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North Carolina Central University NCAT Franklin University Fayetteville State University UNCG Wilberforce University ECSU Wake Forest KY State ECU VSU Catawba College| Winston Salem State University | Central State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
WSSU | Central State University | ||
| Location | Winston-Salem, NC | Wilberforce, OH | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 4,776 | 3,454 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #953 | #1017 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wssu.edu | centralstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WSSU | Central State University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $3,401 | $5,404 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $14,057 | $7,404 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,484 | $11,390 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,948 | $14,821 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,254 | $6,318 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 88% | 86% |
Admission |
WSSU | Central State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 9,273 | 3,291 | ||
| Admitted | 6,357 | 1,514 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 68.6% | 46% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.9% | 37.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.01 | 2.8 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 14/18 | 14/18 | ||
| SAT Range | 820/1050 | 770/950 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Feb 15, 2026 |
Academics |
WSSU | Central State University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WSSU | Central State University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 41% | 24% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $35,700 | $27,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 33% | 16% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,663 | $39,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $265 | $403 |
Diversity |
WSSU | Central State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 2% | 0% | ||
| % Women | 9% | 0% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Extremely Low | ||
| HBCU | Yes | Yes | ||
| % White | 16% | 1% | ||
| % Black | 72% | 95% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 1% | ||
| % International | 2% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
WSSU | Central State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 77% | 47% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 22% | 44% | ||
Campus |
WSSU | Central State University | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Winston Salem State University is larger than than Central State University based on total student enrollment (4,776 students vs. 3,454 students)
WSSU vs. Central State University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WSSU or Central State University?
- Central State University is 58.9% more expensive to attend than WSSU for in-state tuition ($5,404.00 vs. $3,401.00)
- Out of state tuition is 89.9% higher at WSSU than Central State University ($14,057.00 vs. $7,404.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Winston Salem State University than Central State University ($12,948 vs. $14,821)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central State University are 0.8% lower than costs at Winston Salem State University ($11,390 vs. $11,484)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Winston Salem State University than Central State University (88% vs. 86%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Winston Salem State University students is 46.5% larger than aid received Central State University ($9,254 vs. $6,318)
WSSU vs. Central State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WSSU or Central State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Central State University or WSSU .
- The average SAT score at Winston Salem State University (870) is 93 points higher than at Central State University (777)
- Incoming WSSU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (18) than students at Central State University (16)
- Accepted freshman WSSU students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.01) than students at Central State University (2.8)
- WSSU has a higher acceptance rate (68.6%) than Central State University (46%)
WSSU vs. Central State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WSSU or Central State University? 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 Central State University and WSSU.
- The graduation rate at WSSU is higher than Central State University (41% vs. 24%)
- Graduates from Winston Salem State University earn on average $8,500 more per year than Central State University graduates after ten years. ($35,700 vs. $27,200)
- Winston Salem State University students graduate with a $13,337 lower median federal student loan debt than Central State University graduates. ($25,663 vs. $39,000)
- WSSU graduates are paying $138 less per month on federal student loans than Central State University graduates. ($265 vs. $403)
- More WSSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Central State University students, three years after graduation. (33% vs. 16%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/