Winston-Salem State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It enrolls 4,170 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
69/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes37
Value71
Affordability87
Selectivity24
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 78.3%, Winston-Salem State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
78.3%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
830 – 1020
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
15 – 20
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Winston-Salem State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
1.0 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Winston-Salem State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $13,479 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$13,479
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
65%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
68%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$6,126
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$16,782
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,484
Room & Board (off-campus)
$10,800
Books & Supplies
$1,690
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,492
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,831
Total Cost of Attendance
$23,147
Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$11,463
$30,001 – $48,000
$12,412
$48,001 – $75,000
$14,681
$75,001 – $110,000
$18,813
Over $110,000
$21,405
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,06010%percentile
$7,00025%percentile
$25,000Medianpercentile
$28,00075%percentile
$37,21490%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,500
↓ $5,500
No Pell $13,000
↓ $12,000
Dependent students $18,750
↓ $6,250
Independent students $16,344
↓ $8,656
Female students $18,250
↓ $6,750
Male students $18,500
↓ $6,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
55% of full-time students who enrolled at Winston-Salem State University graduate within six years, and 76% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
55%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
76%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Winston-Salem State University earn a median of $45,344 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$45,344
Earning > $25K
74%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$36,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$38,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$34,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$38,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$41,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
20.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 55% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Winston-Salem State University is home to 4,170 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 35% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
4,170
Part-Time
10%
First-Generation
35%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 83.2%3,471
White 4.9%204
Hispanic 4.8%198
Other 4.3%180
International 0.7%31
Asian 0.6%26
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Winston-Salem State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityWinston-Salem, North Carolina
Housing
Mostly residential2,705 beds on campus
Adult Learners
13%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Historically Black College / University (HBCU)
What You Can Study
Winston-Salem State University offers
a varied set of programs:
38 distinct programs across
19 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Winston-Salem State University is 16:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$10,901
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$49M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$82,986
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
233 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
63
27%
$99,706
Associate Professors
91
39%
$82,995
Assistant Professors
56
24%
$73,195
Instructors
16
7%
$61,901
Lecturers
7
3%
$65,423
Pros & Cons of Winston-Salem State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Winston-Salem State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, Winston-Salem State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Winston-Salem State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Winston-Salem State University.
Is Winston-Salem State University hard to get into?
Winston-Salem State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 78.3%.
What is the acceptance rate at Winston-Salem State University?
Winston-Salem State University has an acceptance rate of 78.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Winston-Salem State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Winston-Salem State University scored between 830 and 1020 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Winston-Salem State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Winston-Salem State University scored between 15 and 20 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Winston-Salem State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Winston-Salem State University is $13,479 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Winston-Salem State University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $45,344 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $13,479 per year. That's roughly 3.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Winston-Salem State University known for?
Winston-Salem State University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Health Administration, Kinesiology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Winston-Salem State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Winston-Salem State University are $45,344, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Winston-Salem State University accredited?
Yes. Winston-Salem State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Winston-Salem State University?
Winston-Salem State University enrolls 4,170 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Winston-Salem State University?
Winston-Salem State University graduates 55% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Winston-Salem State University a public or private college?
Winston-Salem State University is a Public institution.
Where is Winston-Salem State University located?
Winston-Salem State University is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
What programs does Winston-Salem State University offer?
Winston-Salem State University offers 38 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Health Administration, Kinesiology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Winston-Salem State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Winston-Salem State University is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in North Carolina
Other colleges in North Carolina share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Teacher Education (K-12)
Business Administration
Liberal Arts
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