JCSU vs. WSSU

Deciding between Johnson C Smith 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.

Johnson C Smith University
Winston Salem State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • JCSU Charlotte, NC
  • WSSU Winston-Salem, NC
  • Setting
  • JCSU Large City
  • WSSU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • JCSU 1,302
  • WSSU 4,782
  • Type
  • JCSU Private 4 Year
  • WSSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • JCSU #967
  • WSSU #940
  • Religious Affiliation
  • JCSU -
  • WSSU -
  • Status
  • JCSU Non-profit
  • WSSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • JCSU
  • WSSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • JCSU $21,300
  • WSSU $6,126
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • JCSU $21,300
  • WSSU $16,782
  • Room & Board
  • JCSU $8,600
  • WSSU $11,484
  • Average Net Price
  • JCSU $19,705
  • WSSU $12,989
  • Average Grant Aid
  • JCSU $15,238
  • WSSU $10,057
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • JCSU 93%
  • WSSU 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • JCSU 6,820
  • WSSU 9,108
  • Admitted
  • JCSU 3,083
  • WSSU 7,128
  • Acceptance Rate
  • JCSU 45.2%
  • WSSU 78.3%
  • Enrolled
  • JCSU 12.8%
  • WSSU 13.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • JCSU 890
  • WSSU 930
  • Typical ACT score
  • JCSU 15
  • WSSU 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • JCSU 2.48
  • WSSU 3.01
  • Typical High School Grades
  • JCSU C+
  • WSSU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • JCSU Extremely Easy
  • WSSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • JCSU Low
  • WSSU
  • ACT Range
  • JCSU 13/18
  • WSSU 15/20
  • SAT Range
  • JCSU 800/980
  • WSSU 830/1020
  • Submit Test Scores
  • JCSU Test-free
  • WSSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • JCSU
  • WSSU Feb 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • JCSU 12:1
  • WSSU 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • JCSU
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • WSSU
    • Health Professions (50%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • JCSU 37%
  • WSSU 41%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • JCSU $30,300
  • WSSU $35,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • JCSU 26%
  • WSSU 33%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • JCSU $32,050
  • WSSU $25,663
  • Median Loan Payment
  • JCSU $331
  • WSSU $265

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • JCSU 47%
  • WSSU 26%
  • % Women
  • JCSU 53%
  • WSSU 74%
  • Racial Diversity
  • JCSU Very Low
  • WSSU Low
  • HBCU
  • JCSU Yes
  • WSSU Yes
  • % White
  • JCSU 0%
  • WSSU 16%
  • % Asian
  • JCSU 0%
  • WSSU 1%
  • % Black
  • JCSU 79%
  • WSSU 72%
  • % Hispanic
  • JCSU 5%
  • WSSU 3%
  • % Native American
  • JCSU 0%
  • WSSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • JCSU 0%
  • WSSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • JCSU 2%
  • WSSU 4%
  • % International
  • JCSU 4%
  • WSSU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • JCSU 9%
  • WSSU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • JCSU 45%
  • WSSU 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • JCSU 53%
  • WSSU 24%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Johnson C Smith University in Charlotte, NC with Winston Salem State University in Winston-Salem, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Winston Salem State University is larger than JCSU based on total student enrollment (4,782 students vs. 1,302 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Johnson C Smith University is located in Charlotte, NC (Large City setting); Winston Salem State University is in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting).
  • Johnson C Smith University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Winston Salem State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Johnson C Smith University 12:1; Winston Salem State University 15:1.

JCSU vs. WSSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, JCSU 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 Winston Salem State University than JCSU ($12,989 vs. $19,705).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Johnson C Smith University are 25.1% lower than at Winston Salem State University ($8,600 vs. $11,484).
  • Johnson C Smith University is 247.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than WSSU (about $15,174 more per year; $21,300.00 vs. $6,126.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 26.9% higher at JCSU than at Winston Salem State University (about $4,518 more per year; $21,300.00 vs. $16,782.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Johnson C Smith University than at Winston Salem State University (93% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Johnson C Smith University students is 51.5% larger than aid received by Winston Salem State University students ($15,238 vs. $10,057).

JCSU vs. WSSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, JCSU 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 JCSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Winston Salem State University (930) is 40 points higher than at JCSU (890).
  • Incoming WSSU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (17 vs. 15 at JCSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Johnson C Smith University 800/980; Winston Salem State University 830/1020.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Johnson C Smith University 13/18; Winston Salem State University 15/20.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: JCSU - Test-free; WSSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WSSU Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman WSSU students have a 0.53 point higher average high school GPA (3.01) than students at JCSU (2.48).
  • WSSU has a higher acceptance rate (78.3%) than JCSU (45.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.8% at JCSU vs. 13.1% at WSSU.

JCSU vs. WSSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for JCSU 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 Johnson C Smith University's (37%).
  • Graduates from Winston Salem State University earn a median of about $5,400 more per year than JCSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,700 vs. $30,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Winston Salem State University graduates have a $6,387 lower median loan debt than JCSU graduates ($25,663 vs. $32,050).
  • Among borrowers, WSSU graduates have an estimated $66 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than JCSU graduates ($265 vs. $331).
  • More WSSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former JCSU students, three years after graduation. (33% vs. 26%)

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.