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Gardner-Webb University
Boiling Springs, NC 1,836 Undergrads 57.7% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$48,813
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$24,137
After Aid
Median Earnings
$48,039
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$24,137
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$48,039
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate57.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients33.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time85.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS74.5%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
87.0%
SAT Avg
1,146
SAT Reading
25th: 52054575th: 640
SAT Math
25th: 52054375th: 620
ACT Composite
25th: 202175th: 26
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$421k
+$25k
-$63k
Median Cost$24k/yr
+$334k
-$62k
-$150k
Full Cost$49k/yr
+$246k
-$151k
-$239k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$24k/yr
Never
-173%
Full Cost$49k/yr
Never
-136%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return-151%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-100%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Associate's Degrees
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$74,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$217k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$24,511
Earnings (5yr)
$58,875
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$56,900
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$26,980
Earnings (5yr)
$48,758
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
BachCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$25,886
Earnings (5yr)
$42,570
Lifetime Value Added
-$188k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$20,140
Lifetime Value Added
-$369k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,971
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$24,580
Earnings (5yr)
$44,376
Lifetime Value Added
-$173k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,508
Lifetime Value Added
-$357k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
BachCIP: 2609
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$44,048
Lifetime Value Added
-$175k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,375
Earnings (5yr)
$38,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$223k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$18,875
Earnings (5yr)
$79,750
Lifetime Value Added
+$105k
Religion/Religious Studies
BachCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$37,084
Lifetime Value Added
-$234k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$42,282
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$43,354
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$29,937
Earnings (5yr)
$63,996
Lifetime Value Added
+$85k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
MastCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$118,500
Earnings (5yr)
$122,903
Lifetime Value Added
+$591k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$27,409
Earnings (5yr)
$70,847
Lifetime Value Added
+$144k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$27,860
Earnings (5yr)
$60,392
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$27,882
Earnings (5yr)
$69,099
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$55,998
Earnings (5yr)
$54,695
Lifetime Value Added
-$284
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$41,319
Earnings (5yr)
$101,137
Lifetime Value Added
+$405k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,332
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Doctoral Degrees
Curriculum and Instruction
DocCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$63,824
Earnings (5yr)
$80,434
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$62,630
Earnings (5yr)
$98,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$197k
Professional Degrees
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries
ProfCIP: 3907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,816
Lifetime Value Added
-$324k
Theological and Ministerial Studies
ProfCIP: 3906
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,089
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.