← All colleges

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, NC · Private · Large city · Carnegie R1/R2 · WFU

Private institution in Winston-Salem, NC · 5,471 undergraduates · 22% acceptance rate · $78,158 median earnings 10 years after entry.

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Cost

Average net price
$28,7461,679th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
In-state tuition & fees
$64,7582,000th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees
$64,7582,000th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Cost of attendance
$82,8181,949th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
Median graduate debt
$21,500813th lowest of 1,880 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry
$78,158161st highest of 1,969 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry
$67,722130th highest of 1,964 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year)
90.9%77th highest of 2,031 reporting
Full-time retention
94.7%135th highest of 1,853 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate
21.6%83rd most selective of 1,608 reporting
Average SAT
146960th highest of 1,024 reporting
Median ACT
—

Campus

Undergraduates
5,471461st largest of 2,162 reporting
Student-faculty ratio
9.0:1304th smallest of 2,159 reporting
Pell Grant share
9.5%2,074th highest of 2,140 reporting

Nearest large-hub airport: 74 mi (CLT)

On 6 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

Applying

Common App member
Yes
Application fee
$85
Personal essay
Required
Writing supplement
No

Supplemental prompts (2025-26)

  • List five books you’ve read that have intrigued you. (150 character limit per book title).
  • Tell us what piques your intellectual curiosity or has helped you understand the world’s complexity. This can include a work you’ve read, a project you’ve completed for a class, and even co-curricular activities in which you have been involved. (150 word limit).
  • Dr. Maya Angelou, renowned author, poet, civil-rights activist, and former Wake Forest University Reynolds Professor of American Studies, inspired others to celebrate their identities and to honor each person’s dignity. Choose one of Dr. Angelou’s powerful quotes. How does this quote relate to your lived experience or reflect how you plan to contribute to the Wake Forest community? (300 word limit).
  • Give us your Top Ten List. (The choice of theme is yours.) (100 character limit per line).

Source: Aristotle Circle 2025-26 supplemental prompt roundup

Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 35 reported programs.

FieldLevel1 yr2 yr
Finance and Financial Management ServicesBusinessbachelors$81,111$80,510
Computer Sciencebachelors$74,200$71,015
Business/Commerce, GeneralBusinessbachelors$65,131$66,653
EconomicsSocial Sciencesbachelors$58,673$55,693
MathematicsMathematics & Statisticsbachelors$57,318$70,456
Political Science and GovernmentSocial Sciencesbachelors$57,318$49,618
SociologySocial Sciencesbachelors$42,235$36,560
English Language and Literature, GeneralEnglish Language & Literaturebachelors$39,585$40,896
Communication and Media StudiesCommunicationsbachelors$39,369$37,748
Fine and Studio ArtsVisual & Performing Artsbachelors$38,289$44,170
Psychology, GeneralPsychologybachelors$38,289$29,685
Religion/Religious StudiesPhilosophy & Religious Studiesbachelors$38,289—

Campus facts

Athletics — 9 sports

NCAA Division I-FBS · NCAA Division I

Athletic scholarships allowed · Athletic aid $21,451,892 (M $13,950,491 · W $7,501,401)

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport.

Notable alumni

Illustrative alumni only — not exhaustive and not a quality ranking. Affiliation claims cite Wikipedia/Wikidata; confirm on primary bios before relying on them.