Winston-Salem State University
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and families looking for lower cost. earnings-to-debt ratio is tight. 65% of students receive Pell Grants — strong access mission.
About This School
Winston-Salem State University is a public institution located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina with approximately 4,170 undergraduate students enrolled. Winston-Salem State University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 78%. The average net price after financial aid is $13,479 per year. The graduation rate is 47%, and the typical graduate earns $37,200 within 10 years of enrollment.
Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) is a public historically black university in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States. It is part of the University of North Carolina system.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: at just $13,393/year after aid, this is one of the more affordable HBCU options in the Southeast, and the relatively low median debt of $18,447 at graduation keeps financial risk manageable. However, the 49% graduation rate is a real concern — only about half of students who start here finish, which means you should seriously ask what support systems you'll need to be in that half. Median earnings of $37,200 a decade out are modest, so this school makes the most sense if you're drawn to specific strong programs like nursing or have a clear plan to finish on time.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: -11% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 158 | $84,952 | $88,910 | −$3,958 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 82 | $45,182 | $58,716 | −$13,534 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 76 | $43,313 | $54,562 | −$11,249 |
| Psychology, General | 65 | $40,797 | $50,706 | −$9,909 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 64 | $43,292 | $68,257 | −$24,965 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | 54 | $70,450 | $75,975 | −$5,525 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 53 | $42,020 | $53,072 | −$11,052 |
| Social Work | 47 | $53,028 | $51,790 | +$1,238 |
| Biology, General | 43 | $47,527 | $57,214 | −$9,687 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 42 | $34,786 | $56,359 | −$21,573 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 42 | $42,179 | $55,792 | −$13,613 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 36 | $52,130 | $55,378 | −$3,248 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Worth scrutinizing. Median earnings relative to debt are tight.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (4,170 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Address
Winston-Salem State University
601 S. Martin Luther King Jr Dr
Winston-Salem, NC 27110-0001
Official Links
Schools Like This in North Carolina
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Gaston College
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Durham Technical Community College
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See How Colleges Compare
Winston-Salem State University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Winston-Salem State University?
Winston-Salem State University has an acceptance rate of 78%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Winston-Salem State University hard to get into?
Not especially. Winston-Salem State University has an acceptance rate of 78%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does Winston-Salem State University cost?
The average net price at Winston-Salem State University is about $13,479 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Winston-Salem State University?
Winston-Salem State University has a graduation rate of 47%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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