Winston-Salem State University

    Winston-Salem, NC, United States

    Winston-Salem State University's acceptance rate is 78.3% (CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, 5,419 applicants). It is a public university in Winston-Salem, NC, with 4,170 students. The average net price after grants is $12,817 a year. The six-year graduation rate is 47.3%, and median earnings ten years after entry are $52,558.

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    • Public
    • Midsize city
    • Doctoral/professional university
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    Winston-Salem State University acceptance rate

    Acceptance rate: 78.3% (fall admissions, CollegesRef 2026–27 edition). 4,415 of 5,419 applicants were admitted. Middle 50% test scores: SAT Reading & Writing 430–520, SAT Math 400–500, ACT 15–20. Admissions details

    What we know

    Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
    Admit rate
    78.3%

    Near the national median

    National median 77.3%

    Avg. net price
    $12,817
    per year, after aid

    Costs less than 61% of colleges

    National median $16,403

    Graduation rate
    47.3%
    within six years

    Near the national median

    National median 46%

    Median earnings
    $52,558
    10 years after entry

    Near the national median

    National median $50,155

    Students
    4,170

    Larger than 74% of colleges

    National median 1,603

    Winston-Salem State UniversityMiddle half of collegesNational median

    Designations: Historically Black college or university(U.S. College Scorecard · 2025)

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    Admissions

    Winston-Salem State University admitted 78.3% of 5,419 applicants.

    Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
    1. Applicants5,419

      78.3% of applicants were admitted

    2. Admitted4,415

      20.6% of admitted students enrolled (yield)

    3. Enrolled (first-year)911
    Bar length is relative to the number of applicants. Enrolled counts first-time, first-year students.

    Middle 50% test scores

    SAT Reading & Writing
    430–520
    200800
    SAT Math
    400–500
    200800
    ACT Composite
    15–20
    136
    The band runs from the 25th to the 75th percentile of first-year students who submitted scores, drawn on each test's full scale.
    Check your chances at Winston-Salem State UniversityFree toolYour SAT or ACT against the middle 50% of admitted students: reach, target or likely.

    Your chances

    Check your chancesYour SAT or ACT against Winston-Salem State University
    SAT, middle 50%
    830–1020
    ACT, middle 50%
    15–20
    Application deadline timeline

    Cost & financial aid

    Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025

    Average net price

    $12,817

    What students paid per year on average after grants and scholarships. Your price depends on family income.

    Published price vs. what students paid

    In-state tuition & fees
    $6,098
    Out-of-state tuition & fees
    $16,754
    Average net price
    $12,817
    Tuition is the published yearly price. Average net price is the yearly cost of attendance (tuition, housing, food, books) minus grants and scholarships.

    Students receiving Pell Grants

    Pell Grant recipients
    72.1%
    Share of undergraduates who receive a federal Pell Grant, a common signal of how many students come from lower-income families.
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    Outcomes

    Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
    47.3%

    Graduation rate

    First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time

    77.3%

    First-year retention

    Students who return for a second year

    Median earnings

    $52,558

    Former students who received federal aid

    Graduate earnings by major at Winston-Salem State University

    Where Winston-Salem State University ranks

    All rankings by major

    Programs at Winston-Salem State University

    Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard, field of study, 2025

    Bachelor's majors where Winston-Salem State University is ranked in CollegesRef's value rankings. Earnings are medians 4 years after graduating, for graduates who received federal aid; the tick on each bar marks the median of all ranked colleges in that field.

    Criminal justice

    Ranked #262 of 379 for value

    Criminal Justice and Corrections · 36 graduates

    Earnings 4 yrs after
    $52,130
    Ranked-college median: $55,481
    Median debt
    $24,000
    Ranked-college median: $21,500
    Best colleges for criminal justice

    Nursing

    Ranked #279 of 686 for value

    Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · 139 graduates

    Earnings 4 yrs after
    $84,952
    Ranked-college median: $85,171
    Median debt
    $20,000
    Ranked-college median: $20,938
    Best colleges for nursing

    Communications

    Ranked #363 of 388 for value

    Communication and Media Studies · 33 graduates

    Earnings 4 yrs after
    $34,786
    Ranked-college median: $56,130
    Median debt
    $22,264
    Ranked-college median: $19,593
    Best colleges for communications

    Kinesiology and exercise science

    Ranked #395 of 459 for value

    Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness · 41 graduates

    Earnings 4 yrs after
    $43,313
    Ranked-college median: $53,707
    Median debt
    $25,000
    Ranked-college median: $21,500
    Best colleges for kinesiology and exercise science

    Biology

    Ranked #600 of 680 for value

    Biology, General · 59 graduates

    Earnings 4 yrs after
    $47,527
    Ranked-college median: $58,001
    Median debt
    $27,000
    Ranked-college median: $20,717
    Best colleges for biology

    Psychology

    Ranked #721 of 814 for value

    Psychology, General · 60 graduates

    Earnings 4 yrs after
    $40,797
    Ranked-college median: $51,007
    Median debt
    $22,000
    Ranked-college median: $21,000
    Best colleges for psychology

    Business

    Ranked #902 of 986 for value

    Business Administration, Management and Operations · 73 graduates

    Earnings 4 yrs after
    $43,292
    Ranked-college median: $64,860
    Median debt
    $25,500
    Ranked-college median: $21,375
    Best colleges for business
    Winston-Salem State University rankings by major, with the score behind each rank

    Explore these programs

    Programs A–Z

    Academics

    Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025

    Total students

    4,170

    Academic calendar

    Semester

    Carnegie classification

    Doctoral/professional university

    A Doctoral and Professional Degree University (which undergraduates attend).

    Colleges like Winston-Salem State University

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    Location & details

    Where the campus is, how far it sits from a major city, and other colleges within reach.

    Winston-Salem State UniversityWinston-Salem, NC, United States

    DirectionsOpen in Google Maps OpenStreetMap

    Distances are straight-line miles, not driving distance. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, tiles by OpenFreeMap and OpenMapTiles.

    Campus

    Winston-Salem State University

    Winston-Salem, NC, United States

    • Public
    • Doctoral/professional university

    Midsize city

    Inside an urbanized area and a principal city.

    1. City (this campus)
    2. Suburb
    3. Town
    4. Rural

    Nearest major cityCharlotte, NC · about 69 mi

    In the city250 mi

    Calendar
    Semester
    Website
    wssu.edu

    Colleges nearby

    Colleges in North Carolina: the state guide

    Still have a question?

    Ask about admissions, cost or campus life at Winston-Salem State University. Answers come from CollegesRef data.

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    Special features

    What sets this college apart, grouped by theme, each with what it means and the data or editorial tag behind it.

    CollegesRef editorial

    Cost & aid

    Affordable

    Lower cost than many comparable colleges for a typical family.

    Average net price $12,817 a year after aid

    Athletics

    NCAA Division II · Competitive sports with partial scholarships and smaller programs.

    1. D-INCAA Division I
    2. D-IINCAA Division II (this college)
    3. D-IIINCAA Division III
    4. NAIANAIA
    5. NJCAANJCAA

    Mission & community

    HBCU

    Historically Black college or university.

    CollegesRef editorial tag

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    Admit rate, net price and outcomes for Winston-Salem State University and North Carolina Central University, side by side.

    Compare with North Carolina Central University

    Frequently asked questions

    What is the Winston-Salem State University acceptance rate for 2026?

    Winston-Salem State University admitted 78.3% of 5,419 applicants in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, the most recent release. That is the figure colleges report to the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

    How much is Winston-Salem State University tuition?

    In-state tuition at Winston-Salem State University is $6,098 and out-of-state tuition is $16,754 a year before financial aid in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition. The average net price after grants is $12,817 a year.

    What is the average net price at Winston-Salem State University?

    The average net price at Winston-Salem State University, what first-time, full-time students paid after grants and scholarships, was $12,817 a year in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition. Your own price depends on family income; the college's net price calculator gives a personal estimate.

    What is the graduation rate at Winston-Salem State University?

    47.3% of first-time, full-time students at Winston-Salem State University graduate within six years (150% of normal time), according to the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.

    What colleges are similar to Winston-Salem State University?

    The closest matches are North Carolina Central University, Fayetteville State University, and Elizabeth City State University, based on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile.

    Sources

    Last checked Nov 3, 2026

    Admissions
    U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
    Cost
    U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
    Outcomes
    U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
    Enrollment
    U.S. College Scorecard · 2025

    Figures come from federal reporting. Text marked “CollegesRef editorial” is our own summary, and similar-college lists come from CollegesRef matching. How we source data

    Similar colleges

    Colleges like Winston-Salem State University

    CollegesRef matching· similar admissions, cost, and outcomes

    Bars show profile closeness out of 100: how near each college's graduation rate, size, admit rate, net price, Carnegie class, and control are to Winston-Salem State University. The order also uses CollegesRef matching tiers, so a later card can score higher.

    See all matches
    North Carolina Central University logo

    North Carolina Central University

    Durham, NC

    Graduation rate 47%, close to 47%

    Profile closeness86/100

    Fayetteville State University

    Fayetteville, NC

    Enrollment 5,762 students, close to 4,170

    Profile closeness78/100

    Elizabeth City State University logo

    Elizabeth City State University

    Elizabeth City, NC

    Graduation rate 46%, close to 47%

    Profile closeness71/100

    North Carolina A & T State University logo

    North Carolina A & T State University

    Greensboro, NC

    Average net price $9,884, close to $12,817

    Profile closeness67/100

    Tennessee State University logo

    Tennessee State University

    Nashville, TN

    Enrollment 4,848 students, close to 4,170

    Profile closeness83/100

    Virginia State University

    Petersburg, VA

    Enrollment 5,074 students, close to 4,170

    Profile closeness80/100

    Norfolk State University

    Norfolk, VA

    Enrollment 5,392 students, close to 4,170

    Profile closeness79/100

    South Carolina State University

    Orangeburg, SC

    Enrollment 2,934 students, close to 4,170

    Profile closeness70/100

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