Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem, NC · Public · Large city · WSSU

Public institution in Winston-Salem, NC · 4,244 undergraduates · 69% acceptance rate · $45,344 median earnings 10 years after entry.

Top 9%Pell Grant share
Top 13%In-state tuition & fees

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Cost

Average net price: $13,393537th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
In-state tuition & fees: $6,735259th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees: $17,391696th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Cost of attendance: $22,345521st cheapest of 1,985 reporting
Median graduate debt: $25,0001,246th lowest of 1,880 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry: $45,3441,344th highest of 1,969 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry: $40,5571,192nd highest of 1,964 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year): 48.5%1,223rd highest of 2,031 reporting
Full-time retention: 74.8%998th highest of 1,853 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate: 68.5%578th most selective of 1,608 reporting
Average SAT: 946995th highest of 1,024 reporting
Median ACT: 17934th highest of 954 reporting

Campus

Undergraduates: 4,244556th largest of 2,162 reporting
Student-faculty ratio: 16.0:11,471st smallest of 2,159 reporting
Pell Grant share: 61.5%198th highest of 2,140 reporting

Nearest large-hub airport: 73 mi (CLT)

On 1 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

Most Selective Colleges in North Carolina#16

Applying

RDJun 28

Common App member: Yes
Application fee: $50
Personal essay: Optional / not required
Writing supplement: No

Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 37 reported programs.

Field	Level	1 yr	2 yr
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingHealth Professions	bachelors	$64,493	$62,067
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied ProfessionsHealth Professions	bachelors	$55,102	$47,930
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralComputer Science	bachelors	$53,358	$40,647
Computer Science	bachelors	$44,971	$31,133
Accounting and Related ServicesBusiness	bachelors	$38,289	$42,682
Business Administration, Management and OperationsBusiness	bachelors	$32,569	$31,133
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsEducation	bachelors	$31,899	$31,133
Biology, GeneralBiological Sciences	bachelors	$30,228	$30,554
English Language and Literature, GeneralEnglish Language & Literature	bachelors	$29,685	$24,421
Political Science and GovernmentSocial Sciences	bachelors	$29,685	$32,391
Health and Medical Administrative ServicesHealth Professions	bachelors	$27,978	$32,094
SociologySocial Sciences	bachelors	$27,709	$28,598

Campus facts

A Historically Black College or University (HBCU)source
Founded in 1867source
Athletic nickname: "Rams"source
Competes in NCAA Division IIsource
School colors: Scarlet and Whitesource
Mascot: Amon the Ramsource
Motto: ""Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve.""source
Campus size: about 117 acressource
Formerly known as "{{collapsible list|"source
Formerly known as "* Slater Industrial Academy" (1892–1899)source
Formerly known as "* Slater Industrial and Slater Normal School" (1899–1925)source
Formerly known as "* Winston-Salem Teachers College" (1925–1963)source
Formerly known as "* Winston-Salem State College" (1963–1969)source
Formerly known as "}}"source
Athletic conference: CIAAsource
Notable alum: Louis Farrakhansource
Notable alum: Earl Monroesource

Athletics — 9 sports

NCAA Division II with football · NCAA Division II

Athletic scholarships allowed · Athletic aid $1,687,482 (M $954,129 · W $733,353)

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport.