College Students Can Prepare for Greatness in Winston-Salem
This region hosts numerous higher education institutions, which provide a pipeline of top talent to handle the region's in-demand jobs.
Step just one foot into Winston-Salem, and you’ll quickly notice it is a thriving community that has even more successes on the horizon.
While multiple things factor into growing an area, such as a strong workforce, skilled talent, new investments and developments, happy residents and quality-of-life amenities, there is a key element playing a large role in this region’s success – the robust network of colleges and universities in Winston-Salem.
Home to Carolina University, Forsyth Technical Community College, Salem College, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem State University and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, these higher education institutions in Winston-Salem are not only educating residents, but they are providing the region with a pipeline of top talent that’s ready to take on the region’s in-demand jobs.
In This Article
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University offers more than 45 majors and 60 minors within its six colleges and schools. Students can expect individualized help with planning for their futures. The university’s Office of Personal & Career Development also helps prepare students for careers by building life skills, such as leadership, networking and personal branding.
About Wake Forest
Founded in 1834, this private liberal arts university combines the facilities
of a research institution with a level of faculty engagement most often
associated with small liberal arts colleges.
Students can even apply for professional development grants to purchase items like clothing for interviews or business cards. The school also offers experiential learning stipends so students can take advantage of unpaid internships.
And when it comes to recreation, a number of intramural sports are available. The Demon Deacons compete in 18 Division I sports in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Campus life at Wake Forest also includes more than 250 clubs and organizations for students with all kinds of interests.
Winston-Salem State University
Also in the region is the HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), which works to help students transform themselves and their world through education.
About Winston-Salem State
Founded in 1892, the school offers students 34 bachelor degrees,
50 undergraduate minors, seven master’s degrees, two professional
doctorate degrees and six post-bachelor certifications.
WSSU also boasts relatively small class sizes, as the average student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, as well as employment assistance for students. The university’s Hire-a-Ram Student Employment Program, for example, helps students land off-campus part-time, temporary or seasonal employment.
Salem College
Salem College offers more than two dozen undergraduate and graduate degree programs. “Salem College is undergoing a transformation of its curriculum and its student experience to focus on health leadership and creating that next generation of health care professionals,” says Salem College President Summer Johnson McGee.
She also notes that there is an incredible demand for not only health care providers but people who have business knowledge and skills as well as the leadership skills to be successful across a range of health care-related fields and industries.
About Salem College
Founded in 1772, the all-women Salem College attracts students
from all over the world and is lauded as one of the nation’s
most distinguished private liberal arts colleges.
“More than 40% of our students were already interested in going into STEM and health care-related professions and were pursuing those majors, so we doubled down on that and are getting our students connected to organizations.”
McGee says Salem College is focused on ensuring their programs align with the local and regional workforce needs, as well.
Forsyth Technical Community College
Like Salem College, Forsyth Technical Community College also works with local businesses to ensure students are learning the skills needed to be successful.
About Forsyth Technical Community College
The college, which has been serving the area since 1960, also offers
college transfer and two-year degree programs, corporate training,
continuing education, and personal enrichment classes.
“As an institution, we provide training for in-demand careers for our region, such as manufacturing, health care, aviation, IT and logistics,” says Devin Purgason, director of college relations, marketing and communication for Forsyth Technical Community College. “We partner with local economic development organizations to recruit businesses to the region and state, and we keep a close eye on local employer needs.”
