Public
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
68.6% Acceptance Rate
Winston-Salem State University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
68.6%Acceptance Rate
3.01Avg GPA
946Avg SAT
16Avg ACT
$22,345Annual Cost
$45,344Grad Salary
61.5%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
68.6%
Avg GPA
3.01
Avg SAT
946
Avg ACT
16
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
820–1050
ACT Middle 50%
14–18
Avg Net Price
$13,393
Need-Based Aid
61.5% receive Pell
Winston-Salem State University, established in 1892, is North Carolina's historically black university with renowned nursing and business programs. The campus includes the new Sciences Building. WSSU's 'Transformational Learning' emphasizes leadership.
Winston-Salem State University Acceptance Rate
At 68.6%, admission to Winston-Salem State University is achievable for most students who meet the basic academic profile.
What WSSU Admissions Looks For
- Whole-Person Review: Personal circumstances and career goals are weighed alongside grades.
- Flexible on GPA: Strong extracurriculars or work experience can offset an average transcript.
Selectivity at a Glance
Somewhat Selective
Selectivity scale: Somewhat Selective — 68.6% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.01 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.81 – 3.00
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.56
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Winston-Salem State University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for Winston-Salem State University is December 13 for Regular (Spring Freshman) applicants, with additional plans listed below.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 128 days left — Regular (Spring Freshman)
Regular (Spring Freshman)
December 13
Regular (Fall Freshman)
June 30
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
WSSU GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at WSSU is 3.01. That makes admissions here moderately selective. Most admitted students carry a blend of A's, B's, and the occasional C.
A stronger SAT or ACT score can comfortably offset a GPA on the lower end of this range.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently. For an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.21–3.41.WSSU GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Holistic review is critical for admission.
Recommended Strategy: Requires Contextual Factors (Leadership, hardship, or talent).
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.01 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.81 – 3.00
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.61 – 2.80
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.60
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- No personal essay or letter of recommendation required for first-year general admission; test-optional.
- ATI TEAS exam for Upper Division Nursing can be retaken up to 3 times (30+ days apart) within a year; scores valid for 2 years; "Proficient" preferred but not an automatic cutoff.
- Guaranteed Admission Program (GAP) offers declared nursing majors a supported small-cohort pathway (Summer Bridge, mentorship) into the Upper Division.
- Nursing admission uses holistic review - meeting minimum GPA/TEAS criteria does not guarantee a seat.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at WSSU
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Winston-Salem State University's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if WSSU is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into WSSU Without SAT or ACT?
WSSU considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Winston-Salem State University Average SAT Score: 946
The average SAT score of admitted students at Winston-Salem State University is 946 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 946 — Accessible
This average is on the lower end nationally, making a strong score here a genuine advantage.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1050 SAT or 18 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Winston-Salem State University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 820, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at WSSU. Retaking multiple times is completely normal. Most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 460 | 400 | 520 |
| SAT Reading | 475 | 420 | 530 |
| SAT Composite | 946 | 820 | 1050 |
Below 820, you're behind most admitted students; at 1050 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 950
Can I get into Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) with a 1050 SAT?
A 1050 SAT puts you ahead of most of WSSU's admitted class, but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at WSSU is 16.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 16 — Accessible
This average is on the lower end nationally, making a strong score here a real advantage.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 17 | 15 | 18 |
| ACT English | 15 | 12 | 17 |
| ACT Composite | 16 | 14 | 18 |
Can I get into Winston-Salem State University with a 18 ACT?
A 18 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of WSSU's admitted students. That's a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several that admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section, especially Science at STEM-focused schools, stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at WSSU.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for WSSU
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Getting into WSSU isn't the hard part. Building a solid academic foundation and securing aid early is where the real strategy lives.
No Essay or Rec Letter for General Admission - But Nursing Is a Separate, Harder Door
First-year general admission requires no personal essay and no letter of recommendation, with test scores optional. But being admitted to WSSU as a freshman does not admit you into the BSN program - that's a distinct, competitive application to the Upper Division of Nursing filed later, after pre-nursing coursework.
Take the TEAS Early - You Get Three Tries Over a Year
The ATI TEAS exam for Upper Division Nursing admission can be retaken up to three times, at least 30 days apart, within a one-year window, and scores stay valid for two years. "Proficient" is preferred but not an absolute cutoff - take it early enough in pre-nursing coursework to leave room for a retake.
Declared Nursing Majors: Apply to GAP Before You Need It
WSSU's Guaranteed Admission Program (GAP) offers declared nursing majors a small-cohort track into the Upper Division with faculty mentorship, a 2-week Summer Bridge, and monthly learning-community sessions. Ask about GAP eligibility as soon as you declare nursing, not after you're already facing the Upper Division application.
Meeting Minimum Nursing Criteria Doesn't Guarantee a Seat
WSSU is explicit that meeting minimum Upper Division admission criteria does not guarantee acceptance - it's a holistic review of your full academic record, not a pass/fail cutoff. Treat the minimum GPA and TEAS score as the floor to be considered, not the bar for actually getting in.
Expert Insight:
Pre-nursing students often assume that because they were admitted to WSSU and are taking the right prerequisites, they're on an automatic track into the nursing major. The Upper Division application is a genuinely separate, competitive, holistic gate - students who don't build GPA and TEAS strength deliberately can find themselves not advancing despite years of prerequisite coursework.
WSSU Profile
Full Name
Winston-Salem State University (WSSU)
City
Winston-Salem
State
North Carolina
ZIP Code
27110-0001
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a WSSU Degree Worth It?
Whether WSSU is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals. Here's the data to weigh it against.
The average household income among admitted students is $54,700, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.85%.
How much does a degree from WSSU Cost?
The sticker price is $22,345/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is closer to $13,393.
61.5% of students receive a Pell Grant and 62.3% take federal loans at WSSU. File your FAFSA early and list WSSU as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a WSSU Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $45,344. That's about 12% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Winston-Salem State University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff | Pine Bluff, AR | 916 | 16 |
| Bethune-Cookman University | Daytona Beach, FL | 913 | 17 |
| Trinity College of Florida | Trinity, FL | 905 | 19 |
| Wesleyan College | Macon, GA | 905 | NA |
| Morningside University | Sioux City, IA | 910 | 17 |
| Upper Iowa University | Fayette, IA | 929 | 18 |
| Kentucky State University | Frankfort, KY | 910 | 17 |
| Southern University at New Orleans | New Orleans, LA | 910 | 16 |
| Maine College of Health Professions | Lewiston, ME | 910 | NA |
| Bowie State University | Bowie, MD | 935 | NA |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Winston-Salem State University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama A & M University | Normal, AL | 947 | 17 |
| Johnson University Florida | Kissimmee, FL | 940 | NA |
| Warner University | Lake Wales, FL | 937 | 17 |
| Gordon State College | Barnesville, GA | 950 | 18 |
| Baker University | Baldwin City, KS | 950 | 17 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Winston-Salem State University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama State University | Montgomery, AL | 977 | 18 |
| Faulkner University | Montgomery, AL | 1016 | 20 |
| University of West Alabama | Livingston, AL | 1015 | 20 |
| Baptist Health College Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 980 | 20 |
| Central Baptist College | Conway, AR | 1022 | 20 |
Degree Programs at WSSU
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About WSSU Admissions
Median earnings for Winston-Salem State University graduates sit around $45,344 a year.
At about $22,345 a year, Winston-Salem State University is on the more affordable end.
With 61.5% of Winston-Salem State University students on a Pell Grant, need-based aid odds here are strong. An early FAFSA filing naming Winston-Salem State University is the key move.
At 68.6%, Winston-Salem State University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Winston-Salem State University average a 3.01 GPA.
Winston-Salem State University doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 2.71 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 2.61, Winston-Salem State University becomes a harder reach, though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at Winston-Salem State University — aim above 946, ideally within the 820–1050 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Winston-Salem State University is December 13 for Regular (Spring Freshman) applicants.
The application fee is 50. Fee waivers may be available. Check with admissions.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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