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Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem State University is a public campus in Winston-Salem proper — federal locale codes class it as urban. It is one of the nation's historically Black colleges and universities — a federally recognized designation.

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What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$11,012

family income
under $30k

$12,586

$30–48k

$15,668

$48–75k

$20,214

$75–110k

$20,815

over $110k

Average net price

$13,4792023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at Winston-Salem State University rose from $8,569 (2008) to $13,479 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$8,569
2009	$7,762
2010	$7,134
2011	$8,484
2012	$8,788
2013	$8,200
2014	$9,285
2015	$10,849
2016	$11,811
2017	$11,802
2018	$12,286
2019	$12,415
2020	$13,435
2021	$14,618
2022	$13,393
2023	$13,479

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$23,1472024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at Winston-Salem State University rose from $14,098 (2009) to $23,147 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$14,098
2010	$14,478
2011	$14,984
2012	$15,801
2013	$15,990
2014	$16,559
2015	$17,369
2016	$18,738
2017	$19,119
2018	$19,686
2019	$19,900
2020	$20,382
2021	$20,618
2022	$22,372
2023	$22,345
2024	$23,147

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition (in-state vs out-of-state)

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition — data
Year	In-state	Out-of-state
2000	$1,805	$8,223
2001	$2,043	$9,039
2002	$2,326	$10,197
2003	$2,394	$10,659
2004	$2,675	$11,015
2005	$2,805	$11,445
2006	$3,108	$11,748
2007	$3,300	$11,940
2008	$3,389	$12,029
2013	$5,468	$14,281
2014	$5,583	$15,113
2015	$5,707	$15,523
2016	$5,804	$15,915
2017	$5,941	$16,188
2018	$5,904	$16,151
2019	$5,941	$16,188
2020	$5,941	$16,188
2021	$6,247	$16,903
2022	$6,276	$16,932
2023	$6,735	$17,391

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Winston-Salem State University reports tuition of $6,126 for in-state students and $16,782 for out-of-state students. Check Winston-Salem State University’s residency rules, attendance budget and aid offer. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

At 4,170 undergrads, Winston-Salem State University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.

46.7% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at Winston-Salem State University within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

46.7%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at Winston-Salem State University rose from 37.4% (entered 1991) to 46.7% (entered 2018).

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	37.4%
1992 cohort	48.1%
1993 cohort	37.1%
1994 cohort	44.5%
1995 cohort	50.4%
1996 cohort	42.9%
1997 cohort	47.6%
1998 cohort	43.7%
1999 cohort	47.9%
2000 cohort	44.1%
2001 cohort	45.1%
2002 cohort	39.3%
2003 cohort	36.5%
2004 cohort	35.6%
2005 cohort	41%
2006 cohort	40.5%
2007 cohort	45.5%
2008 cohort	45.8%
2009 cohort	46.5%
2010 cohort	46.5%
2011 cohort	49.4%
2012 cohort	48.1%
2013 cohort	51.2%
2014 cohort	50%
2015 cohort	45.8%
2016 cohort	49.6%
2017 cohort	48.5%
2018 cohort	46.7%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$10,125	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$10,763	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$11,258	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$11,670	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$13,113	$2,750
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$13,093	$2,757
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$11,989	$4,600
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$14,500	$5,426
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$15,219	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$16,481	$6,625
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$18,063	$8,975
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$20,282	$8,750
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$21,000	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$21,810	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$22,967	$8,750
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$25,000	$10,018
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$27,000	$11,500
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$27,000	$11,140
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$25,500	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$25,000	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$25,000	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$25,000	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$25,000	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$25,000	$9,500

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$40,557

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$43,867

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$45,344

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

Winston-Salem State University admitted 7,128 of 9,108 applicants in Fall 2024. The 78.3% rate describes that application pool.

78.3%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $6,735 in-state tuition · 2023–24 4,170 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 830–10201600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

In the Fall 2024 cycle, Winston-Salem State University received 9,108 applications and admitted 7,128 (78.3%), with 931 enrolling.

Winston-Salem State University reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For Winston-Salem State University’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 430–520 and Math was 400–500 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 830–1020 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	430	480	520
SAT Math	400	450	500
ACT Composite	15	17	20

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

Acceptance rate

78.3%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	66.8%
Fall 2002	75.8%
Fall 2003	75.8%
Fall 2004	76.8%
Fall 2005	78.8%
Fall 2006	79.1%
Fall 2007	65%
Fall 2008	67.9%
Fall 2009	53.9%
Fall 2010	56.7%
Fall 2011	62%
Fall 2012	56.5%
Fall 2013	55.6%
Fall 2014	60.2%
Fall 2015	58.5%
Fall 2016	63.3%
Fall 2017	66.6%
Fall 2018	65.3%
Fall 2019	67.6%
Fall 2020	72.5%
Fall 2021	81.5%
Fall 2022	73.4%
Fall 2023	68.5%
Fall 2024	78.3%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

830–1020Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	770	950
Fall 2002	780	940
Fall 2003	790	940
Fall 2004	780	940
Fall 2005	800	960
Fall 2006	810	970
Fall 2007	810	970
Fall 2008	790	950
Fall 2009	790	940
Fall 2010	820	950
Fall 2011	810	970
Fall 2012	820	960
Fall 2013	840	960
Fall 2014	800	930
Fall 2015	810	930
Fall 2016	800	940
Fall 2017	890	1020
Fall 2018	890	1030
Fall 2019	890	1030
Fall 2020	900	1030
Fall 2021	880	1040
Fall 2022	830	1050
Fall 2023	820	1050
Fall 2024	830	1020

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

15–20Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2004	15	17
Fall 2005	16	18
Fall 2006	16	19
Fall 2007	16	19
Fall 2008	15	19
Fall 2009	15	19
Fall 2010	16	19
Fall 2011	16	20
Fall 2012	16	20
Fall 2013	16	19
Fall 2014	16	19
Fall 2015	17	19
Fall 2016	17	19
Fall 2017	16	19
Fall 2018	16	19
Fall 2019	16	19
Fall 2020	17	19
Fall 2021	15	19
Fall 2022	14	19
Fall 2023	14	18
Fall 2024	15	20

IPEDS Fall 2004–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

4,170Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at Winston-Salem State University rose from 3,171 (Fall 2002) to 4,170 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	3,171
Fall 2003	3,759
Fall 2004	4,388
Fall 2005	5,128
Fall 2006	5,254
Fall 2007	5,423
Fall 2008	5,948
Fall 2009	5,914
Fall 2010	5,785
Fall 2011	5,627
Fall 2012	5,183
Fall 2013	4,877
Fall 2014	4,743
Fall 2015	4,647
Fall 2016	4,654
Fall 2017	4,570
Fall 2018	4,610
Fall 2019	4,530
Fall 2020	4,560
Fall 2021	4,581
Fall 2022	4,449
Fall 2023	4,244
Fall 2024	4,170

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

77%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at Winston-Salem State University has held near 77% from Fall 2002 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	77%
Fall 2003 cohort	78%
Fall 2004 cohort	75%
Fall 2005 cohort	73%
Fall 2006 cohort	68%
Fall 2007 cohort	73%
Fall 2008 cohort	78%
Fall 2009 cohort	77%
Fall 2010 cohort	80%
Fall 2011 cohort	78%
Fall 2012 cohort	75%
Fall 2013 cohort	79%
Fall 2014 cohort	76%
Fall 2015 cohort	77%
Fall 2016 cohort	76%
Fall 2017 cohort	77%
Fall 2018 cohort	78%
Fall 2019 cohort	77%
Fall 2020 cohort	76%
Fall 2021 cohort	77%
Fall 2022 cohort	75%
Fall 2023 cohort	77%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about Winston-Salem State University

64.9% of Winston-Salem State University's undergraduates carry Pell grants — the standard federal marker of lower-income enrollment. Carnegie classes Winston-Salem State University as a primarily residential campus of 4,170 undergraduates — and 77.3% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

Winston-Salem State University's SAT section-percentile sums are 830–1020 — their midpoint is below the NC four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on Winston-Salem State University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How Winston-Salem State University compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

Winston-Salem State University78.3%

North Carolina median74.9%

National median76.8%

Tuition (in-state)

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

Winston-Salem State University$6,126

North Carolina median$19,500

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

Winston-Salem State University's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

Winston-Salem State University$45,344

North Carolina median$45,873

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

Winston-Salem State University, North Carolina and national reference values
Metric & basis	Winston-Salem State University	North Carolina median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	78.3%	74.9%	76.8%
Tuition (in-state)Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$6,126	$19,500	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$45,344	$45,873	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For Winston-Salem State University, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

Winston-Salem State University federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 19 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Computer Science	$94,298
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	$84,952
Accounting and Related Services	$70,941
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions	$70,450
Computer and Information Sciences, General	$63,562
Social Work	$53,028
Finance and Financial Management Services	$52,895
Criminal Justice and Corrections	$52,130
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods	$51,520
Biology, General	$47,527
Marketing	$45,930
Health and Medical Administrative Services	$45,182
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness	$43,313
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$43,292
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions	$42,179
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities	$42,020
Psychology, General	$40,797
Sociology	$38,245
Communication and Media Studies	$34,786

These 19 fields listed for Winston-Salem State University measure earnings after completion. The $45,344 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 14 additional Winston-Salem State University fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does Winston-Salem State University report?

Winston-Salem State University's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 830–1020 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is Winston-Salem State University's acceptance rate?

78.3% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 7,128 admitted from 9,108 applicants.

How much does Winston-Salem State University cost?

In-state tuition is $6,126; out-of-state students pay $16,782. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.

What earnings data does Winston-Salem State University report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $45,344. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in North Carolina

Western Carolina University — 81.8% admitted
Warren Wilson College — 71.3% admitted
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary — 74.6% admitted
Salem College — 76.7% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.