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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.
Wake Forest University is a private university located in Winston-Salem, NC and set in a suburban environment. This educational institution operates on a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 21%. The freshman retention rate at Wake Forest University is 92.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 89%.
The freshmen 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
5,490
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$69,130
Tuition
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
89%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to increase your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission. Here are the most essential data you have to know about admission at Wake Forest University.
According to the most recent information reported, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 4,058 in 2025. Wake Forest University has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the candidate. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is very difficult to get into. Having a long tradition of academic success and a dedication to encouraging intellectual curiosity, Wake Forest University offers an unmatched educational experience.
Test Scores
22.2% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 25.7% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 90.1% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 9.6% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 0.3% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of new students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 97.9, 2.1 between 24-29 and 1.8 in the range between 18-23.
Deadlines
The final day for applications to Wake Forest University is January 1.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university first-year students who return for their sophomore year. That information can tell you if the majority of new students liked their first year enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Wake Forest University was 92.6% in 2025, which is an outstanding 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. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 89%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is always challenging to figure out which school is best for you. Having a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school enrolled 9,322 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 83.4% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 5,490, 317 of which were foreign students. The school reported to have a total of 49 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 3,581 male and 4,462 female full-time students in 2025. There were 1,213 full-time graduate male and 1,472 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
In order to promote a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Wake Forest University.
This school had 289 Asian students and 353 Afro-American students in 2025. 531 students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 253 identified with more than one race. The school also had 8 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 4 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 158 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to think about before applying to any college or university. Here are some important facts on Wake Forest University costs that most students encounter at this school.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for Wake Forest University is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
Tuition in 2025 was $69,130 for full-time domestic students. Wake Forest University is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students reached $1,202 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to take into account the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The estimated price of books and supplies for a full-time student of this school is $1,718.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. What do schools typically charge for accommodation and meals?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Wake Forest University was $22,104 in 2025. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school reached $12,054, according to the data from 2025. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $12,054.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 69,130 |
| Room and Board | $ 22,104 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,718 |
| Total Expense | $ 92,952 |
Financial Aid
Getting some financial support in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be vital for finishing your studies. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based aid at Wake Forest University.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 269 freshmen. The average financial aid package awarded to students came to $73,930.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
There were 1,170 students who attained need-based financial aid of any kind. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 1,210. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution came to $6,496,208, and state $1,192,868. The students of Wake Forest University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $71,206,336, and external in the amount of $1,965,873.
$17,117
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. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 893 students overall (including freshmen) at Wake Forest University in 2025. 195 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $6,496,208 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $964,606. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $7,001,155. 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 $1,588,582 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.
Majors
Faculty
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Wake Forest University was 10:1: that means 10 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. The faculty of this school consists of 906 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 450 male and 456 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Wake Forest University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Wake Forest University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some details about students' life at Wake Forest University.
It has a campus size of 340 acres.
Student Organizations
Joining multiple student organizations can provide you a more interesting and dynamic experience.
That includes sororities and fraternities. Those who like music can join the Wake Forest University band or chorus. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. 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 required for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The school's dormitory entrances are operated electronically. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. The after-hours transportation/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 all you need for a comfortable stay.
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. The school has 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 69,130 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 acceptance rate for Wake Forest University is 21%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Wake Forest University is 92.6%.
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.
