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Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC
Wake Forest University is a private research university located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Established in 1834, it is one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher learning in the United States. The university is renowned for its strong academic programs, small class sizes, and emphasis on personalized education.
Wake Forest University offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines, including arts and sciences, business, engineering, law, medicine, and divinity. The university follows a liberal arts model, encouraging students to explore diverse academic interests before specializing in a major. The faculty at Wake Forest are accomplished scholars who prioritize teaching and mentorship, providing students with individual attention and guidance.
Beyond academics, Wake Forest prides itself on its vibrant campus community. The university offers numerous extracurricular activities, including over 200 student organizations, clubs, and athletics programs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons compete in NCAA Division I sports and are particularly known for their basketball and football teams. The campus also hosts various cultural and social events, further enriching the student experience at Wake Forest. Overall, Wake Forest University provides a nurturing and stimulating environment for students to grow academically, socially, and personally.
Located in Winston-Salem, NC and set in a suburban environment, Wake Forest University is a private university. This school follows a semester-based calendar. The freshman retention rate at Wake Forest University is 94.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 91%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is January 1. Read more about what Wake Forest University has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
5,471
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$66,470
Tuition
9:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
91%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Discovering as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission improves your chances of getting admitted. Read on to find out some important data about admission policy and requirements at Wake Forest University.
According to the most recent information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission. Wake Forest University has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores for the candidates who choose to submit them. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is very difficult to get into. With a rich history of academic excellence, it offers an outstanding educational experience.
Test Scores
Out of the number of students who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 26% and ACT scores 22%. 84.5% of the enrolled students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 14.9% between 1,200 and 1,399, 0.3% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 0.3% of the students between 800 and 999. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 94.3, 5.7 between 24-29 and 1.8 in the range between 18-23.
Deadlines
The application deadline for Wake Forest University is January 1.
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Wake Forest University was 94.7% in 2024, which is an excellent retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 91%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Deciding if a school is the best fit for you is not an easy task. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a better idea of the school's culture and life.
Main Student Body
In 2024, the school enrolled 9,121 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 83% for that year. There was a total of 5,471 students working towards bachelor's degrees, including 414 international students. 40 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 3,549 male and 4,454 female full-time students in 2024, which speaks volumes for gender equality at this institution. There were 1,213 full-time graduate male and 1,472 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 289 Asian students and 360 Afro-American students in 2024. 525 undergrads at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 307 identified with more than one race. The school also had 1 student who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 3 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 56 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to consider before applying to any college or university. Here are some data on the expenses that most students at this school have.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Wake Forest University? Here is what you need to know.
In 2024, tuition amounted to $66,470 for all full-time domestic students. Wake Forest University is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2024 had to pay additional fees in the amount of $1,172.
Books and Supplies
Another important expense to take into consideration is the approximate price of books and supplies for a college or university. Most students have to pay about $1,680 for books and supplies during their time at Wake Forest University.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. How much do room and board fees average around at schools?
In 2024, room and board cost at Wake Forest University amounted to $18,494 a year. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2024 added up to $11,650 for one academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $11,650.
| Tuition | $ 66,470 |
| Room and Board | $ 18,494 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,680 |
| Total Expense | $ 86,644 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all types of financial support available to students. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based aid available at Wake Forest University.
The most recent records show that 380 freshmen received some sort of financial help. Students of this school received an average of $68,234 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
There were 1,275 students who received need-based financial aid of any kind. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 1,314. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $6,163,046, and state $1,063,935. The students of Wake Forest University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $74,123,339, and external in the amount of $2,497,628.
$15,142
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 805 students overall (including freshmen) at Wake Forest University in 2024. 242 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $6,163,046 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $581,024. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $5,379,132. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $1,500,705 USD.
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)
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Transfer - All Terms
Transfer - All Terms
ApplyStart Year: 2025
Start Term: Rolling
Application Deadline: Rolling
Majors
Faculty
9:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Wake Forest University was 9:1: that means 9 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. The faculty of this school consists of 933 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 475 men and 458 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Find out some info about campus life at Wake Forest University.
It has a campus size of 340 acres.
Student Organizations
Exploring a variety of student organizations can contribute to a more vibrant and rewarding educational experience.
That includes sororities and fraternities. Those who have a talent for music can join the Wake Forest University band or chorus. If you're a fan of the performing arts, there is a drama club you can get involved in. For students interested in media and communication, Wake Forest University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Wake Forest University, there are many amenities that make life on campus comfortable and safe.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The school has electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol that operates 24 hours a day. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. All in all, campus life at Wake Forest University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Wake Forest University.
Career Counselling
At Wake Forest University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Wake Forest University is located in Winston-Salem, NC.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Wake Forest University is 66,470 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Wake Forest University is 94.7%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.