Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Wake Forest University is a private national university located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Wake Forest University is selective in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Wake Forest University is in the top 25% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $74,968 10 years after enrolling, 3rd in North Carolina, and in the top 10% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Wake Forest University bachelor students earn 30% more than the national average. Wake Forest University is ranked 5th in North Carolina.
Wake Forest University’s median net annual cost of $32,845 and average years to graduate of 4.1 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Wake Forest University sorted by number of graduates - Business and Commerce, Finance, Comms & Media Studies, Poli Sci/Government, Economics, Biology - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$32,845
Average years to graduate
4.1
Computer Science
Rank: #158
Economic score: 1.93
Mathematics
Rank: #64
Economic score: 2.16
Psychology
Rank: #31
Economic score: 3.26
Quantitative methods Mgmt.
Rank: #58
Economic score: 3.38
Sociology
Rank: #69
Economic score: 3.85
Health & Fitness
Rank: #132
Economic score: 4.9
English Language & Lit
Rank: #97
Economic score: 5
History
Rank: #175
Economic score: 6.33
Chemistry
Rank: #163
Economic score: 8.38
Statistics
Rank: #43
Economic score: 13.4
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at Wake Forest University - Business Administration, Quantitative methods Mgmt., Student Counseling, Diagnostic, Intervention & Treatment , Biology, Theological Studies - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Registered Nursing
Rank: #198
Economic score: 0.43
Accounting
Rank: #234
Economic score: 0.47
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.1 years. 88% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Wake Forest University is 32% higher than the state average, and 21% above the average for all national universities in the country.
At Wake Forest University, Pell Grant recipients represent 9% of the measured graduating class, 26% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Wake Forest University graduates within 4.2 years.
Wake Forest University is in the bottom 5% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Wake Forest University’s economic mobility score of 8.49 is calculated by adjusting the 0.74 economic score of lower-income students by the 9% pell grant recipients within the student body. Wake Forest University’s EMS of 8.49 ranks in the bottom 25% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 25%
The average Title IV recipient at Wake Forest University pays $32,845 a year, $44,433 less than the $77,278 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $32,845
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Wake Forest University, 33% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $32,845 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 18% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $9,651. This is 36% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$4,985
Pell grants
$4,998
State grants
$5,731
Institutional grants
$50,397
Wake Forest University's selective admissions are indicated by their 25% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 15,156 applicants, of which 3,816 were admitted and 1,412 enrolled. Wake Forest University has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
While Wake Forest University has a recommended testing policy, their average test scores are not made public.
Full time
100%
83%
Female
51%
59%
First time
96%
59%
In-state
17%
68%
1st generation
12%
35%
White
69%
52%
Black
6%
14%
Hispanic
8%
15%
Asian
4%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
13%
12%