Winston-Salem State University, a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina System since 1972, is a historically black university and recognized regional institution offering baccalaureate and graduate programs. The Wall Street Journal recognized WSSU in 2016 as Number 1 among Historically Black College and Universities (HBCU) in North Carolina. The U.S. News and World Report recognized the institution in 2016, 2017, and 2018 as one of the Top Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and Diverse Issues in Higher Education ranked WSSU in 2017 as Number 1 in North Carolina for graduating Black students in the field of education. 

Originally founded in 1892 as Slater Industrial Academy by Simon Green Atkins, the university has undergone multiple name changes including, Winston-Salem Teachers College, which was the first black institution in the United States to grant degrees for teaching elementary grades. In response to a growing medical community emerging in the Winston-Salem area, the School of Nursing was established in 1953, awarding graduates the degree of Bachelor of Science. 

Winston-Salem State University embraces principles and actions that promote fairness and opportunity for its student population, many of whom face challenges resulting from the ongoing effects of historical social and economic disparities that restrict their potential. The University aims to cultivate graduates who succeed in a changing and interconnected world and become leaders who champion fairness and equality by serving the world with compassion and dedication.