Winston-Salem State University

What Winston-Salem State University does

Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) is a public historically Black college and university (HBCU) founded in 1892 and headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Operating as one of 17 constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina System under the UNC Board of Governors, WSSU delivers undergraduate and graduate education across seven academic areas: Arts & Entertainment; Business, Leadership & Entrepreneurship; Communications, Languages & Media; Education; Health Sciences & Nursing; Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM); and Social Justice & Advocacy. The institution serves prospective freshmen, transfer, readmit, graduate, international, dual-enrollment, and summer session students, with branded admission pathways (Freshman Experience, Transfer Experience, etc.) and a "Ramily" community positioning.

WSSU's operating technology stack consists of standard higher-education platforms: Canvas (learning management), Banner RAMS Online (student information system), Cascade CMS (web content), TeamDynamix (SSO/IT service management), RAMSupport (ticketing), RAMCard (campus ID/payment), EAB Navigate (student success/advising), and LinkedIn Learning for faculty/staff development. Auxiliary services include housing, dining, parking, RAMGRAPHIX print services, ticket box office, and a passport acceptance facility. The institution runs its academic affairs through colleges including Arts/Sciences/Education, Health Sciences, Graduate College, University College, and Business & Entrepreneurship.

WSSU's revenue model is multi-stream and typical of public regional universities: recurring tuition and fees (billed annually), recurring North Carolina state appropriations through the UNC System, private fundraising via the WSSU Foundation (Annual Fund, major gifts, planned gifts, matching gifts, corporate/foundation relations), transaction-based auxiliary services revenue, sponsored research grants through the Office of Sponsored Programs, and embedded student health insurance billing. Recent capital inflows include a $45M North Carolina state investment (July 2026) for student success, healthcare workforce, and campus modernization, plus a $500K Cannon Family Charitable Trust gift for graduate school expansion. The institution maintains associated entities (WSSU Foundation, SG Atkins CDC, National Alumni Association) and is governed alongside local trustees under UNC system-wide policy.

Name

Winston-Salem State University

Legal name

Winston-Salem State University

Website

https://wssu.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1892

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Winston-Salem State University is a public HBCU in North Carolina and part of the UNC System, delivering undergraduate and graduate education across seven academic areas to diverse student cohorts including freshmen, transfers, dual-enrollment, and graduate students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public HBCUs (State-Supported) (EDAHAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Graduate & Professional-Program HBCUs (e.g., law/education/business) (EDAHAMAK), Research-Intensive HBCUs (R1/R2 or Doctoral) (EDAHAMAE), STEM & Polytechnic-Focused HBCUs (EDAHAMAH)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate professional education
• HBCU university
• Health sciences nursing

Headquarters

HQ city

Winston Salem

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, fees, and related educational services
2. State Appropriations: State funding from North Carolina as part of UNC System
3. Private Giving/Fundraising: Annual Fund donations, major gifts, planned gifts, matching gifts, corporate and foundation relations supporting scholarships, faculty development, facilities, and programs through WSSU Foundation
4. Auxiliary Services: Revenue from housing, dining, parking, ticket box office, passport services, print center (RAMGRAPHIX), vending, and conference services
5. Sponsored Programs/Grants: External funding through Office of Sponsored Programs for research in health sciences, humanities, social sciences, and STEM
6. Health Insurance: Student Blue health insurance billing as part of tuition and fees, with waiver options

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Winston-Salem State University is a public historically Black college and university (HBCU) delivering undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs across six academic areas, along with continuing education, housing, student life services, and athletics. The university serves individual students seeking higher education credentials, with admission pathways for freshmen, transfers, readmits, graduate students, dual enrollment, and international applicants. Revenue is generated from tuition and fees, state appropriations, private giving, grants, and auxiliary services.

Product overview

Winston-Salem State University operates as a higher education institution offering a unified portfolio of academic and administrative services rather than a single software product. The core academic platform includes Canvas (learning management system) and Banner RAMS Online (student information system), supplemented by student-facing portals like MyWSSU and Rams Accommodate. Administrative and support services include RAMSupport (IT ticketing), RAMCard (campus ID/payment), RamPay (tuition payment plans), RAMGRAPHIX (print services), and the Ticket Box Office. These systems work together to support the university's educational mission, with several services built on third-party platforms including Microsoft Outlook for email, EAB Navigate for student success, and TeamDynamix for single sign-on authentication.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Canvas Learning Management System Web-based learning management system that facilitates teaching and learning for WSSU students and faculty, enabling course delivery and academic instruction.
• Banner RAMS Online Student Information System Student information system for accessing Banner records and student accounts, including registration and academic records for students.
• MyWSSU Student Portal Student portal providing access to academic information, enrollment steps, and student services for enrolled WSSU students.
• RAMCard Campus ID and Pre-Paid Card Official university identification card used as a pre-paid card for campus business services including dining, printing, and building access for students, faculty, and staff.
• RAMSupport IT Support Portal IT support portal for submitting technology support tickets and requesting assistance with university systems, available to students and employees.
• RamPay Tuition Payment Plan Alternative payment plan to help students meet costs of education including tuition, room and board, and other enrollment-associated costs.
• RAMGRAPHIX Print Services University print center providing printing services for faculty, staff, and students.
• WSSU Ticket Box Office University service for acquiring and selling tickets for university-sponsored and Athletics events.
• WSSU Passport Office US Passport Acceptance Facility located in Anderson Center for processing passport applications for students and the community.
• Rams Accommodate Disability Services System Online system for students to register for disability accommodations and request semester-based academic adjustments.
• Freshman Experience Admissions Program Admissions pathway for first-time freshmen providing enrollment steps and RamReady preparation for prospective undergraduate students.
• Transfer Experience Admissions Program Start to Finish transfer program with credit transferability services for prospective transfer students from other institutions.
• Graduate and Professional Admissions Program Graduate and professional programs with expanded opportunities for students seeking master's, doctoral, or professional degrees.
• Dual Admissions Program Partnership with community colleges for seamless transfer pathways to WSSU degree completion for prospective students.
• Online Distance Learning Programs Distance Learning programs accessible globally for undergraduate and graduate students, with online course delivery and virtual student services.
• Housing and Residence Life Services On-campus housing and residence life services for enrolled students at Winston-Salem State University.
• Career Development Services Career development services for students and alumni, supporting employment outcomes and professional readiness.

Quantifiable outcome

• #1 HBCU in North Carolina and #1 in UNC System for graduate employment
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WSSU Foundation, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClosely aligned with University Advancement, manages all private gifts to the university. Raises, manages, and administers funds for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes. Partners on fundraising, marketing, public relations, and alumni engagement. Supports scholarships, faculty development, facilities, and programs.
• SG Atkins Community Development CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFosters community revitalization and strengthens ties between WSSU and surrounding neighborhoods. Focuses on building shared vision for community development, engaging students and employees in community service, supporting affordable housing and economic development projects, and promoting community-based leadership.
• National Alumni Association (NAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnhances alumni engagement and supports WSSU through scholarships and strategic initiatives. Partners with Office of Advancement for financial support, fundraising for strategic priorities, recruitment programs, award recognition, homecoming and reunion planning, alumni publications, and network development.
• Barnes & NobleminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCampus bookstore operated by Barnes & Noble at wssu.bncollege.com, providing textbooks, course materials, and university merchandise to students and faculty.
• Campus DishminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCampus dining services provider offering food services across campus dining locations.
• UNC SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWSSU is one of 17 constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina System. UNC System Office coordinates job postings across all institutions and sets system-wide policies including employment, equality, and compliance standards.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• North Carolina A&T State University: Largest public HBCU in North Carolina and fellow UNC System constituent. Directly comparable on HBCU mission, public funding model, regional scope, and student demographic focus, though materially larger in scale.
• North Carolina Central University: Public HBCU within the UNC System, located in Durham, NC. Closely comparable on public HBCU positioning, UNC funding model, and student demographic mix, with overlapping academic programs in health sciences and education.
• Fayetteville State University: Public HBCU in the UNC System serving a similar student demographic. Comparable on size, funding model, and mission to serve diverse and non-traditional students, with overlapping focus on education and health sciences.
• Elizabeth City State University: Small public HBCU within the UNC System. Similar in scale, funding structure, and HBCU mission, though geographically focused on northeastern NC rather than the Piedmont Triad.
• Bennett College: Small private HBCU in Greensboro, NC. Comparable on HBCU mission and North Carolina regional footprint, though private and significantly smaller than WSSU.
• Livingstone College: Private HBCU in Salisbury, NC, within the same regional footprint. Comparable on HBCU mission and North Carolina student base, though substantially smaller and private.
• Shaw University: Private HBCU in Raleigh, NC. Comparable on HBCU mission, online program offerings, and North Carolina student base, with overlapping target market for graduate and non-traditional students.

Broad incumbents

• Howard University: Premier private HBCU in Washington, D.C. Comparable on HBCU mission and academic portfolio, but operates at a substantially larger scale and competes with WSSU for top minority graduate students and faculty.

Regional players

• UNCG (University of North Carolina at Greensboro): Fellow UNC System institution located in the Piedmont Triad region. Competes for overlapping student populations in the same regional labor market, though it is not an HBCU and serves a broader demographic.
• Winston-Salem State University: Private liberal arts institution in Winston-Salem, geographically adjacent to WSSU. Competes for regional students in the same Winston-Salem market, though it serves a different student demographic and is faith-rooted.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/wssurams
• YouTubeyoutube.com/wssu1892
• Facebookfacebook.com/67954293614
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/winston-salem-state-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/wssu1892

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Winston-Salem State University