GWU vs. AU

Should I go to Gardner Webb University or Anderson University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if GWU or AU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Gardner Webb University vs. Anderson University comparison
Gardner Webb University Anderson University College 3 College 4
Gardner Webb University Anderson University
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Overview

 GWU AU
Location Boiling Springs, NC Anderson, SC
Setting Rural Fringe Small City
Enrollment 3,125 4,325
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #604 #759
Religious Affiliation Southern Baptist Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gardner-webb.edu andersonuniversity.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 GWU AU
Tuition (In State) $32,470 $32,710
Tuition (Out of State) $32,470 $32,710
Room & Board $10,770 $12,290
Avg Net Price $24,035 $22,222
Avg Grant Aid $24,762 $25,586
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 99%

Admission

 GWU AU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,670 4,732
Admitted 4,064 2,499
Acceptance Rate 87% 52.8%
Enrolled % 10.1% 34%
Avg High School GPA 3.74 3.72
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Average Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/26 22/28
SAT Range 1040/1260 1090/1290
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

 GWU AU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (30%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Education (5%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (4%)
  • Education (37%)
  • Business (36%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Psychology (4%)
  • Communication (3%)

Outcomes

 GWU AU
Graduation Rate 55% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,500 $37,500
Making Student Loan Payments 52% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,969 $26,862
Median Loan Payment $258 $277

Diversity

 GWU AU
% Men 12% 9%
% Women 29% 12%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 83%
% Black 17% 8%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 2%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 10% 2%

Students

 GWU AU
% In-State 54% 68%
% Out-of-State 41% 31%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Anderson University is larger than than GWU based on total student enrollment (4,325 students vs. 3,125 students)

GWU vs. AU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GWU or AU?

  • Anderson University is 0.7% more expensive to attend than GWU for in-state tuition ($32,710.00 vs. $32,470.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 0.7% higher at AU than Gardner Webb University ($32,710.00 vs. $32,470.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Anderson University than GWU ($22,222 vs. $24,035)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gardner Webb University are 14.1% lower than costs at Anderson University ($10,770 vs. $12,290)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Gardner Webb University as Anderson University (99% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Anderson University students is 3.3% larger than aid received Gardner Webb University ($25,586 vs. $24,762)

GWU vs. AU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GWU or AU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between AU or GWU .

  • The average SAT score at Anderson University (1078) is 101 points higher than at GWU (977)
  • Incoming AU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at GWU (21)
  • Accepted freshman GWU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at AU (3.72)
  • GWU has a higher acceptance rate (87%) than AU (52.8%)

GWU vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, GWU or AU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between AU and GWU.

  • The graduation rate at GWU is higher than Anderson University (55% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from Gardner Webb University earn on average $3,000 more per year than AU graduates after ten years. ($40,500 vs. $37,500)
  • Gardner Webb University students graduate with a $1,893 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($24,969 vs. $26,862)
  • GWU graduates are paying $19 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($258 vs. $277)
  • More AU 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/