University of South Carolina Aiken (USCA) vs Winston-Salem State University (WSSU)

When it comes to higher education, University of South Carolina Aiken and Winston-Salem State University stand out as two distinct institutions with unique offerings. USC Aiken boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for students. In contrast, Winston-Salem State University has a lower acceptance rate, indicating a more selective admissions process. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with popular majors such as Business, Education, and Nursing being common to both. However, USC Aiken has a slightly higher graduation rate, suggesting that students may find it easier to complete their degrees there. To help you make an informed decision about your academic journey, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these differences and more. Explore the table to discover which university aligns best with your aspirations and goals.
University of South Carolina Aiken logo

University of South Carolina Aiken

Winston-Salem State University logo

Winston-Salem State University

Overview

Location Aiken, South Carolina Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Campus setting Suburb: Large City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 59.0% 76.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 83.5% 81.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $45

Graduate: $45
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
SAT range 960 - 1170 880 - 1040
ACT range 16 - 23 15 - 19
Students submitting SAT score 43.0% 7.0%
Students submitting ACT score 29.0% 35.0%
Total number of applicants 1,808 5,419
Total number of admissions given out 1,510 4,415
Admitted students who chose to enroll 526 912
Yield rate 34.8% 20.7%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $24,928

Out of state: $35,386
In state: $23,252

Out of state: $33,908
Average net price $12,514 $12,976
Tuition
In state: $10,398

Out of state: $20,856
In state: $3,401

Out of state: $14,057
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $5,316

Meal plan: $2,886
Room/dormitory: $7,568

Meal plan: $3,872
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

95.0%
Average amount $7,746
87.0%
Average amount $7,752
Students receiving federal student loan 50.0%
Average amount $4,789
78.0%
Average amount $6,071
Students taking out private loans 4.0%
Average amount $8,017
3.0%
Average amount $9,995

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 3,101
Men 35.0% Women 65.0%
4,726
Men 23.8% Women 76.2%
Graduate students 768
Men 33.5% Women 66.5%
500
Men 19.0% Women 81.0%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 8.8% 16.1%
International students 1.9% 1.2%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 986 2,423
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from South Carolina Georgia North Carolina Florida Maryland North Carolina South Carolina Maryland District of Columbia Virginia

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Business
  • Liberal Arts
  • Education
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 16:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 42.9% 45.8%
Dropout rate 15.6% 26.8%
Transferred out 38.6% 25.9%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,627
  • Year 2: $60,689
  • Year 3: $61,889
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $50,439
  • Year 3: $55,200
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $26,411
  • Year 2: $33,993
  • Year 3: $42,700
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,701
  • Year 2: $37,748
  • Year 3: $41,808
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,954
  • Year 2: $35,559
  • Year 3: $34,839
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $29,491
  • Year 2: $29,995
  • Year 3: $33,473
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $25,013
  • Year 2: $26,121
  • Year 3: $32,520
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $15,167
  • Year 2: $17,551
  • Year 3: $22,590
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $29,827
  • Year 2: $30,650
  • Year 3: N/A
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $21,139
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $85,095
  • Year 2: $88,195
  • Year 3: $101,566
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,950
  • Year 2: $73,446
  • Year 3: $77,785
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,779
  • Year 2: $62,067
  • Year 3: $64,434
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,681
  • Year 2: $59,837
  • Year 3: $62,855
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,993
  • Year 2: $47,930
  • Year 3: $54,205
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $25,515
  • Year 2: $31,708
  • Year 3: $36,585
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $25,333
  • Year 2: $32,094
  • Year 3: $35,280
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,123
  • Year 2: $30,554
  • Year 3: $34,927
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,639
  • Year 2: $31,133
  • Year 3: $34,903
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,801
  • Year 2: $21,850
  • Year 3: $32,247

Compare Similar Colleges

The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page. There, you can search for the specific colleges and initiate your comparison.
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