WSSU gets nearly $45M in NC budget: nursing loans, scholarships, pay, upgrades

Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) says North Carolina’s July 7, 2026 state budget—signed into law by Gov. Stein—includes nearly $45 million tied to scholarships, a nursing “forgivable loan” pilot, employee compensation, and campus modernization. For residents and local employers, the practical goal is straightforward: more student financial support and a stronger pipeline into nursing careers.

Timeline: WSSU and the budget signing both land on July 7, 2026

WSSU’s announcement is dated July 7, 2026. On that same date, the governor’s office said Senate Bill 257 was signed into law to enact the state’s full budget.

What WSSU says the “nearly $45 million” package includes

In its statement, WSSU says the legislation provides funding for several priorities:

• Capital improvements: nearly $40 million for capital improvements over two fiscal years— including releasing the remaining $14.65 million needed to complete renovation and modernization of K.R. Williams Auditorium, plus continued renovations to Eller Hall and Pegram Hall.
• Scholarships: expansion of the Cheatham-White Scholarship Program, making WSSU authorized to award up to 50 merit-based scholarships annually beginning in the 2027–2028 academic year.
• Healthcare workforce: WSSU’s role as a key partner in the new Nursing Fellows Forgivable Education Loan Pilot Program.
• Employee compensation: investments that include a 3% salary increase for eligible SHRA and EHRA employees, plus one-time bonuses and additional compensation for sworn law enforcement officers.

Scholarships: Cheatham-White’s WSSU expansion starts with 2027–2028 awards

The enacted session law adds WSSU to the Cheatham-White Scholarships program. It sets the WSSU cap at up to 50 scholarships per academic year, including at least 40 for North Carolina resident students and no more than 10 for nonresident students.

Timing matters for families: the session law says the change applies beginning with the award of scholarship funds in the 2027–2028 academic year, so students may be nominated at WSSU during the 2026–2027 academic year.

Nursing workforce: what the Nursing Fellows forgivable-loan pilot means for WSSU students

North Carolina’s session law creates the Nursing Fellows Pilot Program to recruit, prepare, and support eligible nursing students enrolled at WSSU and qualifying community colleges beginning in either the 2027–2028 or 2028–2029 academic year.

For WSSU, the statute identifies a clear leadership role: the Dean of the School of Health Sciences at WSSU serves as the director for the WSSU portion of the program.

Forgivable loan maximums (by degree level) that the law sets

The program uses forgivable loans that may be used for tuition, fees, the cost of books, and expenses related to completing the qualifying degree program. The statute sets maximum amounts per term:

• WSSU Bachelor of Science in nursing (BS): up to $5,000 per semester (or $2,500 per summer session) for up to five academic terms.
• WSSU Master of Science in nursing education (MS): up to $5,000 per semester (or $2,500 per summer session) for up to four additional academic terms, if the student enrolls in the MS program within two years of completing the BS at WSSU.

(The law also covers associate degree nursing students at qualifying community colleges, but WSSU families typically care most about the BS/MS pathways.)

The 2026–2027 timeline applicants should know

If you’re a current prospective nursing student (or supporting one), the statute lays out deadlines that can help you plan:

• Nov. 15, 2026: directors must establish initial selection criteria.
• Dec. 31, 2026: applications must be made available to prospective students.
• Apr. 1, 2027: directors must select recipients and award the initial forgivable loans for the 2027–2028 academic year.

Pay: the state’s 3% SHRA/EHRA increase takes effect July 1, 2026

In the enacted budget, North Carolina directs the University of North Carolina Board of Governors to provide an across-the-board 3% salary increase for SHRA and EHRA employees, effective July 1, 2026. WSSU also describes the overall compensation package as including the 3% increase, plus other employee investments.

Campus modernization: K.R. Williams Auditorium, Eller Hall, and Pegram Hall

WSSU says the funding supports completion of the remaining work for K.R. Williams Auditorium, along with continued renovations to Eller Hall and Pegram Hall. The session law also lists the specific campus project categories—K.R. Williams Auditorium, Eller Hall–Renovation & Elevator Addition, and Pegram Hall–Renovation & Elevator Addition.

Residents should not assume construction starts immediately just because the budget authorizes and/or releases funds. But as projects move from planning into procurement and scheduling, they can still affect local hiring, contracting, and vendor activity around campus.

Why Winston-Salem residents should pay attention next

• Scholarships: nominations can run during 2026–2027, with awards starting in 2027–2028.
• Nursing Fellows pilot: watch for the program’s selection and application milestones in late 2026 leading into the 2027–2028 academic year.
• Local spending and jobs: campus modernization work can shift contracting and staffing needs over time, depending on project schedules.

Sources

• Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) announcement — nearly $45 million to expand impact (July 7, 2026)
• NC Governor press release — Governor Stein signs state budget (July 7, 2026)
• North Carolina enacted session law — SL 2026-41 (SB 257 budget text)
• NC Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) certified budget record for Winston-Salem State University (BD 307 WSSU)

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