WSSU vs. VSU

Should I go to Winston Salem State University or Virginia State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if WSSU or VSU 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

North Carolina Central University NCAT NSU Fayetteville State University Morgan State Bowie State University UNCG RU Old Dominion ECSU Delaware State University Wake Forest
Winston Salem State University vs. Virginia State University comparison
Winston Salem State University Virginia State University College 3 College 4
Winston Salem State University Virginia State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 WSSU VSU
Location Winston-Salem, NC Petersburg, VA
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 5,004 4,648
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #956 #980
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wssu.edu vsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 WSSU VSU
Tuition (In State) $3,401 $5,540
Tuition (Out of State) $14,057 $16,542
Room & Board $11,220 $11,544
Avg Net Price $14,097 $15,773
Avg Grant Aid $8,350 $11,498
% Receiving Grant Aid 86% 92%

Admission

 WSSU VSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,628 8,230
Admitted 5,598 7,384
Acceptance Rate 73.4% 89.7%
Enrolled % 15.3% 18.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.01 2.85
Typical High School Grades B B-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 14/19 14/17
SAT Range 830/1050 830/1030
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 15, 2025 May 1, 2025

Academics

 WSSU VSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (50%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • General Studies (7%)

Outcomes

 WSSU VSU
Graduation Rate 41% 40%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $35,700 $36,700
Making Student Loan Payments 33% 28%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,663 $29,500
Median Loan Payment $265 $305

Diversity

 WSSU VSU
% Men 24% 40%
% Women 76% 60%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU Yes Yes
% White 16% 3%
% Black 72% 87%
% Hispanic 3% 2%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 0%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 7%

Students

 WSSU VSU
% In-State 82% 72%
% Out-of-State 16% 27%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Winston Salem State University is larger than than VSU based on total student enrollment (5,004 students vs. 4,648 students)

WSSU vs. VSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WSSU or VSU?

  • Virginia State University is 62.9% more expensive to attend than WSSU for in-state tuition ($5,540.00 vs. $3,401.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 17.7% higher at VSU than Winston Salem State University ($16,542.00 vs. $14,057.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Winston Salem State University than VSU ($14,097 vs. $15,773)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Winston Salem State University are 2.9% lower than costs at Virginia State University ($11,220 vs. $11,544)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Virginia State University than Winston Salem State University (92% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia State University students is 37.7% larger than aid received Winston Salem State University ($11,498 vs. $8,350)

WSSU vs. VSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Winston Salem State University (870) is 13 points higher than at VSU (857)
  • Incoming WSSU students have at the same average ACT score (18) as students at VSU (18)
  • Accepted freshman WSSU students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.01) than students at VSU (2.85)
  • VSU has a higher acceptance rate (89.7%) than WSSU (73.4%)

WSSU vs. VSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at WSSU is higher than Virginia State University (41% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from Virginia State University earn on average $1,000 more per year than WSSU graduates after ten years. ($36,700 vs. $35,700)
  • Winston Salem State University students graduate with a $3,837 lower median federal student loan debt than VSU graduates. ($25,663 vs. $29,500)
  • WSSU graduates are paying $40 less per month on federal student loans than VSU graduates. ($265 vs. $305)
  • More WSSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VSU students, three years after graduation. (33% vs. 28%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/