Eastern vs. WSSU

Deciding between Eastern Kentucky University and Winston Salem State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Eastern Kentucky University
Winston Salem State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Eastern Richmond, KY
  • WSSU Winston-Salem, NC
  • Setting
  • Eastern Distant Town
  • WSSU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Eastern 15,673
  • WSSU 4,782
  • Type
  • Eastern Public 4 Year
  • WSSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Eastern #886
  • WSSU #940
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Eastern -
  • WSSU -
  • Status
  • Eastern Non-profit
  • WSSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Eastern
  • WSSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Eastern $10,320
  • WSSU $6,126
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Eastern $21,230
  • WSSU $16,782
  • Room & Board
  • Eastern $12,268
  • WSSU $11,484
  • Average Net Price
  • Eastern $12,279
  • WSSU $12,989
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Eastern $11,468
  • WSSU $10,057
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Eastern 98%
  • WSSU 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Eastern 17,024
  • WSSU 9,108
  • Admitted
  • Eastern 13,212
  • WSSU 7,128
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Eastern 77.6%
  • WSSU 78.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Eastern 19.9%
  • WSSU 13.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Eastern 980
  • WSSU 930
  • Typical ACT score
  • Eastern 22
  • WSSU 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • Eastern 3.39
  • WSSU 3.01
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Eastern B+
  • WSSU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • Eastern Very Easy
  • WSSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Eastern
  • WSSU
  • ACT Range
  • Eastern 19/25
  • WSSU 15/20
  • SAT Range
  • Eastern 880/1080
  • WSSU 830/1020
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Eastern Test optional
  • WSSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Eastern Aug 1, 2027
  • WSSU Feb 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Eastern 17:1
  • WSSU 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Eastern
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • WSSU
    • Health Professions (50%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Eastern 38%
  • WSSU 41%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Eastern $37,900
  • WSSU $35,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Eastern 49%
  • WSSU 33%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Eastern $23,695
  • WSSU $25,663
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Eastern $245
  • WSSU $265

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Eastern 39%
  • WSSU 26%
  • % Women
  • Eastern 61%
  • WSSU 74%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Eastern Very Low
  • WSSU Low
  • HBCU
  • Eastern No
  • WSSU Yes
  • % White
  • Eastern 85%
  • WSSU 16%
  • % Asian
  • Eastern 1%
  • WSSU 1%
  • % Black
  • Eastern 6%
  • WSSU 72%
  • % Hispanic
  • Eastern 2%
  • WSSU 3%
  • % Native American
  • Eastern 0%
  • WSSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Eastern 0%
  • WSSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Eastern 2%
  • WSSU 4%
  • % International
  • Eastern 2%
  • WSSU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Eastern 1%
  • WSSU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Eastern 91%
  • WSSU 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Eastern 9%
  • WSSU 24%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Eastern Yes
  • WSSU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Eastern No
  • WSSU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Eastern Yes
  • WSSU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Eastern No
  • WSSU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Eastern No
  • WSSU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, KY with Winston Salem State University in Winston-Salem, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Eastern Kentucky University is larger than WSSU based on total student enrollment (15,673 students vs. 4,782 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Eastern Kentucky University is located in Richmond, KY (Distant Town setting); Winston Salem State University is in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting).
  • Eastern Kentucky University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Winston Salem State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Kentucky University 17:1; Winston Salem State University 15:1.

Eastern vs. WSSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Eastern or WSSU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Eastern Kentucky University than WSSU ($12,279 vs. $12,989).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Winston Salem State University are 6.4% lower than at Eastern Kentucky University ($11,484 vs. $12,268).
  • Eastern Kentucky University is 68.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than WSSU (about $4,194 more per year; $10,320.00 vs. $6,126.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 26.5% higher at Eastern than at Winston Salem State University (about $4,448 more per year; $21,230.00 vs. $16,782.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Eastern Kentucky University than at Winston Salem State University (98% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Kentucky University students is 14% larger than aid received by Winston Salem State University students ($11,468 vs. $10,057).

Eastern vs. WSSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Eastern or WSSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between WSSU and Eastern.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Eastern Kentucky University (980) is 50 points higher than at WSSU (930).
  • Incoming Eastern students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 17 at WSSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Eastern Kentucky University 880/1080; Winston Salem State University 830/1020.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Eastern Kentucky University 19/25; Winston Salem State University 15/20.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Eastern - Test optional; WSSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Eastern Aug 1, 2027; WSSU Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Eastern students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at WSSU (3.01).
  • WSSU has a higher acceptance rate (78.3%) than Eastern (77.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.9% at Eastern vs. 13.1% at WSSU.

Eastern vs. WSSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Eastern and WSSU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Winston Salem State University's six-year graduation rate (41%) is higher than Eastern Kentucky University's (38%).
  • Graduates from Eastern Kentucky University earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than WSSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,900 vs. $35,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Eastern Kentucky University graduates have a $1,968 lower median loan debt than WSSU graduates ($23,695 vs. $25,663).
  • Among borrowers, Eastern graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WSSU graduates ($245 vs. $265).
  • More Eastern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSSU students, three years after graduation. (49% vs. 33%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.