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Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, North Carolina
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Admit Rate
22%* (source: College Scorecard · 2024)Highly Selective
GPA Range (Unweighted)
Not published; Wake Forest does not release an average GPA figure (approximately 61% of enrolled first-years ranked in the top tenth of their class, ~90% in the top quarter)
Cost of Attendance
$101,800
per year, before aid
Test Policy
SAT/ACT optional

Data sourced from CDS, Institutional Website · Last verified September 2026; admit rate, SAT range, class-rank data, and financial aid figures from Wake Forest's own admissions pages, cross-checked against a CDS-aggregator summary; note that the fillable 2024-2025 CDS PDF located on WFU's institutional research site was a blank template and could not be used directly; application plan types and deadlines (including the first-generation-only Early Action option) confirmed directly on admissions.wfu.edu; net price calculator URL, Greek life %, and on-campus % not found in an available public source and left null.. This provenance applies to the record as a whole — figures marked with a star are sourced separately, as noted at the bottom of the page.

Preparation

Helpful high school preparation
4 years of English4 years of math3-4 years of lab science3-4 years of a foreign language

This is helpful preparation, not a formal admission requirement.

Admissions

How admission works here

Where you apply
The Common App. Common App requirements grid
Test scores
Test scores are never required. Common App requirements grid
Essays
The Common App personal essay is required. Common App requirements grid
Application fee
$85. The Common App fee waiver is accepted. Common App requirements grid
Deadlines
Early Decision (binding) November 15, Early Action November 15, Early Decision II (binding) January 1, Regular Decision January 1. Common App requirements grid
Overall
22%* (source: College Scorecard · 2024)

My Fit uses this overall rate to classify your chances here.

Mid-50% Unweighted GPA
Not published; Wake Forest does not release an average GPA figure (approximately 61% of enrolled first-years ranked in the top tenth of their class, ~90% in the top quarter)
Mid-50% SAT
1420-1490
SAT/ACT optional
Impacted Majors

No internally-impacted majors reported.

Applying

Application Deadlines† (source: Common App requirements grid · 2026-27)
Early Decision
November 15 · Binding
Early Action
November 15 · Non-binding
Early Decision II
January 1 · Binding
Regular Decision
January 1 · Non-binding

Applying through the Common App

Application fee
$85
Common App fee waiver
Accepted
Common App personal essay
Required

Source: Common App requirements grid, updated 2026-09-18. Anything not listed here wasn't stated in the grid, which is not the same as not required.

Essay details are being verified

College-specific prompts can change each application cycle. Check the school's official application page for the latest requirements.

View official application requirements

Academics

Flagship Programs

Wake Forest School of Business (BS in Business/Accounting)Department of Politics and International Affairs

Career & Major Pathways

Primary Disciplines
Business/AccountingPolitical ScienceEconomicsPsychologyBiology/Pre-HealthCommunicationEnglishComputer Science
Interdisciplinary Pathways
Politics, International Affairs, and LawHealth and Exercise ScienceEntrepreneurship and Social EnterpriseInterdisciplinary Humanities

Cost

Cost of attendance, per year
$101,800

This is the full yearly cost before any financial aid. What your family would actually pay is in the Financial Aid section. Cost figures are approximate, so confirm current numbers on the college's website.

Tuition only (part of the cost above)
Tuition $67,642* (source: College Scorecard · 2024)

Financial Aid

What families actually paid, by household income

Average for students who received federal aid. Your own figure depends on your family's finances and the aid this school offers you.

Under $30,000
$6,525
$30,001 – $48,000
$6,331
$48,001 – $75,000
$7,647
$75,001 – $110,000
$12,771
Over $110,000
$58,081

College Scorecard (latest.cost.net_price.private.by_income_level.*), 2024

Estimate what your family would pay

Every school is required to publish a net price calculator. It asks about your family's finances and returns an estimate for you specifically, which is worth more than any average on this page. Your school counselor and the college's financial aid office can also help.

Scholarships and merit aid

Wake Forest meets 100% of demonstrated need for admitted students (with an average aid package around $79,000 for aided first-years) and offers a set of competitive named merit scholarships (e.g., Nancy Susan Reynolds, Gordon Scholars), though these go to a small subset of applicants -- most families should budget from the need-based estimate.

Campus

Campus Fit

Location
Winston-Salem, North Carolina· Suburban
Undergraduates
5,592
Setting
Suburban
In a fraternity or sorority
Not publicly reported
Living on campus
Not publicly reported

*College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education) · 2024

†Common App requirements grid · 2026-27

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