Wake Forest University vs Winston-Salem State University: which has better ROI?
Wake Forest University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $114,876 in 3.9 years versus not at all at Winston-Salem State University, on median earnings of $78,158 vs $45,344 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Wake Forest University | Winston-Salem State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,719 | $13,479 |
| Total net cost | $114,876 | $53,916 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $78,158 | $45,344 |
| Median debt | $21,500 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 3.9 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $481,084 | -$114,236 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Wake Forest University or Winston-Salem State University?
Winston-Salem State University, at $13,479 a year after aid versus $28,719 — a gap of $15,240 a year, or $60,960 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Wake Forest University or Winston-Salem State University graduates earn more?
Wake Forest University graduates report a median $78,158 ten years after entry, $32,814 more than the $45,344 at Winston-Salem State University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Wake Forest University or Winston-Salem State University?
Wake Forest University: its completers carry a median $21,500 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Winston-Salem State University, a difference of $3,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
89% of students finish at Wake Forest University, against 47% at Winston-Salem State University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.