Admission to the University

A.  Admissions Requirements: All qualified persons are welcome to seek admission to Winston-Salem State University. Specific admissions requirements may be found in the Undergraduate or Graduate Academic Catalogs.

B.  Merit-Based Admission: Admission to the university is based on merit. The University does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status.

C.  Academic Requirements: An official transcript showing graduation from an accredited high school or an official transcript showing that the applicant is scheduled for graduation prior to the start of the term of first enrollment is required.

D.  University Admission based on Qualifications: Those persons admitted to the University are selected on the basis of the institution’s judgment of the applicant’s relative qualifications for satisfactory performance in the specific college, school, department, curriculum, or other program to which the applicant seeks admission, consideration of the applicant’s potential threat to campus community or property, and the institutional criteria listed above.

E.  Chancellor’s Exceptions: Up to 1% of the total number of applicants accepted as first-time undergraduates or 75 students, whichever is greater, who have not met the minimum admissions requirements (school grade point average and/or standardized test score) but meet the minimum course requirements may be admitted to the university in alignment with UNC system policy regarding Chancellor’s Exceptions based upon evidence of the applicant’s ability to achieve academically through an assessment of prior academic record, standardized test score(s) (e.g., SAT or ACT), or recommendation from schools previously attended.

F.  Special Considerations: Applicants who have not met the minimum course requirements as defined by the UNC system but meet the minimum admissions requirements may be given special consideration for admission by the Admissions Office based upon evidence of the applicant’s ability to achieve academically through an assessment of prior academic record, standardized test score(s) (e.g., SAT or ACT), or recommendation from schools previously attended.

G.  Compliance with UNC Board of Governors Admissions Requirements: The Winston-Salem State University Admission policy must comply with the admission requirements set by the University of North Carolina Board of Governors found in the UNC Policy Manual and Code and requirements set by the faculty. If a decision to deny admission is rendered, then a student has the right to appeal to the Admissions Review Board.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

The following admission criteria are excerpted from the UNC Policy Manual and Code. In instances where the WSSU Undergraduate Catalog and the UNC Policy Manual and Code do not match, the requirements set forth in the UNC Policy Manual will take precedence. The Minimum Eligibility Requirements for Undergraduate Admission to the University of North Carolina System can be found in Sections 700.1.1, 700.1.1.1[R], 700.1.1.2[R], 700.1.1.3[R], 700.1.3, 700.1.4[G], 700.1.5, 700.1.2.1[R], 700.7.1, and 700.7.1[R] of the UNC Policy Manual.

You must submit the following information, prior to the deadline, to complete the application requirements:

• $50 Application fee
• Undergraduate Application
• Official SAT or ACT score reports 
• Official High School Transcript

After all the application requirements have been met, your application will be reviewed for admission to WSSU.

If you are admitted and still in high school, you must submit an official final high school transcript upon graduation.

WSSU School Codes for Testing

SAT = 5909     |     ACT = 3178

We do not require subject tests for admission.

TOEFL - 5909

Applicants whose native language is one other than English must submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) in addition to any other required test scores.

Minimum Course Requirements (MCR)

A.  English: four course units emphasizing grammar, composition, and literature.

B.  Mathematics: four course units in any of the following combinations:

1. Algebra I, algebra II, geometry, and one unit beyond algebra II; or
2. Algebra I, algebra II, and two units beyond algebra II; or
3. Common core math I, II, and III, and one unit beyond common core math III; or
4. Integrated math I, II, III, and one unit beyond integrated math III; or
5. NC Math 1, 2, 3, and one unit beyond NC Math 3 identified as meeting the 4th level mathematics requirement for admission to UNC System institutions.

C.  Science: three course units, including at least:

1. One life science unit (e.g., biology, ecology, zoology); and
2. One non-life science unit (e.g., astronomy, chemistry, earth science, environmental science, physical science, physics); and
3. One laboratory science unit.

D.  Social Studies: two course units, including one unit in U.S. history.

E.  Two additional academic courses from English, mathematics, science, social studies, world languages, or computer science. (Note: these courses should be selected in alignment with a student’s   academic and career objectives. Completion of two sequential world language courses is recommended.)

Recommended Courses. While the minimum course requirements serve as the cornerstone of the UNC System admissions policy, students are encouraged to pursue a challenging and rigorous high school curriculum aligned with their academic and career objectives. Completion of the minimum course requirements does not guarantee admission to any individual UNC System institution. As such, students should consult with their high school counselor regarding additional courses recommended by individual UNC System institutions.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MER)

High School Grade Point Average and Standardized Test Scores. All applicants for admission, except those exempted by UNC Policy or regulation, must meet the following criteria for admission.

A.  For students entering in the Fall 2024 or Spring 2025 semesters:

1. High School GPA: A minimum weighted GPA of 2.5; or
2. Standardized Test Scores: Students are not required to submit a standardized test score. If a student does not meet the minimum High School GPA requirement, they may gain admission -based reading and writing) of 1010.
3. A test score may be met by a “superscore,” defined as a combination of subtests from more than one administration of the same test. However, the SAT scores may not be calculated by conversion of ACT scores or vice versa.

B.  For students entering in the Fall 2025 or Spring 2026 semesters:

1. High School GPA: A minimum weighted GPA of 2.5.
2. Standardized Test Scores: Students with a weighted High School GPA greater than or equal to 2.50 and less than 2.80 are required to submit a standardized test score (ACT or SAT).

C.  For students entering in the Fall 2026 semester and beyond:

1. High School GPA: A minimum weighted GPA of 2.5.
2. Standardized Test Scores: Students with a weighted High School GPA greater than or equal to 2.50 and less than 2.80 are required to submit a standardized test score of a 17 or higher on the ACT or a 930 or higher on the SAT.

The chancellor of each respective constituent institution may, subject to the approval of the president and the Board of Governors, require all students with a weighted High School GPA of 2.80 or greater to also submit a standardized test score. The Board of Governors must grant any such approval before December 1, two academic years prior to the implementation of the requirement.

Graduates of Cooperative Innovative High Schools (Early College)

Graduates of Cooperative Innovative High Schools (Early College). WSSU offers any student who graduated from a cooperative innovative high school program with an associate degree and who applies for admission to a constituent institution the option of being considered for admission as a first-time (freshman) or as a transfer student.

Students will be provided written information regarding the consequences that accompany each option and any other relevant information that may be helpful to the student when considering which option to select.

Exemptions

The following groups of applicants are exempt from some portion of the MCR or MER, although institutions may set alternative undergraduate admissions requirements for these populations. Students in these categories are not counted as chancellor’s exceptions or students who require special consideration.

A.  Applicants who are at least 21 years old at the start of their first undergraduate term are exempt from both MER and MCR;

B.  Applicants who have earned at least 24 transferrable credits from a regionally accredited postsecondary institution are exempt from both MER and MCR;

C.  Graduates of home schools are exempt from the minimum GPA requirement but must meet the minimum test score and MCR;

D.  Graduates of non-traditional high schools that do not have grades or operate on a scale other than that on which the policy and regulation are based are exempt from the minimum GPA requirement but must meet the minimum test score and MCR;

E.  Graduates of foreign high schools (excluding American high schools in foreign countries) for which high school GPA and/or required admissions test scores are not provided, or are provided on a scale that is not comparable to the GPA scale on which this admissions policy is based, may be exempted from the MCR and MER.

UNC Policy Manual and Codes Sections: 700.1.1, 700.1.1.1[R]

Transfer Admissions

For purposes of undergraduate admission, transfer applicants who have earned at least 24 transferrable undergraduate credits from one or more regionally accredited, post-secondary institutions shall not be required to meet Minimum Admissions Requirements (MAR) and Minimum Course Requirements (MCR).

1.  Transferrable undergraduate credit counted as part of these 24 hours shall also include:

a.  Credit earned at foreign institutions deemed to have the equivalence of regional accreditation; equivalence of regional accreditation generally refers to recognition by the foreign country’s Ministry of Education and/or recognition by a credible organization offering credential evaluation services; and

b.  Credit awarded for prior learning as part of military service, with the military branch designated as the transfer institution.

2.  Undergraduate credits awarded for AP, IB, or other credit by exam shall not be included as part of these 24 hours.

3.  Applicants under the age of 21 with fewer than 24 transferable credit hours must meet the Minimum Course Requirements (MCR) and Minimum Admission Requirements (MAR).

Transfer applicants who are 21 years of age or older shall not be required to meet MAR and MCR for admissions purposes, though institutions shall only admit applicants who meet campus-specific admissions requirements.

It is required that applicants that have attended another college/university (including 2-year, 4-year, and/or junior colleges) submit an application for admission, all official transcripts for institutions of higher learning attended, and other needed documentation to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Applicants that have been enrolled in one of the 16 University of North Carolina system schools are not required to submit a high school transcript and SAT/ACT score.  To be eligible for admission to WSSU, transfer applicants must be in good academic standing and eligible to return to the last institution which they attended.

UNC Policy 700.1.1.2[R]

Acceptance of Transfer Credits

WSSU complies with all requirements of the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA).

1. Equating Quarter Hours (QH) to Semester Hours (SH) for Transfer - One (1) QH = two-thirds (2/3) SH. If transfer credit comes within one-third (1/3) SH of a WSSU requirement, it will be considered to have fulfilled that requirement. (Thus, a four (4) QH course in biology will fulfill a three (3) SH biology requirement at WSSU since four (4) QH equals two and two-thirds) (2 2/3) SH. A three (3) QH biology course, however, will not fulfill a three (3) SH biology requirement since three (3) QH equals two (2) SH.)
2. WSSU will accept courses from regionally accredited colleges and universities or non-regionally accredited institutions for which the student earned a grade of “C” or better.
3. WSSU will transfer no more than 64 SH (96 quarter-hours) earned at two-year institutions.
4. No more than 75% of credits toward graduation can be transferred.
5. Courses will transfer as equivalent courses when such a course or precedent exists (course has been accepted previously as equivalent to a WSSU course).
6. Courses for which there is no equivalent course will transfer as elective credit.
7. The chairperson of the transfer student’s major or minor department will review the transcript and make the recommendation regarding appropriate credits for elective credit that could satisfy major course requirements.
8. All courses approved for transfer are listed on the WSSU record, but grades and grade point averages are not.
9. The North Carolina Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA) (2016), states, “[t]he general education courses and pre-major courses offered at the institutions that comprise The University of North Carolina and the North Carolina Community College System are similar in intended outcomes and competencies, and so, transferable between institutions… To be eligible for the transfer of credits under the CAA, the student must graduate from the community college with an Associate in Arts (AA) or Associate in Science (AS) degree and have an overall Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale and a grade of “C” or better in all CAA courses. Students who do not complete the degree are eligible to transfer credits on a course-by course basis.” Therefore, students who have met the CAA are considered to have met the general education requirements at WSSU. Students are still responsible for meeting any pre-requisite course requirements required by academic major programs at WSSU.

UNC Policy 700.1.1.2[R], North Carolina Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (2016)

General rules governing transfer credit for General Elective Transfer Credit:

1. Courses taken at regionally accredited institutions which do not transfer as general education credit or equivalent credit for major and minor courses will be considered for general elective transfer credit.
2. No credit below “C” level will be accepted; grade points and averages do not transfer.
3. Transfer credit is awarded only upon receipt in the WSSU Office of the Registrar of an official transcript from the institution where the credit was earned.
4. No more than 30 credit hours can be transferred as General Elective Transfer Credit.
5. Provisional transfer credit may be granted for study at foreign institutions or U.S. institutions that are not regionally accredited, but must be validated by 30 semester hours of successful performance in residence at Winston-Salem State University.

UNC Policy 700.1.1.2[R], North Carolina Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (2016)

Transfer Student General Education Requirements

General Education at Winston-Salem State University provides the intellectual foundation for both the completion of a major program of study and learning beyond college by affording students a broad based education rooted in the Arts, Humanities and Sciences. The General Education curriculum is designed to foster the development of critical skills such as thinking, writing, and speaking while offering students the opportunity to explore the vast fields that make up the academy. 

The registrar will determine credits that can transfer to WSSU based on the guidelines in the section II. Students will work with their advisors to distribute the courses relative to the general education framework.

1. Transfer students are required to take or transfer approximately 60 SH of credits outside of their major program requirements. Many of the 60 SH will be used to address the requirements of the general education curriculum. 
2. For transfer students who have not met the general education core curriculum requirements as defined in the CAA, general education transfer decisions will be made on a course-by-course basis.
3. Transfer students should have at least one course in each of the seven general education Areas of Knowledge – Culture and Foreign Language, History, Literature, Mathematics, Natural Science, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and The Fine Arts.
4. For transfer students with less than 60 hours of general education transfer credit, advisors will work with students to determine if there is a need, because of skill deficits, to take courses that are focused on any of the seven general education learning outcomes as part of general education before the student enters the major.  

a.  Developmental skills courses do not count towards the hours needed to fulfill either general education requirements or the 60 SH outside of the major requirement. Developmental skills courses are non-credit, basic skills classes for students who demonstrate skill deficiencies in writing in English, mathematics, or reading as determined by placement examinations. 

b.  Transfer students are advised to review the WSSU catalog regarding specific pre-requisite course requirements related to courses in the various major programs. Many of these courses are found in the general education curriculum at WSSU and other colleges and universities. 

c.  Students who transfer less than 30 SH are required to complete First Year Experience (FYE) sometime during their first year at WSSU unless they transfer into a distance learning program.

Military Admissions

A.  The University of North Carolina System and its constituent institutions are committed to equality of opportunity. Each constituent institution shall administer nondiscriminatory admissions policies by fairly evaluating the records of applicants.

B.  For purposes of undergraduate admission to any constituent institution of the University of North Carolina, any individual having completed a minimum of three years of cumulative active duty service in the United States Armed Forces shall be exempt from minimum admissions requirements (MAR) and minimum course requirements (MCR) pursuant to UNC Policy, Section 700.1.1.2[R], although they may be considered first-time undergraduates (freshmen) for reporting and/or receipt of services. Applicants in this profile shall be required to submit a high school transcript or GED, college transcript(s) (if applicable), and a relevant military transcript for evaluation. The branch of service reporting the source of transferred credit hours earned through military training will function as the applicant’s institution of transfer. If discharged from active duty, the veteran must have received an Administrative (non-punitive) Discharge. This policy shall not apply to veterans receiving a “Bad Conduct or Dishonorable Discharge.”

C.  Nothing in this policy guarantees admission for students. Constituent institutions retain sole authority for admissions determinations.

UNC Policy 700.7.1

Admission Requirements for an Additional Baccalaureate Degree

A student that has received a bachelor’s degree from WSSU or another regionally accredited institution may earn an additional baccalaureate degree by the following means:

1. Completing a minimum of 30 additional SH at WSSU beyond the hours required for their first degree, for each subsequent degree.
2. Satisfying upper division requirements in the major field as recommended and approved by the department and approved by the department chair granting the additional degree.
3. Completing other requirements or pertinent supporting courses as approved by appropriate department chairperson or dean.

Admission of Undocumented Aliens

Undocumented aliens are eligible to be considered for admission as undergraduates at UNC constituent institutions1 based on their individual qualifications with limitations as set out below:

1. An undocumented alien may be considered for admission only if he or she graduated from high school in the United States.
2. Undocumented aliens may not receive state or federal financial aid in the form of a grant or a loan.
3. An undocumented alien may not be considered a North Carolina resident for tuition purposes; all undocumented aliens must be charged out of state tuition.
4. All undocumented aliens, whether or not they abide in North Carolina or graduated from a North Carolina high school, will be considered out of State for purposes of calculating the 18 percent cap on out of State freshmen pursuant to Policy 700.1.3.
5. When considering whether or not to admit an undocumented alien into a specific program of study, constituent institutions should take into account that federal law prohibits the states from granting professional licenses to undocumented aliens.

UNC Policy 700.1.4[G]

International Student Admission

WSSU accepts qualified students from other countries. International applicants must satisfy all requirements for admission as outlined for other students, and must have command of written and spoken English as demonstrated by test scores. In addition, prospective international students must:

1. Have all academic records, including official transcripts showing all school coursework and proof of graduation from a secondary school, translated into English and evaluated by an international academic evaluation service such as World Education Services (www.wes.org) before the records are submitted to the Office of Admissions.
2. Send official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores to the Office of Admissions. The verbal score on the SAT I or the English score on the ACT may be used instead of the TOEFL or IELTS score.
3. Submit a certificate of financial responsibility and supporting documentation showing sufficient financial resources to be used to cover the cost of attendance. This amount must exceed the annual out-of-state budget used by the university’s Financial Aid Office.

Prospective international students should submit all application materials by published deadlines for the term for which they are applying. The university’s Office of International Programs will issue the I-20 once applicants have satisfied all admission requirements. All other requests for information or questions regarding admission should be directed to the Office of Admissions.

Non-degree/Special Students

Special students are students who wish to take courses for the purpose of broadening their cultural interest or purely for their own edification; students visiting from another institution; or graduates of four-year institutions seeking certification. Interested individuals should:

1. Submit application for admission with the $50 non-refundable application fee.
2. Submit proof of high school graduation or a permission from the current institution.

In order to take a course that requires a pre-requisite, appropriate transcripts showing successful completion of the pre-requisite should be submitted to the Department of Admissions. 

Students admitted as non-degree seeking/special students are not eligible to receive any federal or university financial aid. Special students may be considered as degree seeking after all requirements for new freshmen or transfer admission have been met. Special students not seeking certification may enroll in and accumulate no more than 12 SH. Credits earned while enrolled as a special student will not count toward graduation until all university admissions have been met.

Visiting Students

Students from other colleges or universities may be admitted as visitors. Applicants from other colleges or universities must obtain prior approval from their current institution to take courses at Winston-Salem State University. High school students must provide the appropriate permissions from the high school counselor and parent/guardian.  The university assumes no responsibility for determining the student’s course selection when the credits are to be transferred elsewhere. Enrollment by permission from another institution does not obligate the university to continue the student’s enrollment at Winston-Salem State University after the expiration of the permission period.

Admission to the Summer Session

Degree seeking students who wish to start course work during the summer session must satisfy the same admission requirements that are prescribed for students entering for the first time in the fall or spring semester, including the testing requirements. 

High School Students

Winston-Salem State University will accept, for enrollment in certain university courses, high school juniors and seniors and who have the formal endorsement of and permission from the high school counselor and parent/guardian. Enrollment is limited to one course per semester. The cost per course for which university credit is given is the same as for other students taking fewer than nine hours. Credit earned before completion of high school may be applicable to a degree program at Winston-Salem State University when the student has met all requirements for high school graduation and satisfied the requirements for admission as a freshman, or the credit can be transferred to the school of the student’s choice. Individuals wishing to enroll in university courses as indicated should proceed according to the policies of the high schools, and the high schools should contact the Winston-Salem State University Office of Admissions for application forms and further information.

Re-Admission of Former Students

When a student’s attendance is interrupted for any reason, an application for re-admission must be filed with the Office of the Registrar. If the student has attended another college or university, the student must also pay the non-refundable application fee and submit official transcripts of credit from these institutions. Special students who have not interrupted their enrollment do not need permission to take courses until they have accumulated 12 SH or completed requirements for certification.

Notification of Acceptance

Applicants are notified of action taken on their applications as soon as possible. However, final action cannot be taken until all required information is in the Office of Admissions.

Applicability
This policy is applicable to undergraduate students at Winston-Salem State University.

Compliance
Any student who supplies false or misleading information or who conceals pertinent facts in order to enroll at Winston-Salem State University will be subject to immediate dismissal from the university.

To learn about admissions, please go to:  https://www.wssu.edu/admissions/apply/index.html