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Winston-Salem State University

Public Graduate Good 69/100

Winston-Salem State University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Winston-Salem, North Carolina

About Winston-Salem State University

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.

Official website: wssu.edu

Acceptance: 78.3%
Graduation: 54.9%
Net Price: $13,479
Median Earnings (10yr): $45,344
Enrollment: 4,170
Student : Faculty: 16:1

Accreditor Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Academic Calendar Semester

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

Outcomes 37

Value 71

Affordability 87

Selectivity 24

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 Policy Not Considered Standardized 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.

$4,060

10% percentile

$7,000

25% percentile

$25,000

Median percentile

$28,000

75% percentile

$37,214

90% 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 City Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Housing

Mostly residential 2,705 beds on campus

Adult Learners

13% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling 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.

10 Programs

Health

Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Health Administration $59K ($42K–$80K)
Clinical/Medical Laboratory $76K ($61K–$92K)

3 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)

1 Program

Recreation & Fitness

Kinesiology $55K ($39K–$73K)

1 Program

Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)

1 Program

Public Administration

Social Work $52K ($39K–$64K)

1 Program

Biology

Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

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.