSU 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • GWU 5,212
  • WSSU 9,108
  • Admitted
  • GWU 4,024
  • WSSU 7,128
  • Acceptance Rate
  • GWU 77.2%
  • WSSU 78.3%
  • Enrolled
  • GWU 11.2%
  • WSSU 13.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • GWU 1090
  • WSSU 930
  • Typical ACT score
  • GWU 22
  • WSSU 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • GWU 3.74
  • WSSU 3.01
  • Typical High School Grades
  • GWU A-
  • WSSU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • GWU Easy
  • WSSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • GWU
  • WSSU
  • ACT Range
  • GWU 19/25
  • WSSU 15/20
  • SAT Range
  • GWU 975/1198
  • WSSU 830/1020
  • Submit Test Scores
  • GWU Test optional
  • WSSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • GWU
  • WSSU Feb 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • GWU 12:1
  • WSSU 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • GWU
    • Business (30%)
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Health Professions (18%)
    • Education (5%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (4%)
  • WSSU
    • Health Professions (50%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • GWU 55%
  • WSSU 41%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • GWU $40,500
  • WSSU $35,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • GWU 52%
  • WSSU 33%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • GWU $24,969
  • WSSU $25,663
  • Median Loan Payment
  • GWU $258
  • WSSU $265

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • GWU 33%
  • WSSU 26%
  • % Women
  • GWU 67%
  • WSSU 74%
  • Racial Diversity
  • GWU Low
  • WSSU Low
  • HBCU
  • GWU No
  • WSSU Yes
  • % White
  • GWU 67%
  • WSSU 16%
  • % Asian
  • GWU 1%
  • WSSU 1%
  • % Black
  • GWU 17%
  • WSSU 72%
  • % Hispanic
  • GWU 3%
  • WSSU 3%
  • % Native American
  • GWU 1%
  • WSSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • GWU 0%
  • WSSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • GWU 0%
  • WSSU 4%
  • % International
  • GWU 1%
  • WSSU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • GWU 10%
  • WSSU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • GWU 59%
  • WSSU 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • GWU 37%
  • WSSU 24%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Gardner Webb University in Boiling Springs, NC with Winston Salem State University in Winston-Salem, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Winston Salem State University is larger than GWU based on total student enrollment (4,782 students vs. 3,104 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Gardner Webb University is located in Boiling Springs, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Winston Salem State University is in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting).
  • Gardner Webb University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Winston Salem State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Gardner Webb University 12:1; Winston Salem State University 15:1.

GWU vs. WSSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GWU or WSSU? 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 Winston Salem State University than GWU ($12,989 vs. $20,016).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gardner Webb University are 0.6% lower than at Winston Salem State University ($11,410 vs. $11,484).
  • Gardner Webb University is 467.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than WSSU (about $28,634 more per year; $34,760.00 vs. $6,126.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 107.1% higher at GWU than at Winston Salem State University (about $17,978 more per year; $34,760.00 vs. $16,782.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gardner Webb University than at Winston Salem State University (100% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Gardner Webb University students is 169.3% larger than aid received by Winston Salem State University students ($27,088 vs. $10,057).

GWU vs. WSSU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Gardner Webb University (1090) is 160 points higher than at WSSU (930).
  • Incoming GWU students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 17 at WSSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gardner Webb University 975/1198; Winston Salem State University 830/1020.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gardner Webb University 19/25; Winston Salem State University 15/20.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: GWU - Test optional; WSSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WSSU Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman GWU students have a 0.73 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at WSSU (3.01).
  • WSSU has a higher acceptance rate (78.3%) than GWU (77.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at GWU vs. 13.1% at WSSU.

GWU vs. WSSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GWU and WSSU? 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 Winston Salem State University's (41%).
  • Graduates from Gardner Webb University earn a median of about $4,800 more per year than WSSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,500 vs. $35,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Gardner Webb University graduates have a $694 lower median loan debt than WSSU graduates ($24,969 vs. $25,663).
  • Among borrowers, GWU graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WSSU graduates ($258 vs. $265).
  • More GWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSSU students, three years after graduation. (52% vs. 33%)

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.