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Winston-Salem , NC
Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) is a public historically black university located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Founded in 1892, it was originally established as a teacher training school for African Americans. Over the years, WSSU has grown into a comprehensive university offering a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in fields such as health sciences, business, education, arts, sciences, and technology.
One of WSSU's key strengths lies in its commitment to providing a high-quality education that prepares students for success in their chosen careers. The university boasts a diverse and dedicated faculty who are experts in their respective fields and offer personalized attention to students. WSSU also prioritizes experiential learning, offering internships, cooperative education opportunities, and other hands-on experiences that allow students to apply their knowledge and gain real-world skills.
Beyond academics, WSSU offers a vibrant campus life with numerous student organizations, clubs, and extracurricular activities, ensuring students have a well-rounded college experience. The university's athletic teams, known as the Rams, compete in NCAA Division II and have a strong tradition of excellence. Additionally, WSSU is deeply involved in the surrounding community, with partnerships and service initiatives that provide students with opportunities to make a positive impact in Winston-Salem and beyond. Overall, Winston-Salem State University is a welcoming institution that values diversity, academic excellence, and community engagement.
Located in Winston-Salem, NC and set in an urban environment, Winston-Salem State University is a public university. This school follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 78%. The six-year graduation rate at Winston-Salem State University is 46%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is August 15. To find out more about what Winston-Salem State University has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
Quick Facts
4,192
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
17:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
46%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Discovering as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission improves your chances of getting admitted. Learn some important information about admission at Winston-Salem State University.
According to the newest information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 7,128 in 2025. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is relatively easy to get into.
Test Scores
3.97% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 10.53% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. The percent of incoming freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 24-29 was 6.8, 40.78 in the range between 18-23, 47.57 between 12-17, and 4.85 between 6-11.
The average ACT score for all the admitted students in 2025 was 18 while the average GPA was 3.33. That means you'll most likely need an above-average GPA to get accepted.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 485 for the admitted students, while the average SAT Math score was 475.
Deadlines
The last day for submitting applications to Winston-Salem State University is August 15. The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It reflects the proportion of students who obtain their degrees within the expected timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 46%.
Student Body
It is always challenging to figure out which school is best for you. You can better comprehend the culture and life of the school by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Winston-Salem State University in 2025 was 4,782.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 14.63% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 4,192, 31 of which were international students. 385 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 1,094 male and 3,032 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Winston-Salem State University.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 26, while the number of Afro-American students was 3,471. 198 undergraduates at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 166 identified with more than one race. The school also had 2 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 12 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 60 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to think about before applying to any college or university. Here are some important data on Winston-Salem State University costs that most students encounter at this school.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Winston-Salem State University? Here is what you need to know.
According to the reports from public county and municipal institutions, tuition fees were $3,401 for area residents. For students who don't live in the state in which the university is located, the tuition was $14,057 in 2025. For international students, tuition fees at this school amounted to $14,057, as well. Fees per academic year required of full-time students summed up to $2,656 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $14,057 | $2,656 | $16,713 |
| In-State | $3,401 | $2,656 | $6,057 |
Books and Supplies
Another important expense to take into consideration is the approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university. The approximate price of books and supplies for a full-time student of this school is $1,690.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What do colleges and universities typically charge for room and board?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Winston-Salem State University was $11,958.42 in 2025. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 came to $7,973.64 for one academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 3,401 |
| Room and Board | $ 11,958 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,690 |
| Total Expense | $ 17,049 |
Financial Aid
Obtaining some financial help in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be vital for completing your studies. If you are interested in finding out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Winston-Salem State University, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 808 freshmen. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $13,058.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
There were 2,971 students who received need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Winston-Salem State University is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was found to be 3,225. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution totaled $17,224,589, and state $6,088,688. The students of Winston-Salem State University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $5,676,120, and external in the amount of $1,232,841.
$5,545
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 219 students overall (including freshmen) at Winston-Salem State University in 2025. 80 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $17,224,589 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $24,030. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $804,957. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $969,711 USD.
Majors
Faculty
17:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Winston-Salem State University was 17:1: that means 17 students per one teacher. This school has recently reported to have 348 faculty members. Out of that number, there were 132 men and 216 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Winston-Salem State University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Winston-Salem State University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some info about campus life at Winston-Salem State University.
Its campus spans 117 acres.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. At this school, 5% of male students are members of social organizations, while that percentage is 5 for female students. Students who like music can join the Winston-Salem State University band or chorus. If drama is your thing, there is a club dedicated to acting that you can join. You have a passion for media and communication? Winston-Salem State University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Winston-Salem State University offers a number of services needed for a comfortable and secure life on campus.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Women's Center are available to the students of Winston-Salem State University.
All in all, campus life at Winston-Salem State University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Winston-Salem State University.
Career Counselling
At Winston-Salem State University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a job bank and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Winston-Salem State University is located in Winston-Salem, NC.
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Winston-Salem State University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Winston-Salem State University is 78%.
Contact Information
Winston-Salem State University
601 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Winston-Salem , NC
27110-0003
336 750-2000
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
