Business Administration, Management and Operations at Gardner-Webb University

Gardner-Webb's business graduates earn slightly less than the typical North Carolina business major ($40,880 at four years versus the state median of $43,375), though the program does keep debt remarkably low—ranking in the 25th percentile nationally at just $27,000. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63, graduates carry about eight months of salary in debt, which is manageable compared to many private universities.

The concerning pattern here is the earnings trajectory: graduates actually see their income drop 5% between year one and year four, from $42,840 to $40,880. While this could reflect temporary factors like graduate school enrollment or economic cycles, it's worth noting that top North Carolina programs like UNC-Chapel Hill ($85,618) and NC State ($56,877) produce substantially higher earners. Even among North Carolina's 52 business programs, Gardner-Webb lands just below the middle at the 40th percentile.

For parents weighing this $27,000 investment, the low debt burden makes this a relatively safe bet financially—graduates should be able to manage payments even with modest starting salaries. However, if your child has strong enough credentials to access UNC or NC State's systems, those options would likely deliver significantly better returns. Gardner-Webb makes most sense for students who value its smaller, faith-based environment and can keep costs even lower through scholarships or in-state aid.