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Is Winston-Salem State University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Winston-Salem State, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Stretch
Winston-Salem State sits in the stretch band for a typical family. The long-run earnings picture at $45,344 helps, but median debt of $25,000 plus yearly net price of $13,479 creates a tighter path. For context, Winston-Salem State's net price is about 2% below the typical 4-year, public school. It can work, but the financing plan has to be deliberate.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 774 similar 4-year, public schools
This school
$12,948
/yrAverage school like this
$13,155
/yrThis helps your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $207 less per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $1,000 in savings.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$13,479
Median earnings 10 years out
$45,344
Median debt at graduation
$25,000
Graduation rate
48%
At Winston-Salem State, a typical graduate carries about $25,000 in student debt and earns roughly $45,344 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $284 per month, or 8% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Winston-Salem State is a public four year school in Winston-Salem, NC. For many families, the key question is whether the published value here beats cheaper in state or regional alternatives once your real aid offer arrives.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Public 4-year
Western Carolina
Cullowhee, NC
Worth-It Score: 68/100
Median net price: $13,315
Public 4-year
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
Winston Salem, NC
Worth-It Score: 65/100
Median net price: $14,906
Public 4-year
University of North Carolina Asheville
Asheville, NC
Worth-It Score: 65/100
Median net price: $12,250
Public 4-year
North Carolina Central
Durham, NC
Worth-It Score: 51/100
Median net price: $15,359
Public 4-year
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC
Worth-It Score: 73/100
Median net price: $15,435
Common questions about Winston-Salem State
The median net price at Winston-Salem State is $13,479 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at public universities options in North Carolina? See the most affordable public universities in North Carolina →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →