Head-to-head comparison
Gardner-Webb University vs Barton College: which has better ROI?
Option A Boiling Springs, NC
Gardner-Webb University
- Net price / year
- $17,674
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,039
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Wilson, NC
Barton College
- Net price / year
- $23,626
- Earnings, 10 years
- $47,913
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Gardner-Webb University comes closer — median earnings $48,039 against a $70,696 total, vs $47,913 at Barton College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Gardner-Webb University | Barton College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,674 | $23,626 |
| Total net cost | $70,696 | $94,504 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,039 | $47,913 |
| Median debt | $24,222 | $25,877 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$77,116 | -$103,444 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Gardner-Webb University or Barton College?
Gardner-Webb University, at $17,674 a year after aid versus $23,626 — a gap of $5,952 a year, or $23,808 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Gardner-Webb University or Barton College graduates earn more?
Gardner-Webb University graduates report a median $48,039 ten years after entry, $126 more than the $47,913 at Barton College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Gardner-Webb University or Barton College?
Gardner-Webb University: its completers carry a median $24,222 in federal loans versus $25,877 at Barton College, a difference of $1,655. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
55% of students finish at Gardner-Webb University, against 46% at Barton College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.