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Winston-Salem State University
Winston-Salem, NC 4,170 Undergrads 56.6% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$23,147
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$13,479
After Aid
Median Earnings
$56,396
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$13,479
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$56,396
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate56.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients63.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time90.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS65.9%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
78.3%
SAT Avg
945
SAT Reading
25th: 43048075th: 520
SAT Math
25th: 40048075th: 500
ACT Composite
25th: 151775th: 20
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$507k
+$40k
+$22k
Median Cost$13k/yr
+$458k
-$9k
-$26k
Full Cost$23k/yr
+$423k
-$44k
-$61k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
46
∞
Median Cost$13k/yr
Never
-54%
Full Cost$23k/yr
Never
-73%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return-32%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-56%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$70,941
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,527
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$43,292
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5110
Median Debt
$20,778
Earnings (4yr)
$70,450
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$26,782
Earnings (4yr)
$34,786
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$209k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,562
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$30,721
Earnings (4yr)
$94,298
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$267k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$25,140
Earnings (4yr)
$52,130
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,421
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$292k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,895
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$18,154
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$350k
Gerontology
BachCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,051
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$28,515
Earnings (4yr)
$45,182
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$25,449
Earnings (4yr)
$42,020
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,930
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management
BachCIP: 3103
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$56,570
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$40,797
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$16,874
Earnings (4yr)
$84,952
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$195k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
BachCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$42,179
Natl Median: $55,792
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,028
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$38,245
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$43,313
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$27,225
Earnings (4yr)
$51,520
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Master's Degrees
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$30,904
Earnings (4yr)
$76,347
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$26,157
Earnings (4yr)
$119,602
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$386k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$31,610
Earnings (4yr)
$58,006
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Graduate Certificates
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities
Gr-CertCIP: 5132
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,957
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Gr-CertCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Doctoral Degrees
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
DocCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$61,191
Earnings (4yr)
$79,144
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.