21.67%

Acceptance Rate

$41,719

Avg.Financial Aid

002978

FAFSA Code

Wake Forest University Report Card

Selectivity
A-
21.7% acceptance rate
Academics
A+
89% graduation rate
Class Size
B
10:1 student-faculty ratio
Value
D
$67,642 tuition

Grades calculated by The College Monk from IPEDS/NCES data. Methodology: How we grade →

Key Facts: Wake Forest University

Institution
Wake Forest University
Type
Private not-for-profit

Data compiled by The College Monk from IPEDS/NCES and official university sources. Last verified June 2026. Citable source →

Wake Forest University

  • Type Control of Institution - Public/Private

    Private, Not-For-Profit

  • Acceptance Rate:

    N/A

  • Level

    4 Years

  • Religious Affiliation Indicates religious affiliation (denomination) for private not-for-profit institutions that are religiously affiliated.

    Not applicable

  • Accreditation Accreditation is the process by which the quality of learning at various educational institutions are evaluated. Read More.

    SACSCOC

  • Website

    www.wfu.edu
  • Student Population Number of Students attending College

    5,485

  • On Campus Housing Does the institution provide on-campus housing?

    Yes

Wake Forest is a school built on intimacy and connection—with 5,300 undergrads, it's small enough to know people but large enough to offer real resources. Located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on a beautiful campus, Wake Forest emphasizes mentorship and one-on-one relationships. This is a place where professors know your name by week two, where the focus is on learning rather than rankings, and where the community genuinely cares about your development. If you're looking for small classes, engaged faculty, and an education that's about you as a person rather than you as a resume line, Wake Forest is worth serious consideration.

The academics are solid across disciplines. The business school is strong and pre-professional. The sciences are rigorous with good research opportunities. The humanities emphasize writing and discussion. Class sizes are small—even introductory courses have caps that keep them manageable. Professors are accessible and invested in your growth. You'll find yourself in genuine conversations with faculty about ideas that matter. The pre-professional track (law, medicine, business) is strong, but so is the path toward graduate study in the humanities or sciences. Your trade-off: you're not getting the prestige of an Ivy, and the financial aid can be generous but not needs-blind. The student body skews more traditional and less diverse than peer institutions.

Campus culture is warm and inclusive. Greek life is present but not dominant. The social scene revolves around genuine friendships, student organizations, and campus events. Winston-Salem offers cultural experiences and a vibrant downtown. You'll graduate with strong mentorship relationships, deep friendships, and the kind of education that emphasizes your development as a whole person. Wake Forest is for students who value connection, who want professors who know them, and who are willing to trade brand prestige for genuine community and intellectual engagement.

Location & Contact

Address

1834 Wake Forest Road, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Contact

Phone: (336) 758-5000
Find Your School

Rankings

As per Forbes, following are the rankings are secured by Wake Forest University -

#56 - Top Colleges 2019

#46 - In Private Colleges

#33 - In Research Universities

#10 - In The South

#168 - America's Best Value Colleges 2019

Admissions

  • Application Deadline Deadline for application submissions. Please contact the school for more details.

    15th Jan

  • Acceptance Rate Percentage of applicants who are accepted in an Institution.

    21.67%

  • SAT Range

    N/A

  • SAT/ACT

    Recommended

  • ACT Range

    N/A

  • High School GPA

    Required

  • Application Fee

    $65

  • Accept Common App

    Yes

Admission statistics for the class of 2021 are as follows: 13,000 applications were received. Representing 55% of the incoming class of 1350 freshmen, 750 members of the new class were enrolled through the early decision process – a 15% rise in applications than the previous year. Acceptance to Wake Forest has been offered to 25% of those who applied through the regular decision process. 54% of the class is composed of women. 34% are students of colour.

22% comes from in-state North Carolina while 7% are out-state or international applicants. In order, the top eight states represented in the admitted class are North Carolina, Florida, New Jersey, Georgia, New York, California, and Virginia (with at least one person admitted from each of the fifty states). Students residing in 48 different countries have been offered admission. 61% of admitted applicants who attend schools that calculate class rank are in the top 5% of their class, with 87% within the top 10%. Being test-optional means Wake Forest's admissions process does not require applicants to submit their SAT or ACT scores, and students can decide if they want their standardized test scores to be considered.

Annual Cost to Attend

  • Net Price Cost of attendance minus any grants and scholarships received.

    $28,719

  • Average Annual Cost

    $67,642

Additional Costs:

  • Books And Supplies

    $71,638

  • Other Fees

    $974

  • Room And Board The charges for an academic year for Rooming accommodations and meals for a typical student.

    $14,416

  • Budget For Other Expenses

    $2,400

Total One Year Cost

$71,638

The annual list price to attend Wake Forest University on a full-time basis is $71,638 for all students regardless of their residency. This fee is comprised of $52,348 for tuition, $14,416 room and board, $1,500 for books and supplies and $974 for other fees. Out of state tuition for Wake Forest University is $52,348, the same as North Carolina residents. The average reported annual net price for Wake Forest University for students receiving grants or scholarship aid was $23,986.

Based on published tuition prices, we estimate the present cost of a 4-year baccalaureate and living expenses at Wake Forest University to be $286,552 - assuming graduation in normal time. The estimation assumes a 4.5% annual increase over the next 4 years which has been the recent trend for this school.

Academics

Highest Degree Offered The highest degree offered by the Institution.

Doctorate degree

Student:Faculty Ratio

10:1

Full-Time Retention Rate Percent of the that re-enrolled at the institution as either full- or part-time in the current year.

93%

Part-Time Retention Rate Percent of the that re-enrolled at the institution as either full- or part-time in the current year.

100%

Academic Calendar

Semester

Research Funding per Student

$22,031

Faculty Overview

56%

Male Professors

44%

Female Professors

Non-traditional Learning

Evening Degree Programs

Teacher Certification

Distance Education

Study Abroad

Majors

Most Popular Majors:

  • Economics

    143 Graduates

  • Communication and Media Studies

    129 Graduates

  • Psychology, General

    114 Graduates

  • Business/Commerce, General

    108 Graduates

  • Finance and Financial Management Se...

    108 Graduates

  • Biology, General

    92 Graduates

  • Political Science and Government

    86 Graduates

  • Health and Physical Education/Fitne...

    64 Graduates

  • Finance and Financial Management Se...

    108 Graduates

  • Biology, General

    92 Graduates

  • Political Science and Government

    86 Graduates

  • Health and Physical Education/Fitne...

    64 Graduates

  • History

    55 Graduates

  • Chemistry

    44 Graduates

  • English Language and Literature, Ge...

    38 Graduates

  • Romance Languages, Literatures, and...

    36 Graduates

  • Computer Science

    31 Graduates

  • Sociology

    30 Graduates

  • Accounting and Related Services

    28 Graduates

  • Fine and Studio Arts

    21 Graduates

  • Mathematics

    21 Graduates

  • Philosophy

    21 Graduates

  • Management Sciences and Quantitativ...

    20 Graduates

  • Religion/Religious Studies

    20 Graduates

  • Physics

    16 Graduates

  • Statistics

    13 Graduates

  • Anthropology

    12 Graduates

  • Area Studies

    8 Graduates

  • Classics and Classical Languages, L...

    8 Graduates

  • Teacher Education and Professional...

    7 Graduates

  • Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecu...

    6 Graduates

  • Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender,...

    6 Graduates

  • Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

    5 Graduates

  • East Asian Languages, Literatures,...

    5 Graduates

  • Music

    4 Graduates

  • Germanic Languages, Literatures, an...

    3 Graduates

  • Liberal Arts and Sciences, General...

    3 Graduates

  • Engineering, General

    1 Graduates

  • Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languag...

    1 Graduates

Show More

Student Body

Undergraduate Students

5,225

Socio-Economic Diversity Percent of full-time, first-time students receiving an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

9%

Full-time / Part-time

99% / 1%

Students Gender

Male

47%

US National: 44%

Female

53%

US National: 56%

LGBTQIA STUDENT RESOURCE GROUPS

ON CAMPUS WOMEN'S CENTER

Race/Ethnicity

White

70%

Unknown

0%

Black

6%

Hispanic

7%

Two or more races

3%

Non Resident alien

10%

Asian

4%

American Indian/Alaska native

0%

Native Hawaiians/Pacific islander

0%

Geographic Density

Geographic Density

High

0%

Unknown Location

69%

Out Of State

19%

In State

12%

Foreign

Economic Diversity

36% percentage of students who recieved an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

Median Household Income

$80,539 per year

Campus Life

Housing

The students can reside on campus and 100% of Freshman Live On-Campus.

On Campus Housing Available

Yes

Freshmen Required to Live on Campus

No

Freshmen Live on Campus

100%

Undergrads in College Housing

76%

Averege Housing Cost

$9,282/year

Campus Food

The institution has several dining and meal plan options available to students and the average meal plan cost is around $6,750/year.

Meal Plan Available

Yes

Average Meal Plan Available

$6,750/year

Athletes

Division Sports Nickname

Demon Deacon

School Colors

old gold and black

Varsity Athletics Association

NCAA

Varsity Athletics Conference Primary

Atlantic Coast Conference

Total Male Athletes

243

Total Female Athletes

126

Intramural Sports

14

Sports Club

36

Sports Team (Men)

Baseball

Basketball

Cross Country

Football

Golf

Soccer

Tennis

Track and Field

Sports Team (Women)

Basketball

Cross Country

Field Hockey

Golf

Soccer

Tennis

Track and Field

Volleyball

Campus Security

The university additionally offers an on-campus housing facility for students who wish to dwell nearby. The normal expense for on-campus housing is $15,018 per year. The students at Wake Forest University have several dining and meal plan options to choose from. Moreover, the average meal plan costs around $6,750 per year. There are around 47% male and 53% female students enrolled at the university.

24-Hour Security Patrol

Campus Emergency Phones

24-Hour Escort Safety rides

Mobile Campus Emergency Alert

After Graduation

Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation

$51,100/year

Median Earnings 10 Years After Graduation

$63,800/year

Median Total Debt After Graduation The median cumulative federal debt of undergraduate borrowers who graduated.

$17,500 - $23,000

Typical Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 4.53% interest rate.

$182 - $239

Outcomes 8 Years of Attending

Show data for students who

and started their studies

Out of 7,811 students

30% Graduated

10% Still Enrolled

15% Transfer

1% Withdraw

Financial Aid

Students Receiving Gift Aid Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal gift aid.

38%

Average Aid Per Year

$41,719

Students Receiving Federal Grants

8%

Average Aid Per Year

$5,817

Students Receiving State Aid

4%

Average Aid Per Year

$4,892

Students Receiving Institutional Grants

38%

Average Aid Per Year

$40,124

Average Grant & Scholarship by Family Income Aid awarded based on the family income.

Income

Average Amount

< $30K

$60,741

$30K - $48K

$55,253

$48K - $75K

$49,440

$75K - $110K

$44,103

> $110K

$21,156

Total Needs based Scholarships/Grants

$4,324,727

Total Non-Needs based Scholarships/Grants

$9,750,249

The FAFSA form must be filled by the applicant to help the university find the financial requirement and eligibility of the student. The Wake Forest University Federal School Code is 002978. 

In addition to need-based financial aid programs, Wake Forest offers more than 50 merit-based scholarships, including the following full-tuition scholarships: Reynolds, Carswell, Stamps, and Gordon. These scholarships are highly competitive and are awarded on the basis of academic distinction, leadership, community service, artistic talent, and a variety of other unique contributions and characteristics.

The average reported annual net price for Wake Forest University for students receiving grants or scholarship aid was $23,986. $52,847 is the typical Wake Forest University's first-year financial aid offer. Approximately 36.0% of first-year students obtain some money for college, most of which is in the form of scholarships and grants.

36.0% of incoming freshmen (464 total) were awarded scholarships at Wake Forest University, averaging $40,723 per student. This ranks in the top 20th percentile of all schools in the country. As well as scholarships, 8.0% of freshmen (102 total) received federal grant aid, averaging $5,673 per person.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wake Forest University

How hard is it to get into Wake Forest University?

Wake Forest University is very selective, with an acceptance rate of 21.7%. Strong applicants typically have above-average test scores, a rigorous course load, and compelling extracurricular activities.

How much does Wake Forest University cost?

Tuition at Wake Forest University is approximately $67,642 per year before financial aid. Room, board, fees, and personal expenses add to the total cost of attendance. Most students receive scholarships or financial aid that reduces the net price.

How many students attend Wake Forest University?

Wake Forest University enrolls approximately 5,485 students across its programs.

What is the graduation rate at Wake Forest University?

The graduation rate at Wake Forest University is 89%, reflecting the percentage of students who complete their degree within the standard timeframe.

What is the student-faculty ratio at Wake Forest University?

The student-faculty ratio at Wake Forest University is 10:1, meaning students typically have good access to faculty for mentoring, research, and smaller class experiences.

What SAT and ACT scores do I need for Wake Forest University?

Wake Forest University typically admits students with SAT scores in the range of 700-750 (Reading) and 710-770 (Math) and ACT composite scores of 32-34. Check the admissions office for the most current testing requirements and whether test-optional policies apply.

Is Wake Forest University a public or private university?

Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit institution.

When is the application deadline for Wake Forest University?

Application deadlines at Wake Forest University vary by program. Early Decision and Early Action applicants typically submit in November, while Regular Decision deadlines fall in early January. Always check the official admissions website for the current cycle's dates.

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