Winston-Salem, NC
Wake Forest University is a private mid-sized school in Winston-Salem, NC, enrolling about 5,485 undergraduates. Admissions are selective here -- roughly 22% of applicants get in. Among reported majors, Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods shows the strongest outcomes -- $146,608/year in median earnings four years after graduation. On-campus housing isn't required, so many students live off campus.
Admissions
Test scores for the Fall 2025 entering class come from Wake Forest University's own 2025-26 Common Data Set: 24% submitted SAT scores, 22% submitted ACT scores.
Application deadlines for Fall 2027 entry
- Early Decision I: Nov 15, 2026First-generation college students can instead apply Early Action (non-binding) by Nov 15, 2026.
- Early Decision II: Jan 1, 2027
- Regular Decision: Jan 1, 2027
Confirm on Wake Forest University's own admissions site before you apply.
Cost & outcomes
From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field. Tuition & fees are the sticker price for a full-time first-year undergrad, before financial aid, and don't include room and board.
Where do you stand against Wake Forest University's numbers?
Check your chances hereHow Wake Forest University weighs your application
From Wake Forest University's own Common Data Set, 2025-26, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what Wake Forest University weighs in your application
Paying it back
"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.
Majors & earnings
Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.
Campus life
Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.
What matters in your application
From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.
Frequently asked questions
What does Wake Forest University look for in applicants?
Per Wake Forest University's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates rigor of secondary school record, class rank, academic GPA, application essay, character/personal qualities as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.
What is Wake Forest University's acceptance rate?
Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC admits approximately 22% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.
What SAT score do I need for Wake Forest University?
Per Wake Forest University's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1420–1490 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
What ACT score do I need for Wake Forest University?
Per Wake Forest University's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 32–34 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
How much does Wake Forest University cost?
Wake Forest University's total cost of attendance is reported at $87,499 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.
When is the application deadline for Wake Forest University?
Wake Forest University's deadlines are Early Decision I Nov 15, 2026; Early Decision II Jan 1, 2027; Regular Decision Jan 1, 2027, per its own published admissions calendar.
Does Wake Forest University require students to live on campus?
No -- Wake Forest University doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.
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