Winston-Salem State University
#1 Best HBCUs for Health Professions- Graduation Rate
- 48% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $45,344 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $13,479 C+
- 21% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 78% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 19.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.1 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best HBCUs for Health Professions.
Every $1 spent returns $19.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $976,908.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Social mobility rate of 3.03% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $19.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Winston-Salem State University Matters
Winston-Salem State University is a public doctoral / professional university in Winston-Salem, NC and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Doctoral / Professional University
- Carnegie Class
- Doctoral/Professional
- Enrollment
- 4,170
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HBCU
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Biology & Biomedical, Business & Marketing, Psychology
Why students choose Winston-Salem State University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 78% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 830–1020. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $13,479 a year after grants and scholarships — 21% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $45,344 ten years after enrolling — 11% above the typical college, against $25,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 3.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 10% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.02 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Winston-Salem State University is a strong fit for students looking to dive into health professions, biology, business, marketing, or psychology. With an acceptance rate of 78%, it welcomes a diverse array of learners, making it an accessible choice for many. The school’s enrollment of around 4,170 means you can expect a more intimate environment, where you can connect with peers and professors alike.
When it comes to what happens after graduation, the numbers tell a clear story. Graduates earn an average of $45,344 after ten years, which offers a solid foundation for entering the workforce. With 65% of students receiving Pell Grants, the financial support available can help ease the burden of college costs, allowing more students to focus on their studies and future careers. This affordability often leads to better outcomes for graduates, especially for those who come from lower-income backgrounds.
Looking at the bottom line, the net price of attending Winston-Salem State University is about $13,479 after aid, which is manageable for many families. The median debt of $25,000 is reasonable considering the potential earnings after graduation. Students who thrive here tend to be those who are motivated and ready to engage with their education, particularly in health and business fields where there is a clear path to employment upon graduation.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Winston-Salem State University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Winston-Salem State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Winston-Salem State University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 78%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 945. The graduation rate is roughly 48%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 78%
- Retention Rate
- 77%
- SAT Average
- 945
- ACT Midpoint
- 17
- SAT Range
- 830–1020
- ACT Range
- 15–20
- Full-Time Faculty
- 67%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,217
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.30
- First-Gen Students
- 35%
- Applicants
- 7,628
- Admitted
- 5,598
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Winston-Salem State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Winston-Salem State University is $16,782, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $13,479. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,463 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $6,126
- Out-of-State
- $16,782
- Avg Net Price
- $13,479
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 65%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 68%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $11,463
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $12,412
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $14,681
- Family Income $110K+
- $21,405
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Winston-Salem State University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Winston-Salem State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Winston-Salem State University earn a median of $45,344, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $40,557
- 8 Years
- $43,867
- 10 Years
- $45,344
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.55x
- Earning > $25K
- 55%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (231)
- 27%
- 100% (231)
- 27%
- 100% (231)
- 27%
- 100% (231)
- 27%
How Winston-Salem Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Winston-Salem State University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Winston-Salem State University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $13,479/year ($53,916 total). Graduates earn $45,344 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,030,824 in total earnings — a net gain of $976,908 (19.1× your investment). The median debt is $25,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 48% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $53,916
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,030,824
- Net Return
- $976,908
- ROI Multiple
- 19.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $13,479
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 48%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Winston-Salem State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Winston-Salem State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.03%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 21% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 14.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $45,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 3.03%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 14.4%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 21.0%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $61,683
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $2,627,089
Top Programs
The fields Winston-Salem State University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 35% $73,748 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 10% $36,304 early-career
- Business & Marketing 10% $50,714 early-career
- Psychology 7% $25,962 early-career
- Humanities 7% $29,017 early-career
- Communications 5% $29,017 early-career
- Social Sciences 4% $38,487 early-career
- Criminal Justice 3% $37,675 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Winston-Salem State University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Winston-Salem State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Winston-Salem State University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 78%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 945. The graduation rate is roughly 48%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Winston-Salem State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Winston-Salem State University is $16,782, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $13,479. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,463 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
Is Winston-Salem State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Winston-Salem State University earn a median of $45,344, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Winston-Salem State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Winston-Salem State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.03%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 21% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 14.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $45,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Winston-Salem State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Winston-Salem State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.02, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 2% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Winston-Salem State University.
- McNeese State UniversityLake Charles, LA · Close peer49% grad $46,453 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Southern MainePortland, ME · Close peer43% grad $49,958 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of New OrleansNew Orleans, LA · Close peer40% grad $47,872 earn 74% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Nicholls State UniversityThibodaux, LA · Close peer54% grad $45,454 earn 91% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Louisiana at MonroeMonroe, LA · Close peer52% grad $46,769 earn 85% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of South Carolina-UpstateSpartanburg, SC · Close peer43% grad $48,587 earn 67% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Winston-Salem State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Winston-Salem State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.02, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 2% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note