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Bethabara Historic DistrictBethabara Historic District · Photo: Barber Photo Supply Company, Photographer · Public domain
Colleges in and near Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem is home to six colleges, with about 19,000 students on campus

Wake Forest University (8,108 students on campus) and Forsyth Technical Community College (5,195) are inside the city. About 9% of Winston-Salem’s residents are enrolled in college, above North Carolina (6%).

Winston-Salem State UniversityWake Forest UniversityUniversity of North Carolina School of the ArtsForsyth Technical Community College

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Winston-Salem. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
6
19,182 students on campus
Nearest college
1.2 mi
Carolina University
Residents in college
9%
Above NC (6%)
Nearest community college
2.5 mi
Forsyth Technical · $2,276 tuition
Nearest public university
2.2 mi
Winston-Salem State · $6,126 in-state
Median household income
$59K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Winston-Salem

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Four colleges within 2.5 milesWinston-Salem State University admits 78% of applicants; Wake Forest University admits 22%; University of North Carolina School of the Arts admits 30%. Together they have 18,348 students on campus.In-state price at Winston-Salem StateLiving in North Carolina, Winston-Salem State University charges $6,126 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $16,782. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 2.5 miles awayForsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem: tuition and fees $2,276 a year for North Carolina residents.Students are 9% of residentsAbove North Carolina (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Winston-Salem

Three private colleges within 2.3 miles, two public colleges within 2.3 miles, and Forsyth Technical Community College 2.5 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miWake Forest UniversityForsyth TechnicalWinston-Salem StateWinston-Salem
University or collegeCommunity college
Carolina UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 380 on campus · In Winston-Salem · mostly online40%admitted$21knet price22%graduate$33kearnings57% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Salem CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 454 on campus · In Winston-Salem77%admitted$18knet price57%graduate$45kearningsWinston-Salem State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 3,971 on campus · In Winston-Salem78%admitted$13knet price47%graduate$45kearningsWake Forest UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 8,108 on campus · In Winston-Salem22%admitted$29knet price89%graduate$78kearningsUniversity of North Carolina School of the ArtsUniversity or college · Public · 1,074 on campus · In Winston-Salem30%admitted$15knet price78%graduate$38kearningsForsyth Technical Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,195 on campus · In Winston-Salem$7knet price34%graduate$34kearningsTuition and fees: $2,276 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Winston-Salem’s median household income ($59,268) falls.

Wake Forest UniversityIn Winston-Salem · sticker $87,499$7,647a year
Forsyth Technical Community CollegeIn Winston-Salem · sticker $14,101 · tuition $2,276$7,827a year
University of North Carolina School of the ArtsIn Winston-Salem · sticker $26,470$11,491a year
Winston-Salem State UniversityIn Winston-Salem · sticker $23,147$14,681a year
Salem CollegeIn Winston-Salem · sticker $48,532$16,147a year
Carolina UniversityIn Winston-Salem · mostly online · sticker $32,680$22,993a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Winston-Salem: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Carolina UniversitySalem CollegeWinston-Salem StateWake Forest UniversityForsyth Technical
Wake Forest University89% graduate$78k earnings$22k typical debt
Forsyth Technical Community College34% graduate$34k earnings$10k typical debt
Winston-Salem State University47% graduate$45k earnings$25k typical debt
University of North Carolina School of the Arts78% graduate$38k earnings$24k typical debt
Salem College57% graduate$45k earnings$27k typical debt
Carolina University22% graduate$33k earnings$20k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Winston-Salem

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Winston-Salem’s 5 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 16%Business 13%Liberal arts 10%Social sciences 6%Visual & performing arts 6%Computer science 5%Everything else 44%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesForsyth Technical Community College · 469 graduates a year
$41k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingWinston-Salem State University · 158 graduates a year
$85k4 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management ServicesWake Forest University · 156 graduates a year
$146k4 yrs out
Communication and Media StudiesWake Forest University · 124 graduates a year
$78k4 yrs out
Business/Commerce, GeneralWake Forest University · 120 graduates a year
$118k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralWake Forest University · 119 graduates a year
$65k4 yrs out
Political Science and GovernmentWake Forest University · 119 graduates a year
$86k4 yrs out
EconomicsWake Forest University · 110 graduates a year
$98k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating. Left out: Carolina University, where most students study only online.

Questions about college in Winston-Salem

Is Winston-Salem a college town?

No. About 9 of every 100 Winston-Salem residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above North Carolina (6). The largest campus in the city, Wake Forest University, has 8,108 students on campus.

What colleges are in Winston-Salem?

Wake Forest University, Forsyth Technical Community College, Winston-Salem State University, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and 2 more are inside the city.

What is the closest community college to Winston-Salem, and what does it cost?

Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem, 2.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $2,276 a year for North Carolina residents; the federal net price, $7,200, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Winston-Salem State University cost if we live in North Carolina?

Tuition and fees are $6,126 a year in-state and $16,782 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $11,463 (under $30,000 income) to $21,405 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Winston-Salem. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →