Gardner-Webb University: A Comprehensive Overview

Gardner-Webb University (GWU) is a private Baptist university located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, United States. It stands as a testament to Christian education and academic excellence. From its humble beginnings as Boiling Springs High School in 1905 to its current status as a comprehensive university, Gardner-Webb has evolved significantly, always emphasizing a strong student-centered experience and rigorous academics to prepare students to become effective leaders within the global community.

A Foundation Built on Faith and Education

The institution's story began on December 2, 1905, when the Boiling Springs High School was chartered. This initiative was sponsored by the Kings Mountain Baptist Association (Cleveland County) and the Sandy Run Baptist Association (Rutherford County). The vision was to create a place "where the young…could have the best possible educational advantages under distinctive Christian influence." The Boiling Springs Baptist Church played a crucial role by offering its old church house, five acres of land, and $2,700 to support the institution. On July 10, 1905, Boiling Springs was officially selected as the school's location. Its location near the border of the school's sponsors, Kings Mountain and Sandy Run, and easy access to brick building materials were essential.

On October 27, 1905, the institution's name, Boiling Springs High School, was chosen, and its charter was accepted less than two months later by the school's trustees. Willard Winslow Washburn, who first proposed the idea of a Christian school at Boiling Springs and signed the certificate of incorporation, served on the board of trustees for the first 30 years. The town of Boiling Springs derives its name from the natural springs found on campus. J.D. Huggins was appointed as the high school's first principal on July 25, 1907. By the fall of 1907, the complete faculty, consisting of five teachers including Huggins, was hired. Although the Huggins-Curtis Building, the main building, was not yet complete, classes commenced in October of the same year. Students resided in various homes in the community and utilized classrooms from the nearby elementary school until the building's completion in 1908.

Boiling Springs High School prioritized Christian education, which was reflected in the school's motto, Pro Deo et Humanitate (for God and Humanity). These words were inscribed upon "the ageless granite arch" on campus, which remains today. Original tuition was $76.05 for a nine-month term.

Transition and Growth

On September 3, 1928, the high school transitioned into Boiling Springs Junior College due to the changing educational needs of the area. Despite the obstacles posed by the Great Depression, the college persevered through the dedication of its supporters. The college initially comprised seven departments: English, mathematics, natural science, foreign language, social science, Bible, and education.

Read also: The Gardner Minshew Story

In 1942, Governor O. Max Gardner began dedicating his energy, time, and wealth to strengthening the college. On June 15, the trustees decided to rename the institution Gardner-Webb Junior College in honor of Gardner and his wife, Fay Webb-Gardner. This change officially took effect on August 27, 1942. The following year, the institution launched a $300,000 financial campaign.

The decades after World War II marked a period of significant physical and academic expansion. As enrollments increased, new buildings were constructed. On October 23, 1969, Gardner-Webb filed for an official name change from Gardner-Webb Junior College to Gardner-Webb College in preparation for the first four-year class (for students earning bachelor's degrees) in 1971. A pivotal moment in the institution's development was its full accreditation as a senior college in December 1971, leading to the name Gardner-Webb College.

In 1980, the college initiated a graduate program, which evolved into the Graduate School in the 1990s. The School of Divinity was also established during this time. On November 12, 1991, Gardner-Webb received approval from the board of trustees to pursue university status.

Achieving University Status and Beyond

The institution officially became known as Gardner-Webb University in January 1993, culminating years of preparation. Historically, the University has played significant roles in teacher education and ministerial preparation for church-related vocations.

In 2007, Gardner-Webb University, along with four other private North Carolina Christian colleges, began a process to change their relationships with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, to obtain more academic freedom and select their own trustees. In 2009, the schools gained autonomy from the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and established a "good faith and cooperative" relationship with it. The four other schools were, Mars Hill University, Campbell University, Wingate University, and Chowan University.

A year later, in 2010, the Tucker Student Center was named after Robert B. Tucker.

Campus and Location

The main campus in Boiling Springs is located on 225 acres in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, between Charlotte and Asheville. Gardner-Webb is approximately 12 miles from two large towns, 35 miles from two small cities, and 45-60 miles from Charlotte, NC, Asheville, NC, and Greenville, SC.

The E.B. Hamrick Hall is the oldest existing building on the Gardner-Webb campus. Constructed during the 1920s, it was dedicated to students who died during World War I. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 and rededicated in 2021 to all students and alumni who died during military service in all wars since World War I.

Academics and Enrollment

There are over 3,000 students enrolled at Gardner-Webb, including the day program, graduate studies, Gardner-Webb Online, and the Degree Completion Program designed for adult learners seeking to finish their degree. The university comprises nine colleges and schools that offer nearly 80 undergraduate and graduate major fields of study. As of spring 2025, there were 132 full-time faculty members, with 71% holding a Ph.D. The student-faculty ratio at Gardner-Webb University is 11:1. Gardner-Webb’s top five undergraduate majors are Exercise Science, Biology, Management, Psychology, and Nursing.

Admissions and Financial Aid

Gardner-Webb University has a test-optional admissions policy. The school's tuition and fees are $34,760. Seventy-one percent of first-year students receive need-based financial aid, and the average net price for federal loan recipients is $20,984. The four-year graduation rate is 6%. Six years after graduation, the median salary for graduates is $43,996.

Read also: Scholarships and Aid Guide

Athletics

Gardner-Webb's teams are known as the Runnin' Bulldogs and participate in 21 varsity sports at the NCAA Division I level. Ten of these are men's sports, and eleven are women's. The school colors are scarlet, black, and white. The Bulldogs are part of the Big South Conference, although the men's and women's swim teams compete in the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association, and the wrestling team competes in the Southern Conference.

Athletic marks, living animals, and costumed versions of the bulldog mascot have represented Gardner-Webb on the field of play and within the community. Throughout the decades, the Gardner-Webb live bulldog mascots have carried names like Butch, Chins, Victor, Barney, Roebuck, and Bo.

Rankings and Recognition

In the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, Gardner-Webb University is ranked No. #384 in National Universities. It's also ranked No. #255 in Top Performers on Social Mobility.

Directions to Gardner-Webb University

From the East:

Take I-85 South to highway 74 West toward Shelby (Exit 10 B off of I-85).
Continue on Hwy 74 approximately 17.5 miles.
Once on the west side of Shelby, a sign will direct you to Gardner-Webb University.
Turn Left on Old Boiling Springs Rd. (you will pass Crest High School).
Continue to the stop sign and take a right onto Hwy 150, follow into Boiling Springs, NC.

From the North:

Take I-77 South to Charlotte.
Then take I-85 South to Hwy 74 West to Shelby (Exit 10 B off of I-85).
Continue on Hwy. 74 approximately 17.5 miles.
Once on the West side of Shelby, a sign will direct you to Gardner-Webb University.
Turn left onto Old Boiling Springs Rd.
Continue to the stop sign and take a right on Hwy. 150, follow into Boiling Springs, NC.

From the West:

Take I-40 East to I-26 East to Hwy 74 East toward Rutherfordton (Exit 36).
Merge onto US-74 and continue for approximately 37 miles until you see a large white sign on the right directing you to Gardner-Webb University.
Make a right on Old Boiling Springs RD.
Continue to the stop sign, which dead ends at Hwy. 150, make a right turn, and follow Hwy 150 into Boiling Springs, NC.

From the South:

Take I-85 North to Gaffney, SC.
Take exit 92 off of I-85N.
Turn left at the stop light at the end of the exit.
Continue over I-85 bridge through one stop light at the top of the bridge, go to the next stop light at the bottom of the bridge, at this light, you will then take a right onto Wilcox Avenue (at Newark One Electronics Plant).
Continue on Wilcox Ave. to a four-way stop.
Take a left onto Hwy. 150. (You will see a sign directing you to Boiling Springs, NC).
Follow Hwy 150 into Boiling Springs.

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