WS Chronicle

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

According to an analysis by PayScale Inc., creator of the largest database of individual compensation profiles in the world, Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) ranks fourth in North Carolina for providing the largest percent return on investment for its in-state students.

WSSU students who pay in-state tuition can expect an annual 9 percent return on their educational investment if they do not receive grants or scholarships and an annual 12.5 percent return if they do receive aid.

“No matter how you look at it, college is an investment – both of time and money,” according to a release from PayScale. “The benefit to this particular investment is that there are returns far beyond the obvious monetary ones. However, the financial aspects of evaluating college return on investment cannot be ignored. And, some schools are simply doing a better job of setting their alumni up for success in the job market.”

The ranking is one of many that demonstrates the value of a degree from WSSU. According to a study by the North Carolina Department of Commerce released in 2014, WSSU ranks No. 1 in the UNC System for graduates receiving jobs in North Carolina after graduation and No. 1 in the Triad for highest salary after receiving an undergraduate degree. The university recently was named a Washington Monthly’s “Best Bang for the Buck” university and is No. 12 on EdSmart’s “Top 20 HBCUs by Alumni Starting Average Salary.”