GWU vs. ETSU

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

 GWU ETSU
Location Boiling Springs, NC Johnson City, TN
Setting Rural Fringe Small City
Enrollment 3,144 13,483
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #639 #652
Religious Affiliation Southern Baptist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gardner-webb.edu etsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 GWU ETSU
Tuition (In State) $31,220 $7,722
Tuition (Out of State) $31,220 $11,532
Room & Board $10,770 $9,613
Avg Net Price $22,339 $14,350
Avg Grant Aid $24,130 $8,739
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 GWU ETSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,728 9,609
Admitted 4,293 8,193
Acceptance Rate 74.9% 85.3%
Enrolled % 9.4% 25.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.74 3.33
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/25 19/26
SAT Range 1020/1210 980/1190
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 ETSU
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%)
  • Health Professions (20%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)

Outcomes

 GWU ETSU
Graduation Rate 55% 44%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,500 $40,000
Making Student Loan Payments 52% 50%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,969 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $258 $211

Diversity

 GWU ETSU
% Men 32% 37%
% Women 68% 63%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 82%
% Black 17% 7%
% Hispanic 3% 2%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 1% 3%
% Unknown Race 10% 1%

Students

 GWU ETSU
% In-State 54% 75%
% Out-of-State 41% 23%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • East Tennessee State University is larger than than GWU based on total student enrollment (13,483 students vs. 3,144 students)

GWU vs. ETSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GWU or ETSU?

  • Gardner Webb University is 304.3% more expensive to attend than ETSU for in-state tuition ($31,220.00 vs. $7,722.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 170.7% higher at GWU than East Tennessee State University ($31,220.00 vs. $11,532.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at East Tennessee State University than GWU ($14,350 vs. $22,339)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Tennessee State University are 12% lower than costs at Gardner Webb University ($9,613 vs. $10,770)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Gardner Webb University as East Tennessee State University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Gardner Webb University students is 176.1% larger than aid received East Tennessee State University ($24,130 vs. $8,739)

GWU vs. ETSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at East Tennessee State University (1068) is 91 points higher than at GWU (977)
  • Incoming ETSU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at GWU (21)
  • Accepted freshman GWU students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at ETSU (3.33)
  • ETSU has a higher acceptance rate (85.3%) than GWU (74.9%)

GWU vs. ETSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at GWU is higher than East Tennessee State University (55% vs. 44%)
  • Graduates from Gardner Webb University earn on average $500 more per year than ETSU graduates after ten years. ($40,500 vs. $40,000)
  • East Tennessee State University students graduate with a $4,469 lower median federal student loan debt than GWU graduates. ($20,500 vs. $24,969)
  • ETSU graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than GWU graduates. ($211 vs. $258)
  • More GWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ETSU students, three years after graduation. (52% vs. 50%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/