WSSU vs. Kent State University at Salem

Deciding between Winston Salem State University and Kent State University at Salem? 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

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • WSSU Winston-Salem, NC
  • Kent State University at Salem Salem, OH
  • Setting
  • WSSU Midsize City
  • Kent State University at Salem Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • WSSU 4,782
  • Kent State University at Salem 1,633
  • Type
  • WSSU Public 4 Year
  • Kent State University at Salem Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WSSU #940
  • Kent State University at Salem
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WSSU -
  • Kent State University at Salem -
  • Status
  • WSSU Non-profit
  • Kent State University at Salem Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WSSU
  • Kent State University at Salem
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WSSU $6,126
  • Kent State University at Salem $7,492
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WSSU $16,782
  • Kent State University at Salem $17,342
  • Room & Board
  • WSSU $11,484
  • Kent State University at Salem $11,810
  • Average Net Price
  • WSSU $12,989
  • Kent State University at Salem $13,301
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WSSU $10,057
  • Kent State University at Salem $5,135
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WSSU 91%
  • Kent State University at Salem 75%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WSSU 9,108
  • Kent State University at Salem -
  • Admitted
  • WSSU 7,128
  • Kent State University at Salem -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WSSU 78.3%
  • Kent State University at Salem Open
  • Enrolled
  • WSSU 13.1%
  • Kent State University at Salem Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • WSSU 930
  • Kent State University at Salem
  • Typical ACT score
  • WSSU 17
  • Kent State University at Salem
  • Average High School GPA
  • WSSU 3.01
  • Kent State University at Salem 3.27
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WSSU B
  • Kent State University at Salem B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • WSSU Extremely Easy
  • Kent State University at Salem Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • WSSU
  • Kent State University at Salem
  • ACT Range
  • WSSU 15/20
  • Kent State University at Salem
  • SAT Range
  • WSSU 830/1020
  • Kent State University at Salem
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WSSU Test optional
  • Kent State University at Salem Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • WSSU Feb 15, 2027
  • Kent State University at Salem Aug 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WSSU 15:1
  • Kent State University at Salem 26:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WSSU
    • Health Professions (50%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • Kent State University at Salem
    • Health Professions (50%)
    • Education (15%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (8%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WSSU 41%
  • Kent State University at Salem 19%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WSSU $35,700
  • Kent State University at Salem $40,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WSSU 33%
  • Kent State University at Salem 46%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WSSU $25,663
  • Kent State University at Salem $25,825
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WSSU $265
  • Kent State University at Salem $267
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WSSU 26%
  • Kent State University at Salem 32%
  • % Women
  • WSSU 74%
  • Kent State University at Salem 68%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WSSU Low
  • Kent State University at Salem Very Low
  • HBCU
  • WSSU Yes
  • Kent State University at Salem No
  • % White
  • WSSU 16%
  • Kent State University at Salem 88%
  • % Asian
  • WSSU 1%
  • Kent State University at Salem 1%
  • % Black
  • WSSU 72%
  • Kent State University at Salem 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • WSSU 3%
  • Kent State University at Salem 2%
  • % Native American
  • WSSU 1%
  • Kent State University at Salem 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WSSU 0%
  • Kent State University at Salem 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WSSU 4%
  • Kent State University at Salem 2%
  • % International
  • WSSU 2%
  • Kent State University at Salem 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WSSU 2%
  • Kent State University at Salem 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WSSU 75%
  • Kent State University at Salem 99%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WSSU 24%
  • Kent State University at Salem 1%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • WSSU Yes
  • Kent State University at Salem No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • WSSU No
  • Kent State University at Salem No
  • Meal Plan
  • WSSU Yes
  • Kent State University at Salem No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • WSSU Yes
  • Kent State University at Salem No
  • Daycare Facility
  • WSSU No
  • Kent State University at Salem No

Comparable Facts

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

Winston Salem State University is larger than Kent State University at Salem based on total student enrollment (4,782 students vs. 1,633 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Winston Salem State University is located in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting); Kent State University at Salem is in Salem, OH (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Winston Salem State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Kent State University at Salem is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Winston Salem State University 15:1; Kent State University at Salem 26:1.

WSSU vs. Kent State University at Salem Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WSSU or Kent State University at Salem? 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 Kent State University at Salem ($12,989 vs. $13,301).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Winston Salem State University are 2.8% lower than at Kent State University at Salem ($11,484 vs. $11,810).
  • Kent State University at Salem is 22.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than WSSU (about $1,366 more per year; $7,492.00 vs. $6,126.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.3% higher at Kent State University at Salem than at Winston Salem State University (about $560 more per year; $17,342.00 vs. $16,782.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Winston Salem State University than at Kent State University at Salem (91% vs. 75%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Winston Salem State University students is 95.9% larger than aid received by Kent State University at Salem students ($10,057 vs. $5,135).

WSSU vs. Kent State University at Salem Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WSSU or Kent State University at Salem? 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 Kent State University at Salem and WSSU.

  • Kent State University at Salem reports an open admissions policy.
  • 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; Kent State University at Salem - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WSSU Feb 15, 2027; Kent State University at Salem Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Kent State University at Salem students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.27) than students at WSSU (3.01).

WSSU vs. Kent State University at Salem Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WSSU and Kent State University at Salem? 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 Kent State University at Salem's (19%).
  • Graduates from Kent State University at Salem earn a median of about $4,600 more per year than WSSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,300 vs. $35,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Winston Salem State University graduates have a $162 lower median loan debt than Kent State University at Salem graduates ($25,663 vs. $25,825).
  • Among borrowers, WSSU graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Kent State University at Salem graduates ($265 vs. $267).
  • More Kent State University at Salem graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSSU students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.