North Carolina Central University vs. WSSU

Should I go to North Carolina Central University or Winston Salem State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if North Carolina Central University or WSSU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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North Carolina Central University vs. Winston Salem State University comparison
North Carolina Central University Winston Salem State University College 3 College 4
North Carolina Central University Winston Salem State University
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Overview

 North Carolina Central University WSSU
Location Durham, NC Winston-Salem, NC
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 7,553 5,004
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #940 #956
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nccu.edu wssu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 North Carolina Central University WSSU
Tuition (In State) $3,728 $3,401
Tuition (Out of State) $16,764 $14,057
Room & Board $11,864 $11,220
Avg Net Price $13,708 $14,097
Avg Grant Aid $16,168 $8,350
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 86%

Admission

 North Carolina Central University WSSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,423 7,628
Admitted 7,107 5,598
Acceptance Rate 84.4% 73.4%
Enrolled % 15.2% 15.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.27 3.01
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 15/23 14/19
SAT Range 810/1130 830/1050
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025 Feb 15, 2025

Academics

 North Carolina Central University WSSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Work and Family Studies (11%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Health Professions (50%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)
  • Psychology (5%)

Outcomes

 North Carolina Central University WSSU
Graduation Rate 38% 41%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $35,200 $35,700
Making Student Loan Payments 23% 33%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $25,663
Median Loan Payment $320 $265

Diversity

 North Carolina Central University WSSU
% Men 30% 24%
% Women 70% 76%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU Yes Yes
% White 6% 16%
% Black 81% 72%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 0% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

 North Carolina Central University WSSU
% In-State 65% 82%
% Out-of-State 29% 16%

Campus

 North Carolina Central University WSSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • North Carolina Central University is larger than than WSSU based on total student enrollment (7,553 students vs. 5,004 students)

North Carolina Central University vs. WSSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, North Carolina Central University or WSSU?

  • North Carolina Central University is 9.6% more expensive to attend than WSSU for in-state tuition ($3,728.00 vs. $3,401.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 19.3% higher at North Carolina Central University than Winston Salem State University ($16,764.00 vs. $14,057.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Carolina Central University than WSSU ($13,708 vs. $14,097)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Winston Salem State University are 5.7% lower than costs at North Carolina Central University ($11,220 vs. $11,864)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at North Carolina Central University than Winston Salem State University (96% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by North Carolina Central University students is 93.6% larger than aid received Winston Salem State University ($16,168 vs. $8,350)

North Carolina Central University vs. WSSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, North Carolina Central University or WSSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WSSU or North Carolina Central University .

  • The average SAT score at North Carolina Central University (879) is 9 points higher than at WSSU (870)
  • Incoming North Carolina Central University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (19) than students at WSSU (18)
  • Accepted freshman North Carolina Central University students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.27) than students at WSSU (3.01)
  • North Carolina Central University has a higher acceptance rate (84.4%) than WSSU (73.4%)

North Carolina Central University vs. WSSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, North Carolina Central University or WSSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between WSSU and North Carolina Central University.

  • The graduation rate at WSSU is higher than North Carolina Central University (41% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from Winston Salem State University earn on average $500 more per year than North Carolina Central University graduates after ten years. ($35,700 vs. $35,200)
  • Winston Salem State University students graduate with a $5,337 lower median federal student loan debt than North Carolina Central University graduates. ($25,663 vs. $31,000)
  • WSSU graduates are paying $55 less per month on federal student loans than North Carolina Central University graduates. ($265 vs. $320)
  • More WSSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former North Carolina Central University students, three years after graduation. (33% vs. 23%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/