- Acceptance rate: 78% for fall 2024
- SAT, middle 50%: 430–520 reading and writing, 400–500 math
- ACT, middle 50%: 15–20 composite
- Average net price: $12,948 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
Don't know your GPA? Check your GPA
Where you standEnter your GPA
Add a test score to compare it with what Winston-Salem State University reported: an acceptance rate of 78% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 15–20.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Winston-Salem State University reviews each application.
Winston-Salem State University GPA requirements
Winston-Salem State University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and Winston-Salem State University hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
Winston-Salem State University acceptance rate
Winston-Salem State University admitted 7,128 of 9,108 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 78%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Winston-Salem State University is a public 4-year university in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with 4,192 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered Winston-Salem State University in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 430 | 480 | 520 |
| SAT Math | 400 | 450 | 500 |
| ACT Composite | 15 | 17 | 20 |
| ACT English | 12 | 15 | 19 |
| ACT Math | 15 | 16 | 18 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 945 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What Winston-Salem State University looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Considered if submitted |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Not considered |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Not considered |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Not considered |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Not considered |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
AP credit
Winston-Salem State University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It doesn't award credit for life experience.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $12,948 a year at Winston-Salem State University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Is Winston-Salem State University hard to get into?
Not for most prepared students: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. Winston-Salem State University admitted 78% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
What SAT and ACT scores do Winston-Salem State University students have?
The middle 50% of Winston-Salem State University's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 430–520 in reading and writing and 400–500 in math; ACT composite 15–20, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
Do you need SAT or ACT scores to apply to Winston-Salem State University?
No. Winston-Salem State University is test optional: it considers SAT or ACT scores if you send them, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 4% sent SAT scores and 11% sent ACT scores.
Can a 3.0 GPA get you into Winston-Salem State University?
GPA alone can't tell you here. Winston-Salem State University admitted 78% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
How important is GPA for getting into Winston-Salem State University?
A lot: Winston-Salem State University requires high school GPA and high school record. It considers high school class rank and test scores if you send them. It doesn't consider college preparatory program, recommendations, essay or personal statement, other tests, demonstration of competencies, work experience and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
How many applicants get into Winston-Salem State University?
Winston-Salem State University's acceptance rate was 78% for fall 2024: it admitted 7,128 of 9,108 first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
What GPA do you need to get into Winston-Salem State University?
Winston-Salem State University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
Does Winston-Salem State University consider legacy status?
No. Winston-Salem State University doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Does Winston-Salem State University give credit for AP exams?
Yes. Winston-Salem State University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
How much does Winston-Salem State University cost after financial aid?
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $12,948 a year at Winston-Salem State University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Before you apply, check Winston-Salem State University's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: Winston-Salem State UniversityU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
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