About

About Wake Forest University

pro humanitate missionselective private universitysmall class sizespre med focusbusiness and social sciences

Wake Forest University is a private research university in Winston-Salem, NC, known for its pro humanitate mission, selective private university, and small class sizes. With an acceptance rate of 21%, WFU is highly selective, typically enrolling around 1,370 students each year. WFU is test optional; students who submit scores are typically admitted with SATs between 1420–1490, though many competitive applicants choose not to submit. WFU meets 100% of demonstrated financial need; the average net price for families earning under $30,000 is $6,525.

Admissions

Wake Forest University acceptance rate and admitted student profile

highly selective

21%
Overall Accept Rate
1455
Median Admitted SAT
SATSubmitted score range: 1420 – 1490 (test optional)

Build your free list to see where your scores land →

Application Strategy

Strategy tips for applying to Wake Forest University

The first 2 tips apply to all applicants. Your personalized strategy requires your profile — build your free list to unlock it.

Essay Strategy
Wake Forest rates essays as their highest priority factor, so treat your personal statement and supplemental essays as the core of your application. Be direct about your values and intellectual curiosity, since Wake Forest looks for students who connect learning to real-world impact.
Essay Strategy
Wake Forest's motto 'Pro Humanitate' (for humanity) is central to their identity, so your essays should reflect how you plan to use your education to contribute to something beyond yourself. Tie your specific experiences or goals to service, community, or civic engagement in a concrete way.

Get a tailored strategy for Wake Forest University. Build your free list to unlock personalized advice on submitting test scores and discover your actual admission odds based on your student profile.

Build My Free List →

Financial Aid & Cost

What Wake Forest University actually costs your family

Average net prices by income bracket from College Scorecard data.

Meets 100% of demonstrated need: Wake Forest University meets 100% of demonstrated financial need. Wake Forest University's sticker price of ~$80k/year bears almost no resemblance to what most families pay.
Family IncomeSticker PriceEst. Net Cost / yr
0-30k~$80k/yr$6.5k
30k-48k~$80k/yr$6.3k
48k-75k~$80k/yr$7.6k
75k-110k~$80k/yr$12.8k
110k+~$80k/yr$58.1k

Not sure what Wake Forest University would cost your family? Build your free SpearMatch list. We show estimated net cost for every college on your list based on your income bracket.

Unlock real pricing for Wake Forest University and matching colleges →

Personalize this page

Compare your profile to Wake Forest University's admitted class

SpearMatch builds a tiered college list from your actual grades, scores, and preferences — and shows where you stand at every college. Free, no account, 4 minutes.

Build My Free List →

✓ Free forever  ·  ✓ No account  ·  ✓ 1,300+ four-year US colleges

Outcomes & Campus

Student outcomes and campus profile

91%
6-Year Graduation Rate
$68k
Median Earnings (6 yrs)
11:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
5,354
Undergrad Enrollment
Wake Forest University Acceptance Rate & Admissions | SpearMatch