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Winston-Salem State University

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Winston-Salem State University
Former name
List
    • Slater Industrial Academy (1892–1899)
    • Slater Industrial and Slater Normal School (1899–1925)
    • Winston-Salem Teachers College (1925–1963)
    • Winston-Salem State College (1963–1969)
Motto"Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve."
TypePublic historically black university
EstablishedSeptember 28, 1892; 134 years ago (September 28, 1892)
Parent institution
University of North Carolina
AccreditationSACS
Academic affiliations
TMCF
Endowment$114.5 million (2025)[1]
ChancellorBonita J. Brown
ProvostAnthony Graham
Faculty400
Administrative staff
800
Students4,776[2]
Location
Winston-Salem
,
North Carolina
,
United States

36°05′22″N 80°13′30″W / 36.0895°N 80.2251°W / 36.0895; -80.2251
Campus
  • 117 acres (0.47 km2)
  • Midsize city
NewspaperThe News Argus
ColorsScarlet and white[3]
   
NicknameRams
Sporting affiliations
NCAA Division II - CIAA
MascotAmon the Ram
Websitewssu.edu
Map

Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) is a public historically black university in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States. It is part of the University of North Carolina system.

History

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Winston-Salem State University was founded as "Slater Industrial Academy" on September 28, 1892. In 1925, the North Carolina General Assembly renamed the school "Winston-Salem Teachers College" and the North Carolina State Board of Education allowed the college to award elementary teacher education degrees, making it the first black institution to provide this specialized training.[4]

In 2020, MacKenzie Scott donated $30 million to Winston-Salem State, the second largest single gift in the university's history. In 2025, she donated an additional $50 million, the largest single gift in the university's history.[5][6]

Academics

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Winston-Salem State offers over 40 academic majors and 10 graduate degrees. The school enrolls approximately 5,200 students and employs 400 faculty and over 550 staff members.[7]

Colleges and departments

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  • College of Arts, Sciences, Businesses, and Education[8]
  • School of Health Sciences
  • Graduate and Professional Programs
  • University College and Lifelong Learning

Rankings

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The Alumni House on campus

Winston-Salem State University was ranked the #7 top college in the United States by the Social Mobility Index college rankings.[9]

Winston-Salem State has been ranked #27 by U.S. News & World Report in the Top Public Comprehensive Baccalaureate Colleges of the South category between 2001 and 2009. By 2016, the university had fallen to a ranking of #84 in the same category.[10]

In 2024, Washington Monthly ranked Winston-Salem State 96th among 438 national universities in the U.S. based on Winston-Salem State's contribution to the public good, as measured by social mobility, research, and promoting public service. Washington Monthly also ranked Winston Salem State 24th in Social Mobility.[11]

Library

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C. G. O'Kelly Library is the main academic library on the campus of Winston-Salem State University, which was originally the Slater Industrial Academy. The original library was housed in Blair Hall until 1967 when the new library was built and O’Kelly Library has gone through two additions and one renovation within the past forty years.[12]

Campus

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The campus has more than 40 buildings covering 117 acres (0.47 km2).[13] WSSU's Diggs Gallery was recognized as one of the top African-American galleries in its region.[14]

Student life

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Undergraduate demographics as of Fall 2023[15]
Race and ethnicity Total
Black 83%
 
Hispanic 5%
 
White 5%
 
Two or more races 4%
 
Asian 1%
 
International student 1%
 
Unknown 1%
 
Economic diversity
Income-based Pell Grant recipients 63%
 

Athletics

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The men's basketball team and WSSU cheerleaders at the 2012 CIAA Tournament

Winston-Salem State University is currently a member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) in NCAA Division II. From the 2006-07 season through the 2009–10 season, the Rams competed in the NCAA's Division I Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), despite being a transitional member that was attempting to attain full membership within the MEAC or within NCAA Division I, in which the Rams were also scheduled to begin full membership and gain access to NCAA tournaments in 2011. However, this never occurred due to financial difficulties.[16][17]

Esports integration

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Winston-Salem State University integrated esports into its computer science program with a $400,000 grant from the National Science Foundation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities-Undergraduate Program. The initiative includes an esports lab, offering hands-on learning and attracting underrepresented minority students to STEM fields while expanding career paths in the esports industry.[18]

Student organizations

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There are over 100 student organizations at WSSU, including the Student Government Association, fraternities and sororities, Honor societies, and the Red Sea of Sound marching band.[19]

Notable alumni

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Earl Monroe, 4x NBA All-Star, NBA Champion, member of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, WSSU Class of 1967
Earline W. Parmon, WSSU Class of 1977

References

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  1. ↑ "U.S. and Canadian 2025 NCSE Participating Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2025 Endowment Market Value" (XLSX). National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO). Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Winston-Salem State University". www.WSSU.edu.
  3. ↑ Winston-Salem State University Brand Guide (PDF). July 20, 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 6, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  4. ↑ "University History - Winston-Salem State University".
  5. ↑ "Winston-Salem State receives $30 million donation from MacKenzie Scott; largest-ever gift from a single donor". 15 December 2020. Archived from the original on 18 February 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  6. ↑ Gaither, Steven J. (November 12, 2025). "MacKenzie Scott makes huge donation to WSSU".
  7. ↑ "WSSU Fact Book 2015-16" (PDF). Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  8. ↑ "About the College of Arts, Sciences & Education". Winston Salem State University Academic Departments. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Social Mobility Index 2018". Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  10. ↑ "Winston-Salem State University | Best College | US News". colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com. Archived from the original on 2009-08-28. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  11. ↑ "2024 National University Rankings". Washington Monthly. Retrieved 2025-03-01.
  12. ↑ "Okelly Library". wssu.edu. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Historical Sketch - Winston-Salem State University - Acalog ACMS™". Catalog.wssu.edu. Archived from the original on 2016-09-12. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  14. ↑ "About WSSU - Why WSSU? - Transformation Happens Here". Wssu.edu. 2016-08-05. Archived from the original on 2016-08-24. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  15. ↑ "College Scorecard: Winston-Salem State University". College Scorecard. United States Department of Education. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Winston-Salem State jumps to Division I, joins MEAC – College Sports – ESPN". ESPN. 19 July 2006. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  17. ↑ "Winston-Salem ready to return to D-II, CIAA – NCAA Basketball – Sporting News". aol.sportingnews.com. Archived from the original on 2014-02-02. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  18. ↑ Newswire, HBCU Gameday (2024-10-18). "HBCU awarded $400,000 grant to infuse esports and CPU science". HBCU Gameday. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  19. ↑ "Student Organizations - Winston-Salem State University".
  20. ↑ "Donald Evans". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  21. ↑ Hall, Tony (November 26, 1996). "Farrakhan Returns To WSSU Campus". Greensboro News & Record. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Oronde Gadsden". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  23. ↑ "William Hayes". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Cleo Hill". Basketball Reference. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  25. ↑ "Richard Huntley". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Harry Lewis Jr". Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Earl Monroe". Pro-Basketball Reference.Com. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  28. ↑ "Earl "The Pearl" Monroe – Winston Salem State University". wssurams.com. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  29. ↑ "Timmy Newsome". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  30. ↑ Sanchez, Ray (November 28, 2022). "US citizen accused of killing North Carolina woman while vacationing. Here's what we know". CNN. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Former WSSU student dead in Mexico hotel room, autopsy shows attack wounds". WXII News 12. November 18, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  32. ↑ "Ramily, ESPN honor Stephen A. Smith". www.wssu.edu. September 20, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  33. ↑ "Winston Salem State Rams Hall of Fame: Stephen A. Smith". Winston Salem State Athletics. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  34. ↑ "Yancey Thigpen". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  35. ↑ "Earl Williams". Basketball Reference. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
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