North Carolina allocates $60M to Winston‑Salem State and Fayetteville State universities

The 2026 North Carolina state budget earmarks nearly $45 million for Winston‑Salem State University. Almost $40 million will fund capital projects, including the completion of K. R. Williams Auditorium and renovations to Eller and Pegram Halls. The Cheatham‑White Scholarship Program will expand to up to 50 merit‑based scholarships annually, and the university will join a statewide nursing fellowship pilot that offers forgivable education loans to future nurses. Employee compensation, including a 3 % salary increase for certain staff, also receives boosts.

Fayetteville State University receives $16.5 million to broaden student opportunities. Funding will support enrollment growth, a $5.5 million expansion of the H. L. Cook Building for military‑connected students, a $3 million reserve fund, and a $2 million summer program that provides free courses to keep students on track to graduate. The budget also enables the hiring of about 20 faculty positions and a plan to double nursing enrollment from 150 to 300 students to meet regional healthcare demand.