Business Administration, Management and Operations at Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem State University's business administration graduates earn $32,541 in their first year—about $11,000 below the North Carolina median and nearly $13,000 below the national average for this program. This places them in the bottom quarter of business programs statewide and the 5th percentile nationally. While earnings do improve to $39,567 by year four (a solid 22% increase), that's still roughly $4,000 below what most NC business grads earn in their first year out of school.

The debt load of $28,805 is close to typical for business programs, resulting in a manageable 0.89 debt-to-earnings ratio. The school's demographics—69% of students receive Pell grants—suggest it serves a population for whom college access itself is valuable. However, the earnings gap compared to other NC options is substantial. UNC-Chapel Hill business grads earn more than double WSSU's figures, and even more accessible programs like University of Mount Olive produce significantly higher starting salaries.

If your child has admission offers from higher-ranked NC business programs, those would likely deliver better returns. If Winston-Salem State is the most affordable or accessible option, understand that this degree may require supplementing with internships, certifications, or graduate education to reach typical business program earnings. The 22% earnings growth suggests momentum, but graduates start from a notably lower baseline than their in-state peers.