Dr. William Downs, President | Gardner-Webb University
Dr. William Downs, President | Gardner-Webb University
Of the two institutions in the county, Gardner-Webb University was the only one that provided detailed enrollment data at the time.
At least 5,728 people applied to Cleveland County colleges in the 2022-23 school year.
NCES data shows that among them, around 5,090 students enrolled in the universities, including 3,758 in undergraduate and 1,332 in graduate programs. In total 6.5% of undergraduates transferred from another college or university.
The reported undergraduate student body is comprised mostly of white (60.7%) and Black or African American (18%) students.
Among the institutions that provided disclosed enrollment data, Gardner-Webb University stood out with the largest enrollment at the time, welcoming 3,144 students.
U.S. college enrollment has been in a downward trend since peaking at around 18.1 million students in 2010. Recent increases offered some relief, but experts project a steeper decline in 2025.
This decline is likely due to two main factors. First, the pool of young adults is shrinking as birth rates have fallen nearly 23% between 2007 and 2022. Second, the rising cost of higher education, including skyrocketing student loan debt. A 2023 Wall Street Journal report shows that more than half of Americans think a four-year degree is not worth the cost.
Some educational data is based on estimates. Shifting demographics among student populations can sometimes result in gender totals which do not equal 100%.
| Institution | # of Applicants | # of Admitted Students | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardner-Webb University | 5,728 | 4,296 | 3,144 |
| Cleveland Community College | -- | -- | 1,946 |
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