Winston-Salem State University campus
Winston-Salem, United States
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Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem·university

66%

Acceptance rate

$16,782

Tuition/yr

4,500

Enrollment

About Winston-Salem State University

HBCU in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Strong education, business, and STEM programs.

Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) is a public historically Black university founded in 1892, located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It is a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina System and enrolls approximately 4,776 students across undergraduate and graduate programs.

WSSU is best known for its health sciences offerings. Its nursing program holds the #1 HBCU nursing program ranking in the United States, and it offers the #1-ranked RN to BSN online program in North Carolina and the #1 Master of Healthcare Administration online program nationally. The university offers 39 bachelor's degrees, 7 master's degrees, and 2 professional doctorates, with particular strength in nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and education.

Winston-Salem is North Carolina's fifth-largest city, offering a mid-size urban environment with relatively low living costs compared to coastal US cities. WSSU has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the #1 HBCU in North Carolina among public colleges and ranks #1 nationally for social mobility among HBCUs according to CollegeNET.

World University Rankings

US News Best Global Universities (2025)#"#232 National Universities (2026)"

Campus & Location

Province

NC

Campus setting

Suburban

Cost of living: Housing: USD 900–2,500/mo | Food: USD 380–650/mo | Costs vary widely by city.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

All graduates qualify for 12-month OPT. STEM-designated programs (CS, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Sciences) qualify for 24-month STEM OPT extension — 36 months total work authorisation.

For Nepali students

  • WSSU's nationally ranked nursing and allied health programs offer a direct pathway into the US healthcare workforce, which actively recruits internationally trained graduates, OPT and STEM OPT work authorization after graduation allows up to 3 years of US work experience.
  • Out-of-state tuition is approximately $16,782 per year, which is substantially lower than most private US universities and many flagship state schools, making WSSU one of the more affordable options for Nepali students seeking a US degree in health sciences.
  • The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) awards scholarships to students at public HBCUs including WSSU, providing a potential funding avenue for international students with strong academic records.
  • WSSU's Office of International Programs provides dedicated support for visa maintenance, legal US employment guidance, and integration, valuable practical help for Nepali students navigating US immigration requirements for the first time.

Admission requirements — Nepali equivalents

A rough translation of the published minimums for Nepali applicants:

GPA 3.060%+ in NEB +2, B+ average in Cambridge A-levels, or Second Division in a TU bachelor's degree.
GPA 3.370%+ in NEB +2 or First Division in a TU bachelor's degree.
GPA 3.675%+ in NEB +2 or First Division with Distinction in a TU bachelor's degree.
IELTS 6.5The most common graduate minimum — achievable with 2–3 months of focused preparation. IELTS 7.0+ needed for the most competitive programs.

Use our GPA converter to translate your exact score to the 4.0 scale.

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Uses published minimum requirements. Final decisions are always at the university's discretion. Use our GPA converter to get your score on the 4.0 scale.

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Data last verified: 2026-06-19 · Source: https://www.wssu.edu. Information may change — verify with Winston-Salem State University’s official website before applying.