WSSU vs. WVSU

Deciding between Winston Salem State University and West Virginia 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
West Virginia State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • WSSU Winston-Salem, NC
  • WVSU Institute, WV
  • Setting
  • WSSU Midsize City
  • WVSU Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • WSSU 4,782
  • WVSU 3,246
  • Type
  • WSSU Public 4 Year
  • WVSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WSSU #940
  • WVSU #1010
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WSSU -
  • WVSU -
  • Status
  • WSSU Non-profit
  • WVSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WSSU
  • WVSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WSSU $6,126
  • WVSU $9,570
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WSSU $16,782
  • WVSU $14,990
  • Room & Board
  • WSSU $11,484
  • WVSU $13,522
  • Average Net Price
  • WSSU $12,989
  • WVSU $11,055
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WSSU $10,057
  • WVSU $8,993
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WSSU 91%
  • WVSU 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WSSU 9,108
  • WVSU 6,163
  • Admitted
  • WSSU 7,128
  • WVSU 5,914
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WSSU 78.3%
  • WVSU 96%
  • Enrolled
  • WSSU 13.1%
  • WVSU 5.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • WSSU 930
  • WVSU 900
  • Typical ACT score
  • WSSU 17
  • WVSU 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • WSSU 3.01
  • WVSU 3.24
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WSSU B
  • WVSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • WSSU Extremely Easy
  • WVSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • WSSU
  • WVSU
  • ACT Range
  • WSSU 15/20
  • WVSU 15/20
  • SAT Range
  • WSSU 830/1020
  • WVSU 760/1040
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WSSU Test optional
  • WVSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • WSSU Feb 15, 2027
  • WVSU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WSSU 15:1
  • WVSU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WSSU
    • Health Professions (50%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • WVSU
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (23%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WSSU 41%
  • WVSU 25%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WSSU $35,700
  • WVSU $32,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WSSU 33%
  • WVSU 35%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WSSU $25,663
  • WVSU $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WSSU $265
  • WVSU $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WSSU 26%
  • WVSU 42%
  • % Women
  • WSSU 74%
  • WVSU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WSSU Low
  • WVSU Medium
  • HBCU
  • WSSU Yes
  • WVSU Yes
  • % White
  • WSSU 16%
  • WVSU 65%
  • % Asian
  • WSSU 1%
  • WVSU 0%
  • % Black
  • WSSU 72%
  • WVSU 14%
  • % Hispanic
  • WSSU 3%
  • WVSU 1%
  • % Native American
  • WSSU 1%
  • WVSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WSSU 0%
  • WVSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WSSU 4%
  • WVSU 10%
  • % International
  • WSSU 2%
  • WVSU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WSSU 2%
  • WVSU 9%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WSSU 75%
  • WVSU 63%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WSSU 24%
  • WVSU 32%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Winston Salem State University is larger than WVSU based on total student enrollment (4,782 students vs. 3,246 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Winston Salem State University is located in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting); West Virginia State University is in Institute, WV (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Winston Salem State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. West Virginia State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Winston Salem State University 15:1; West Virginia State University 13:1.

WSSU vs. WVSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WSSU or WVSU? 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 West Virginia State University than WSSU ($11,055 vs. $12,989).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Winston Salem State University are 15.1% lower than at West Virginia State University ($11,484 vs. $13,522).
  • West Virginia State University is 56.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than WSSU (about $3,444 more per year; $9,570.00 vs. $6,126.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12% higher at WSSU than at West Virginia State University (about $1,792 more per year; $16,782.00 vs. $14,990.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Winston Salem State University than at West Virginia State University (91% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Winston Salem State University students is 11.8% larger than aid received by West Virginia State University students ($10,057 vs. $8,993).

WSSU vs. WVSU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Winston Salem State University (930) is 30 points higher than at WVSU (900).
  • Incoming WSSU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 17) as students at WVSU (17).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Winston Salem State University 830/1020; West Virginia State University 760/1040.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Winston Salem State University 15/20; West Virginia State University 15/20.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WSSU - Test optional; WVSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WSSU Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman WVSU students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.24) than students at WSSU (3.01).
  • WVSU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than WSSU (78.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.1% at WSSU vs. 5.5% at WVSU.

WSSU vs. WVSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WSSU and WVSU? 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 West Virginia State University's (25%).
  • Graduates from Winston Salem State University earn a median of about $3,000 more per year than WVSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,700 vs. $32,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, West Virginia State University graduates have a $2,413 lower median loan debt than WSSU graduates ($23,250 vs. $25,663).
  • Among borrowers, WVSU graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WSSU graduates ($240 vs. $265).
  • More WVSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSSU students, three years after graduation. (35% 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.