WSSU vs. CCAD

Deciding between Winston Salem State University and Columbus College of Art & Design? 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.

Winston Salem State University
Columbus College of Art & Design

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • WSSU Winston-Salem, NC
  • CCAD Columbus, OH
  • Setting
  • WSSU Midsize City
  • CCAD Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • WSSU 4,782
  • CCAD 916
  • Type
  • WSSU Public 4 Year
  • CCAD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WSSU #940
  • CCAD
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WSSU -
  • CCAD -
  • Status
  • WSSU Non-profit
  • CCAD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WSSU
  • CCAD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WSSU $6,126
  • CCAD $40,825
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WSSU $16,782
  • CCAD $40,825
  • Room & Board
  • WSSU $11,484
  • CCAD $11,450
  • Average Net Price
  • WSSU $12,989
  • CCAD $31,801
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WSSU $10,057
  • CCAD $23,000
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WSSU 91%
  • CCAD 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WSSU 9,108
  • CCAD 1,079
  • Admitted
  • WSSU 7,128
  • CCAD 730
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WSSU 78.3%
  • CCAD 67.7%
  • Enrolled
  • WSSU 13.1%
  • CCAD 32.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • WSSU 930
  • CCAD
  • Typical ACT score
  • WSSU 17
  • CCAD
  • Average High School GPA
  • WSSU 3.01
  • CCAD -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WSSU B
  • CCAD -
  • Admissions Standards
  • WSSU Extremely Easy
  • CCAD Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • WSSU
  • CCAD Low
  • ACT Range
  • WSSU 15/20
  • CCAD
  • SAT Range
  • WSSU 830/1020
  • CCAD
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WSSU Test optional
  • CCAD Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • WSSU Feb 15, 2027
  • CCAD

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WSSU 15:1
  • CCAD 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WSSU
    • Health Professions (50%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • CCAD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WSSU 41%
  • CCAD 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WSSU $35,700
  • CCAD $38,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WSSU 33%
  • CCAD 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WSSU $25,663
  • CCAD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WSSU $265
  • CCAD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WSSU 26%
  • CCAD 27%
  • % Women
  • WSSU 74%
  • CCAD 73%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WSSU Low
  • CCAD Medium
  • HBCU
  • WSSU Yes
  • CCAD No
  • % White
  • WSSU 16%
  • CCAD 66%
  • % Asian
  • WSSU 1%
  • CCAD 4%
  • % Black
  • WSSU 72%
  • CCAD 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • WSSU 3%
  • CCAD 5%
  • % Native American
  • WSSU 1%
  • CCAD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WSSU 0%
  • CCAD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WSSU 4%
  • CCAD 5%
  • % International
  • WSSU 2%
  • CCAD 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WSSU 2%
  • CCAD 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WSSU 75%
  • CCAD 70%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WSSU 24%
  • CCAD 21%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Winston Salem State University in Winston-Salem, NC with Columbus College of Art & Design in Columbus, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Winston Salem State University is larger than CCAD based on total student enrollment (4,782 students vs. 916 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Winston Salem State University is located in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting); Columbus College of Art & Design is in Columbus, OH (Large City setting).
  • Winston Salem State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Columbus College of Art & Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Winston Salem State University 15:1; Columbus College of Art & Design 10:1.

WSSU vs. CCAD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WSSU or CCAD? 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 CCAD ($12,989 vs. $31,801).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbus College of Art & Design are 0.3% lower than at Winston Salem State University ($11,450 vs. $11,484).
  • Columbus College of Art & Design is 566.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than WSSU (about $34,699 more per year; $40,825.00 vs. $6,126.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 143.3% higher at CCAD than at Winston Salem State University (about $24,043 more per year; $40,825.00 vs. $16,782.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Columbus College of Art & Design than at Winston Salem State University (100% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbus College of Art & Design students is 128.7% larger than aid received by Winston Salem State University students ($23,000 vs. $10,057).

WSSU vs. CCAD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WSSU or CCAD? 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 CCAD and WSSU.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Winston Salem State University 830/1020.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Winston Salem State University 15/20.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WSSU - Test optional; CCAD - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WSSU Feb 15, 2027.
  • WSSU has a higher acceptance rate (78.3%) than CCAD (67.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.1% at WSSU vs. 32.1% at CCAD.

WSSU vs. CCAD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WSSU and CCAD? 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).

  • Columbus College of Art & Design's six-year graduation rate (64%) is higher than Winston Salem State University's (41%).
  • Graduates from Columbus College of Art & Design earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than WSSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,100 vs. $35,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Winston Salem State University graduates have a $1,337 lower median loan debt than CCAD graduates ($25,663 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, WSSU graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CCAD graduates ($265 vs. $279).
  • More CCAD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSSU students, three years after graduation. (63% 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.