WSSU vs. NSU

Deciding between Winston Salem State University and Norfolk State 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
Norfolk State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • WSSU Winston-Salem, NC
  • NSU Norfolk, VA
  • Setting
  • WSSU Midsize City
  • NSU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • WSSU 4,782
  • NSU 6,053
  • Type
  • WSSU Public 4 Year
  • NSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WSSU #940
  • NSU #988
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WSSU -
  • NSU -
  • Status
  • WSSU Non-profit
  • NSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WSSU
  • NSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WSSU $6,126
  • NSU $10,180
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WSSU $16,782
  • NSU $21,682
  • Room & Board
  • WSSU $11,484
  • NSU $11,591
  • Average Net Price
  • WSSU $12,989
  • NSU $9,124
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WSSU $10,057
  • NSU $15,056
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WSSU 91%
  • NSU 75%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WSSU 9,108
  • NSU 11,247
  • Admitted
  • WSSU 7,128
  • NSU 9,871
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WSSU 78.3%
  • NSU 87.8%
  • Enrolled
  • WSSU 13.1%
  • NSU 13.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • WSSU 930
  • NSU 930
  • Typical ACT score
  • WSSU 17
  • NSU 19
  • Average High School GPA
  • WSSU 3.01
  • NSU 2.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WSSU B
  • NSU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • WSSU Extremely Easy
  • NSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • WSSU
  • NSU
  • ACT Range
  • WSSU 15/20
  • NSU 16/22
  • SAT Range
  • WSSU 830/1020
  • NSU 823/1030
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WSSU Test optional
  • NSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • WSSU Feb 15, 2027
  • NSU May 31, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WSSU 15:1
  • NSU 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WSSU
    • Health Professions (50%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • NSU
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Communication (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WSSU 41%
  • NSU 33%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WSSU $35,700
  • NSU $36,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WSSU 33%
  • NSU 27%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WSSU $25,663
  • NSU $31,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WSSU $265
  • NSU $320

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WSSU 26%
  • NSU 33%
  • % Women
  • WSSU 74%
  • NSU 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WSSU Low
  • NSU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • WSSU Yes
  • NSU Yes
  • % White
  • WSSU 16%
  • NSU 5%
  • % Asian
  • WSSU 1%
  • NSU 1%
  • % Black
  • WSSU 72%
  • NSU 84%
  • % Hispanic
  • WSSU 3%
  • NSU 3%
  • % Native American
  • WSSU 1%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WSSU 0%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WSSU 4%
  • NSU 4%
  • % International
  • WSSU 2%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WSSU 2%
  • NSU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WSSU 75%
  • NSU 65%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WSSU 24%
  • NSU 2%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Norfolk State University is larger than WSSU based on total student enrollment (6,053 students vs. 4,782 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

WSSU vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WSSU or NSU? 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 Norfolk State University than WSSU ($9,124 vs. $12,989).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Winston Salem State University are 0.9% lower than at Norfolk State University ($11,484 vs. $11,591).
  • Norfolk State University is 66.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than WSSU (about $4,054 more per year; $10,180.00 vs. $6,126.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 29.2% higher at NSU than at Winston Salem State University (about $4,900 more per year; $21,682.00 vs. $16,782.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Winston Salem State University than at Norfolk State University (91% vs. 75%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Norfolk State University students is 49.7% larger than aid received by Winston Salem State University students ($15,056 vs. $10,057).

WSSU vs. NSU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Winston Salem State University (930) is the same as at NSU (930).
  • Incoming NSU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (19 vs. 17 at WSSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Winston Salem State University 830/1020; Norfolk State University 823/1030.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Winston Salem State University 15/20; Norfolk State University 16/22.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WSSU - Test optional; NSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WSSU Feb 15, 2027; NSU May 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman WSSU students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.01) than students at NSU (2.9).
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than WSSU (78.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.1% at WSSU vs. 13.2% at NSU.

WSSU vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WSSU and NSU? 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 Norfolk State University's (33%).
  • Graduates from Norfolk State University earn a median of about $1,000 more per year than WSSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,700 vs. $35,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Winston Salem State University graduates have a $5,337 lower median loan debt than NSU graduates ($25,663 vs. $31,000).
  • Among borrowers, WSSU graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSU graduates ($265 vs. $320).
  • More WSSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (33% vs. 27%)

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.