Gordon vs. GWU

Comparable Facts

Compare Gordon State College in Barnesville, GA with Gardner Webb University in Boiling Springs, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Gordon State College is larger than GWU based on total student enrollment (3,179 students vs. 3,104 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Gordon State College is located in Barnesville, GA (Distant Town setting); Gardner Webb University is in Boiling Springs, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Gordon State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Gardner Webb University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Gordon State College 20:1; Gardner Webb University 12:1.

Gordon vs. GWU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Gordon or GWU? 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 Gordon State College than GWU ($7,807 vs. $20,016).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gordon State College are 8.5% lower than at Gardner Webb University ($10,444 vs. $11,410).
• Gardner Webb University is 858.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Gordon (about $31,132 more per year; $34,760.00 vs. $3,628.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 217.5% higher at GWU than at Gordon State College (about $23,812 more per year; $34,760.00 vs. $10,948.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gardner Webb University than at Gordon State College (100% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Gardner Webb University students is 319.2% larger than aid received by Gordon State College students ($27,088 vs. $6,462).

Gordon vs. GWU Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Gardner Webb University (1090) is 80 points higher than at Gordon (1010).
• Incoming GWU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 19 at Gordon).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gordon State College 890/1130; Gardner Webb University 975/1198.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gordon State College 15/24; Gardner Webb University 19/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Gordon - Test optional; GWU - Test optional.
• Gordon has a higher acceptance rate (85.9%) than GWU (77.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 36.1% at Gordon vs. 11.2% at GWU.

Gordon vs. GWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Gordon and GWU? 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).

• Graduates from Gardner Webb University earn a median of about $6,400 more per year than Gordon graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,500 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Gordon State College graduates have a $7,469 lower median loan debt than GWU graduates ($17,500 vs. $24,969).
• Among borrowers, Gordon graduates have an estimated $78 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than GWU graduates ($180 vs. $258).
• More GWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Gordon students, three years after graduation. (52% vs. 26%)

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.