WSSU vs. CCAD

Should I go to Winston Salem State University or Columbus College of Art and Design? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if WSSU or CCAD 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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Winston Salem State University vs. Columbus College of Art and Design comparison
Winston Salem State University Columbus College of Art and Design College 3 College 4
Winston Salem State University Columbus College of Art and Design
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Overview

 WSSU CCAD
Location Winston-Salem, NC Columbus, OH
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 4,776 918
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #953
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wssu.edu ccad.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 WSSU CCAD
Tuition (In State) $3,401 $39,150
Tuition (Out of State) $14,057 $39,150
Room & Board $11,484 $11,450
Avg Net Price $12,948 $30,900
Avg Grant Aid $9,254 $21,807
% Receiving Grant Aid 88% 98%

Admission

 WSSU CCAD
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,273 867
Admitted 6,357 622
Acceptance Rate 68.6% 71.7%
Enrolled % 13.9% 30.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.01 -
Typical High School Grades B -
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 14/18
SAT Range 820/1050
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 CCAD
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (50%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)

Outcomes

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

Diversity

 WSSU CCAD
% Men 2% 1%
% Women 9% 2%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU Yes No
% White 16% 66%
% Black 72% 10%
% Hispanic 3% 5%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 5%
% International 2% 7%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

 WSSU CCAD
% In-State 77% 69%
% Out-of-State 22% 22%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Winston Salem State University is larger than than CCAD based on total student enrollment (4,776 students vs. 918 students)

WSSU vs. CCAD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WSSU or CCAD?

  • Columbus College of Art and Design is 1,051.1% more expensive to attend than WSSU for in-state tuition ($39,150.00 vs. $3,401.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 178.5% higher at CCAD than Winston Salem State University ($39,150.00 vs. $14,057.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Winston Salem State University than CCAD ($12,948 vs. $30,900)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbus College of Art and Design are 0.3% lower than costs at Winston Salem State University ($11,450 vs. $11,484)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbus College of Art and Design than Winston Salem State University (98% vs. 88%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbus College of Art and Design students is 135.6% larger than aid received Winston Salem State University ($21,807 vs. $9,254)

WSSU vs. CCAD Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • CCAD has a higher acceptance rate (71.7%) than WSSU (68.6%)

WSSU vs. CCAD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, WSSU or CCAD? 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 CCAD and WSSU.

  • The graduation rate at CCAD is higher than Winston Salem State University (64% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Columbus College of Art and Design earn on average $2,400 more per year than WSSU graduates after ten years. ($38,100 vs. $35,700)
  • Winston Salem State University students graduate with a $1,337 lower median federal student loan debt than CCAD graduates. ($25,663 vs. $27,000)
  • WSSU graduates are paying $14 less per month on federal student loans 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/