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

Winston-Salem State University's acceptance rate is approximately 78% (Winston-Salem, NC), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.

What SAT score do you need for Winston-Salem State University?

Admitted students at Winston-Salem State University typically score 830–1020 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

How much does Winston-Salem State University cost?

At Winston-Salem State University, the average net price (after aid) is about $13,479 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.

How many undergraduates attend Winston-Salem State University?

Winston-Salem State University enrolls approximately 4,170 undergraduate students.

Where is Winston-Salem State University located?

Winston-Salem State University is located in Winston-Salem, NC.

Winston-Salem State University: Acceptance Rate, SAT & Cost — QuantAdmit

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Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem, NCpublicwssu.edu

Acceptance

78%

SAT 25–75

830–1020

Avg net price

$13,479

Earnings (10 yr)

$45,344

Graduation rate

47%

Admit rate has ranged 68%–81% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.

Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.

Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) is a public HBCU in North Carolina with a strong emphasis on healthcare, business, and education. Known for its tight-knit 'Ram Family' culture and accessible admissions, it combines affordability with solid outcomes—particularly in nursing and social services. The campus buzzes with tradition, from its 1892 founding to its lively student life.

Admission requirements

Test-optional — scores considered if submitted

Required

High school transcript
Grade point average
TOEFL (non-native English)

Considered (not required)

Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)

Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.

More details

Undergrad enrollment: 4,170
In-state tuition: $6,126
Out-of-state tuition: $16,782
Acceptance Rate: 78%
4-Year Grad Rate: 33%
Notable Programs: Nursing, Social Work, Healthcare Management
Early-Career Earnings: $41,000
Student-Faculty Ratio: 16:1
Need-Based Aid Recipients: 92%

Outcomes & value

Median earnings (10 yr): $45,344
Value (earnings ÷ net price): 3.4×
Median debt at graduation: $25,000
Graduation rate: 47%
First-year retention: 77%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr): 34%
Pell (lower-income) share: 79%
First-generation share: 35%
Endowment / student: $13,160

Top-earning majors

Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$62,067
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions$47,930
Accounting and Related Services$42,682
Computer and Information Sciences, General$40,647
Finance and Financial Management Services$35,420
Political Science and Government

Campus & location

Campus safety

On-campus violent crimes (2024): 20
Per 1,000 students: 4.80

On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.

Climate

Pleasant days / yr: 99
Summer high: 87°F
Winter low: 34°F
Annual rain: 45.5"
Annual snow: 4.9"
Natural-hazard risk: Relatively Moderate

Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.

Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility

Research output

Institutional h-index: 119
Scholarly works: 3,051

Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.

Economic mobility

Mobility rate: 3.0%
Bottom → top quintile: 14%
From bottom quintile: 21%

Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.

Quick answers

What is the acceptance rate at Winston-Salem State University?: Winston-Salem State University's acceptance rate is approximately 78% (Winston-Salem, NC), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Winston-Salem State University?: Admitted students at Winston-Salem State University typically score 830–1020 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Winston-Salem State University cost?: At Winston-Salem State University, the average net price (after aid) is about $13,479 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Winston-Salem State University?: Winston-Salem State University enrolls approximately 4,170 undergraduate students.
Where is Winston-Salem State University located?: Winston-Salem State University is located in Winston-Salem, NC.

Admissions

WSSU is moderately selective, with a 78% acceptance rate—higher than many public universities but still requiring decent academic standing. The middle 50% of admitted students have SAT scores between 830-1020 or ACT scores of 15-20, with an average weighted GPA of 3.26. Notably, applicants with GPAs below 2.8 must submit test scores (minimum 17 ACT or 930 SAT). Women make up 80% of accepted students, reflecting a gender imbalance common at HBCUs.

wssu.edu prepscholar.com bigfuture.collegeboard.org petersons.com niche.com

Academics

WSSU offers 40+ undergraduate majors and , with standout departments in nursing, healthcare management, and social work. The ensures accessibility, though the suggests some academic adjustment challenges. Programs like gerontology and clinical laboratory science emphasize hands-on training, aligning with the university’s career-focused mission. The Princeton Review notes its emphasis on 'careers that give back,' particularly in teaching and public service.

Compare Winston-Salem State University

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Winston-Salem State University

Admission requirements

Outcomes & value

Top-earning majors

Campus safety

Climate

Research output

Economic mobility

Quick answers

Admissions

Academics

Compare Winston-Salem State University

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