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Wake Forest University

Private

Winston-Salem, NC

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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

Admit rate22%
SAT range1410–1520
ACT range32–34
Undergrads5,485
Yield (admits who enroll)38%
Next deadlineNov 15, 2026 (ED1)

Cost & outcomes

Cost of attendance$87,499
4-year grad rate90%
Median earnings, 10yr out$78,158

From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field.

Where do you stand against Wake Forest University's numbers?

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How Wake Forest University weighs your application

From Wake Forest University's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?

Academic factors
Rigor of secondary school recordVery important
Class rankVery important
Academic GPAVery important
Standardized test scoresConsidered
Application essayVery important
RecommendationsImportant
Nonacademic factors
InterviewImportant
Extracurricular activitiesImportant
Talent/abilityImportant
Character/personal qualitiesVery important
First generationConsidered
Alumni relation (legacy)Considered
Geographical residenceConsidered
State residencyConsidered
Religious affiliationConsidered
Volunteer workConsidered
Work experienceConsidered
Level of interest (demonstrated interest)Considered
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See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what Wake Forest University weighs in your application

Paying it back

Undergrads taking federal loans14%
Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out88%

"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

Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Biology, General$63,292/yr
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods$146,608/yr
Finance and Financial Management Services$145,996/yr
Business/Commerce, General$118,167/yr
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Communication and Media Studies$77,984/yr
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Computer Science$115,493/yr
English Language and Literature/Letters
English Language and Literature, General$77,847/yr
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$60,875/yr
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$79,599/yr
Psychology
Psychology, General$64,814/yr
Social Sciences
Economics$98,209/yr
Political Science and Government$85,668/yr
Sociology$60,635/yr

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

On-campus housingYes
Required to live on campusNo
Dormitory capacity4,132
Typical room charge$10,448
Typical board charge$8,334

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

GPARequired
Class rankRequired
RecommendationsRequired

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, character/personal qualities, class rank, academic GPA, application essay 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?

Admitted students at Wake Forest University typically score between 1410–1520 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).

What ACT score do I need for Wake Forest University?

Admitted students at Wake Forest University typically score between 32–34 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).

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 earliest deadline is Nov 15, 2026 (ED1), 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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