WSSU vs. TSU

Deciding between Winston Salem State University and Texas Southern 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
Texas Southern University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • WSSU Winston-Salem, NC
  • TSU Houston, TX
  • Setting
  • WSSU Midsize City
  • TSU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • WSSU 4,782
  • TSU 8,704
  • Type
  • WSSU Public 4 Year
  • TSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WSSU #940
  • TSU #1020
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WSSU -
  • TSU -
  • Status
  • WSSU Non-profit
  • TSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WSSU
  • TSU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WSSU $6,126
  • TSU $9,173
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WSSU $16,782
  • TSU $21,473
  • Room & Board
  • WSSU $11,484
  • TSU $12,800
  • Average Net Price
  • WSSU $12,989
  • TSU $13,584
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WSSU $10,057
  • TSU $9,823
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WSSU 91%
  • TSU 95%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WSSU 9,108
  • TSU 9,391
  • Admitted
  • WSSU 7,128
  • TSU 9,101
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WSSU 78.3%
  • TSU 96.9%
  • Enrolled
  • WSSU 13.1%
  • TSU 17.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • WSSU 930
  • TSU 900
  • Typical ACT score
  • WSSU 17
  • TSU 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • WSSU 3.01
  • TSU 3.0
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WSSU B
  • TSU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • WSSU Extremely Easy
  • TSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • WSSU
  • TSU
  • ACT Range
  • WSSU 15/20
  • TSU 15/19
  • SAT Range
  • WSSU 830/1020
  • TSU 800/1000
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WSSU Test optional
  • TSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • WSSU Feb 15, 2027
  • TSU Jul 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WSSU 15:1
  • TSU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WSSU
    • Health Professions (50%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • TSU
    • Business (20%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WSSU 41%
  • TSU 12%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WSSU $35,700
  • TSU $36,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WSSU 33%
  • TSU 22%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WSSU $25,663
  • TSU $29,358
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WSSU $265
  • TSU $303
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WSSU 26%
  • TSU 35%
  • % Women
  • WSSU 74%
  • TSU 65%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WSSU Low
  • TSU Low
  • HBCU
  • WSSU Yes
  • TSU Yes
  • % White
  • WSSU 16%
  • TSU 2%
  • % Asian
  • WSSU 1%
  • TSU 2%
  • % Black
  • WSSU 72%
  • TSU 80%
  • % Hispanic
  • WSSU 3%
  • TSU 6%
  • % Native American
  • WSSU 1%
  • TSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WSSU 0%
  • TSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WSSU 4%
  • TSU 0%
  • % International
  • WSSU 2%
  • TSU 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WSSU 2%
  • TSU 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WSSU 75%
  • TSU 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WSSU 24%
  • TSU 20%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Texas Southern University is larger than WSSU based on total student enrollment (8,704 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); Texas Southern University is in Houston, TX (Large City setting).
  • Winston Salem State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Texas Southern University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Winston Salem State University 15:1; Texas Southern University 19:1.

WSSU vs. TSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WSSU or TSU? 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 TSU ($12,989 vs. $13,584).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Winston Salem State University are 10.3% lower than at Texas Southern University ($11,484 vs. $12,800).
  • Texas Southern University is 49.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than WSSU (about $3,047 more per year; $9,173.00 vs. $6,126.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 28% higher at TSU than at Winston Salem State University (about $4,691 more per year; $21,473.00 vs. $16,782.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Texas Southern University than at Winston Salem State University (95% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Winston Salem State University students is 2.4% larger than aid received by Texas Southern University students ($10,057 vs. $9,823).

WSSU vs. TSU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Winston Salem State University (930) is 30 points higher than at TSU (900).
  • Incoming WSSU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 17) as students at TSU (17).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Winston Salem State University 830/1020; Texas Southern University 800/1000.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Winston Salem State University 15/20; Texas Southern University 15/19.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WSSU - Test optional; TSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WSSU Feb 15, 2027; TSU Jul 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman WSSU students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.01) than students at TSU (3.0).
  • TSU has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than WSSU (78.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.1% at WSSU vs. 17.9% at TSU.

WSSU vs. TSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WSSU and TSU? 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 Texas Southern University's (12%).
  • Graduates from Texas Southern University earn a median of about $500 more per year than WSSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,200 vs. $35,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Winston Salem State University graduates have a $3,695 lower median loan debt than TSU graduates ($25,663 vs. $29,358).
  • Among borrowers, WSSU graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than TSU graduates ($265 vs. $303).
  • More WSSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former TSU students, three years after graduation. (33% vs. 22%)

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.