WSSU vs. CU

Deciding between Winston Salem State University and Cumberland 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.

Winston Salem State University
Cumberland University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • WSSU Winston-Salem, NC
  • CU Lebanon, TN
  • Setting
  • WSSU Midsize City
  • CU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • WSSU 4,782
  • CU 3,457
  • Type
  • WSSU Public 4 Year
  • CU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WSSU #940
  • CU
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WSSU -
  • CU -
  • Status
  • WSSU Non-profit
  • CU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WSSU
  • CU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WSSU $6,126
  • CU $27,840
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WSSU $16,782
  • CU $27,840
  • Room & Board
  • WSSU $11,484
  • CU $12,800
  • Average Net Price
  • WSSU $12,989
  • CU $18,499
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WSSU $10,057
  • CU $24,703
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WSSU 91%
  • CU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WSSU 9,108
  • CU 2,495
  • Admitted
  • WSSU 7,128
  • CU 1,680
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WSSU 78.3%
  • CU 67.3%
  • Enrolled
  • WSSU 13.1%
  • CU 40.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • WSSU 930
  • CU
  • Typical ACT score
  • WSSU 17
  • CU
  • Average High School GPA
  • WSSU 3.01
  • CU 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WSSU B
  • CU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • WSSU Extremely Easy
  • CU Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • WSSU
  • CU Low
  • ACT Range
  • WSSU 15/20
  • CU
  • SAT Range
  • WSSU 830/1020
  • CU
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WSSU Test optional
  • CU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • WSSU Feb 15, 2027
  • CU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WSSU 15:1
  • CU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WSSU
    • Health Professions (50%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • CU
    • Health Professions (46%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Biology (4%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WSSU 41%
  • CU 34%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WSSU $35,700
  • CU $39,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WSSU 33%
  • CU 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WSSU $25,663
  • CU $21,729
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WSSU $265
  • CU $224

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WSSU 26%
  • CU 47%
  • % Women
  • WSSU 74%
  • CU 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WSSU Low
  • CU Low
  • HBCU
  • WSSU Yes
  • CU No
  • % White
  • WSSU 16%
  • CU 63%
  • % Asian
  • WSSU 1%
  • CU 1%
  • % Black
  • WSSU 72%
  • CU 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • WSSU 3%
  • CU 3%
  • % Native American
  • WSSU 1%
  • CU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WSSU 0%
  • CU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WSSU 4%
  • CU 0%
  • % International
  • WSSU 2%
  • CU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WSSU 2%
  • CU 16%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WSSU 75%
  • CU 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WSSU 24%
  • CU 8%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Winston Salem State University in Winston-Salem, NC with Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Winston Salem State University is larger than CU based on total student enrollment (4,782 students vs. 3,457 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Winston Salem State University is located in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting); Cumberland University is in Lebanon, TN (Distant Town setting).
  • Winston Salem State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Cumberland University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Winston Salem State University 15:1; Cumberland University 19:1.

WSSU vs. CU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WSSU or CU? 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 CU ($12,989 vs. $18,499).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Winston Salem State University are 10.3% lower than at Cumberland University ($11,484 vs. $12,800).
  • Cumberland University is 354.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than WSSU (about $21,714 more per year; $27,840.00 vs. $6,126.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 65.9% higher at CU than at Winston Salem State University (about $11,058 more per year; $27,840.00 vs. $16,782.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cumberland University than at Winston Salem State University (100% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cumberland University students is 145.6% larger than aid received by Winston Salem State University students ($24,703 vs. $10,057).

WSSU vs. CU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WSSU or CU? 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 CU 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; CU - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WSSU Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman CU students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at WSSU (3.01).
  • WSSU has a higher acceptance rate (78.3%) than CU (67.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.1% at WSSU vs. 40.5% at CU.

WSSU vs. CU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WSSU and CU? 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 Cumberland University's (34%).
  • Graduates from Cumberland University earn a median of about $4,200 more per year than WSSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,900 vs. $35,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cumberland University graduates have a $3,934 lower median loan debt than WSSU graduates ($21,729 vs. $25,663).
  • Among borrowers, CU graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WSSU graduates ($224 vs. $265).
  • More CU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSSU students, three years after graduation. (60% 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.