GWU vs. CofC

Should I go to Gardner Webb University or College of Charleston? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if GWU or CofC 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. College of Charleston comparison
Gardner Webb University College of Charleston College 3 College 4
Gardner Webb University College of Charleston
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Overview

 GWU CofC
Location Boiling Springs, NC Charleston, SC
Setting Rural Fringe Midsize City
Enrollment 3,125 11,729
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #604 #435
Religious Affiliation Southern Baptist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gardner-webb.edu cofc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 GWU CofC
Tuition (In State) $32,470 $12,518
Tuition (Out of State) $32,470 $36,398
Room & Board $10,770 $14,032
Avg Net Price $24,035 $20,806
Avg Grant Aid $24,762 $9,811
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 81%

Admission

 GWU CofC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,670 26,683
Admitted 4,064 19,212
Acceptance Rate 87% 72%
Enrolled % 10.1% 13.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.74 3.94
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Average Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/26 24/29
SAT Range 1040/1260 1130/1300
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 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

 GWU CofC
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (30%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Education (5%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (4%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Biology (9%)

Outcomes

 GWU CofC
Graduation Rate 55% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,500 $46,200
Making Student Loan Payments 52% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,969 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $258 $222

Diversity

 GWU CofC
% Men 12% 2%
% Women 29% 7%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 80%
% Black 17% 7%
% Hispanic 3% 5%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 4%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 10% 1%

Students

 GWU CofC
% In-State 54% 38%
% Out-of-State 41% 61%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • College of Charleston is larger than than GWU based on total student enrollment (11,729 students vs. 3,125 students)

GWU vs. CofC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GWU or CofC?

  • Gardner Webb University is 159.4% more expensive to attend than CofC for in-state tuition ($32,470.00 vs. $12,518.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 12.1% higher at CofC than Gardner Webb University ($36,398.00 vs. $32,470.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of Charleston than GWU ($20,806 vs. $24,035)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gardner Webb University are 30.3% lower than costs at College of Charleston ($10,770 vs. $14,032)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Gardner Webb University than College of Charleston (99% vs. 81%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Gardner Webb University students is 152.4% larger than aid received College of Charleston ($24,762 vs. $9,811)

GWU vs. CofC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at College of Charleston (1141) is 164 points higher than at GWU (977)
  • Incoming CofC students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at GWU (21)
  • Accepted freshman CofC students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at GWU (3.74)
  • GWU has a higher acceptance rate (87%) than CofC (72%)

GWU vs. CofC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, GWU or CofC? 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 CofC and GWU.

  • The graduation rate at CofC is higher than Gardner Webb University (63% vs. 55%)
  • Graduates from College of Charleston earn on average $5,700 more per year than GWU graduates after ten years. ($46,200 vs. $40,500)
  • College of Charleston students graduate with a $3,469 lower median federal student loan debt than GWU graduates. ($21,500 vs. $24,969)
  • CofC graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than GWU graduates. ($222 vs. $258)
  • More CofC 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/