Expenses and Funding Opportunities

Winston-Salem State University is a publicly supported institution. Tuition payments and other required student fees meet only a part of the total cost of the education of students enrolled. On the average, for each full-time student enrolled in an institution of the University of North Carolina, the State of North Carolina appropriated $8,486 per year in public funds to support the educational programs offered. Tuition is established by the North Carolina General Assembly, the University of North Carolina, the President of the University of North Carolina, and Winston-Salem State University. Various additional fees are assessed by state schools as deemed appropriate for the individual programs. Policies may exist that govern tuition discounts for students 65 years of age or older.

Payment Plans

Winston-Salem State University is offering a monthly, interest-free payment plan administered by Tuition Management Systems (TMS). The Tuition Management Systems is specifically designed for students attending colleges and universities. It is the most convenient and least expensive way to pay for educational expenses. The plan allows students to budget their educational expenses in convenient monthly payments, totally interest free. TMS provides an alternative to paying lump-sum debt by allowing unmet expenses to be paid out on a monthly basis. Enrollment in the TMS Installment Plan can be completed on the TMS enrollment page.

**HEALTH INSURANCE OPTIONAL WITH PROOF OF INSURANCE UNIVERSITY FEES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTIFICATION

Financial Responsibility

All charges for tuition and fees are due and payable on or before the term or period for which the charge is made. Each person is responsible for all financial obligations to the university. It is the policy of Winston-Salem State University, pursuant to state law, to withdraw or withhold its services from persons who are delinquent in meeting financial obligations.

Financial Support for Graduate Students

Graduate Assistantships

The university provides a limited number of assistantships for qualified graduate students. Applications for assistantships may be secured from the Graduate School or from the Graduate Program Coordinators from the program in which the applicant will study.

1. Eligibility
    

   To be eligible for graduate assistantships, students must be admitted into the School of Graduate Studies and Research in full graduate standing and be enrolled in the fall and spring semesters. A student must not hold non-degree, provisional, or probationary status at the university. Students must also be in good academic standing (with a 3.00 grade point average or higher), unless granted an exception by the Graduate School.

The position of the Graduate School is that any graduate student holding a graduate research, teaching, or administrative assistantship requiring 20 hours of work per week or less (i.e., part time, 1/4 time) must, as a condition of such assistantship, maintain his/her status as a full-time or part-time student. Part-time or less assistantships are available to part-time students that are currently employed outside of the university. No university employee may qualify for a graduate assistantship. All assistantship award amounts vary by level and type. International graduate students on F-1 and J-1 visas are limited to 20 hours of service work per week. International students are in no way guaranteed financial assistance. International students are expected to be individually financially responsible for education at Winston Salem State University.

2. Levels of Assistantship Appointment

Assistantship appointments will be supported by the School of Graduate Studies and Research for one year only. The academic colleges/school will be responsible for supporting the student during the second/final year of the graduate program.

1. Full-time Appointment
   
   A required time commitment for student to spend approximately 20 hours per week fulfilling assigned assistantship responsibilities. The annual stipend (10 month) associated with this level of assistantship appointment is $10,000 unless otherwise specified through the School of Graduate Studies and Research.

2. Part-time Appointment
   
   A required time commitment for student to spend approximately 10 hours per week fulfilling assigned assistantship responsibilities. The annual stipend (10 month) associated with this level of assistantship appointment is $5,000 unless otherwise specified through the School of Graduate Studies and Research.

3. Quarter-time Appointment
   
   A required time commitment for student to spend approximately 5 hours per week fulfilling assigned assistantship responsibilities. The annual stipend (10 month) associated with this level of assistantship appointment is $2,500 unless otherwise specified through the School of Graduate Studies and Research.

3. Types of Assistantships
    

   The following definitions have been recommended and approved by the School of Graduate Studies and Research. Graduate departments and programs have the responsibility of determining whether or not the assignments given to their graduate student assistants are in direct or general support of the teaching, research, or administrative missions of the university.

   1. Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA)
      
      A student who is appointed in an academic department or program and

      1. directly participates in the teaching mission of the unit as instructor of record, lab instructor, recitation leader, lab or lecture assistant, or who has responsibilities in direct support of classroom instruction in the unit, such as setting up labs or working in an instructional computer lab;
      2. provides general support to the teaching mission of the department or program such as grading papers and other administrative services for the instructor.

   2. Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) 
      
      A student who is appointed in an academic department or program and

      1. directly participates in the research mission of the unit, or an on-campus or off-campus organization that is affiliated with the unit, in the design of experiments, data collection, analysis, or reporting of research results in the student’s field of study, where research may, but is not required to, contribute directly to the student’s thesis; or
      2. provides general support to the research mission of the unit or discipline.

   3. Graduate Administrative Assistant (GAA)
      
      A student who is appointed in an academic school/college, department or administrative office and directly participates in the daily administrative duties of the unit, such as customer service, clerical duties, and others as defined by supervisor and approved by School of Graduate Studies and Research.

Grants and scholarships: A limited range of grants and scholarships are available to qualified applicants. Please contact the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSPR) or the individual graduate program for information regarding this type of assistance.

Loans: The university administers loan programs whereby graduate students can borrow a substantial part of the expenses of pursuing graduate study. Repayment of loans begins six months after the recipient has ceased enrollment at the minimum level of a half-time student (6 credit hours per semester). Standard government loans are available using the Free Application for Federal Student Assistance (FAFSA). Please contact the Financial Aid office for FAFSA assistance.

Veteran’s benefits: Assistance is available for veterans who meet federal requirements. Details regarding this assistance can be found in the Financial Aid Office.