Admit rate has ranged 21%–32% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Wake Forest University blends Southern charm with rigorous academics, offering a tight-knit liberal arts experience with the resources of a research university. Known for its strong business and liberal arts programs, the school attracts high-achieving students (95% of admits are in the top 20% of their class) who thrive in its collaborative, professor-focused environment. With a 98% internship rate and graduates earning median salaries of $61,500, Wake Forest delivers strong outcomes—but at a steep price tag, even after aid.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Class rank
Letters of recommendation
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
5,485
In-state tuition
$67,642
Out-of-state tuition
$67,642
Location
Winston-Salem, NC
Acceptance Rate
21.6%
Student/Faculty Ratio
10:1
6-Year Graduation Rate
98%
Median Starting Salary
$61,500
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$78,158
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.7×
Median debt at graduation
$21,500
Graduation rate
89%
First-year retention
93%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
88%
Pell (lower-income) share
32%
First-generation share
12%
Endowment / student
$364,139
Financial health
3.0 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Finance and Financial Management Services$80,510
Computer Science$71,015
Mathematics$70,456
Business/Commerce, General$66,653
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods$63,005
Economics$55,693
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
11
Per 1,000 students
2.01
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
100
Summer high
87°F
Winter low
34°F
Annual rain
45.7"
Annual snow
4.6"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
804
Scholarly works
85,762
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
0.7%
Bottom → top quintile
40%
From bottom quintile
2%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Wake Forest University?
Wake Forest University's acceptance rate is approximately 22% (Winston-Salem, NC), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Wake Forest University?
Admitted students at Wake Forest University typically score 1410–1520 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Wake Forest University cost?
At Wake Forest University, the average net price (after aid) is about $28,719 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Wake Forest University?
Wake Forest University enrolls approximately 5,485 undergraduate students.
Where is Wake Forest University located?
Wake Forest University is located in Winston-Salem, NC.
Admissions
Wake Forest is highly selective, with a 21.6% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. for first-year applicants (4,066 admitted from 18,735 applicants in the most recent cycle). The middle 50% SAT range is 1410-1520, and ACT range is 32-34, with 95% of admitted students ranking in the top 20% of their high school class. The university emphasizes well-roundedness and leadership in its admissions process, with Reddit threads noting its preference for students with strong community engagement. Gender breakdowns show slightly higher acceptance rates for women (20%) compared to men.
With over 50 majors and 60 minors, Wake Forest balances breadth with intimate class sizes—its student/faculty ratio fosters close professor interaction. The university is particularly renowned for its business programs and liberal arts strengths (especially language arts and education), with Quora respondents praising professor quality as a defining feature. The curriculum encourages interdisciplinary study, allowing students to combine majors like politics and international affairs with entrepreneurship or neuroscience with art history. US News highlights this 'small school academic feel' paired with research university resources.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Political Science and Government
$49,618
Fine and Studio Arts$44,170
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Life at Wake Forest revolves around a blend of academic intensity and Southern social traditions. The Intercultural Center (featured prominently on Campus Life’s Instagram) drives diversity initiatives, while 96% of students report feeling 'extremely safe' on campus. Political leanings skew slightly liberal, though Reddit threads note a visible conservative minority. The university emphasizes 'knowledge creation' beyond the classroom, with strategic plans highlighting co-curricular programming that ties academics to club activities, research, and community engagement. Winston-Salem’s mid-sized city setting offers museums and music venues alongside the school’s own bustling event calendar.
Wake Forest delivers exceptional ROI: a 98% 6-year graduation rate (far exceeding its 87% target) and 98% internship rate for business students. Alumni median starting salaries hit $61,500, climbing to over $90,000 mid-career. The Princeton Review notes that 47% of graduates feel their work has meaningful impact—a testament to Wake Forest’s emphasis on purpose-driven education. These outcomes stem from robust career services and an alumni network that’s particularly strong in finance, healthcare, and law.
Wake Forest’s sticker price is steep, but the average net cost after aid drops to $27,790—with aid packages averaging $46,077. The university meets 100% of demonstrated need, primarily through grants and scholarships (no separate application required for most merit awards). Families are encouraged to use the Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. Calculator, though the school notes that loans often bridge gaps. For context, US News reports the typical post-aid cost is $28,391, placing Wake Forest in line with peer private institutions.
Wake Forest distinguishes itself through a rare trifecta: the personal attention of a liberal arts college (evidenced by its 10:1 student/faculty ratio), the career punch of a top-tier business school, and the spirited community of a Southern institution. Its 'work hard, play hard' culture attracts students who want rigorous academics without sacrificing football tailgates or Greek life. The university’s focus on 'intercultural competency'—bolstered by dedicated centers and programming—sets it apart from peer schools in the region. For students seeking a collaborative (but competitive) environment where professors know their names and the quad fills with dogwood blossoms each spring, Wake Forest delivers.
Wake Forest University logo · sourceWake Forest University — USTMA · sourceAbout | Wake Forest University · sourceA View of the Forest | About Wake Forest | Wake Forest University · source
