Wake Forest University Acceptance Rate 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 & 2026

Wake Forest University Admissions and Acceptance Rate

Contents

Check here Wake Forest University Acceptance Rate for all year. Here I have listed Wake Forest University Acceptance Rate

  • Wake Forest University Acceptance Rate 2022
  • Wake Forest University Acceptance Rate 2023
  • Wake Forest University Acceptance Rate 2024
  • Wake Forest University Acceptance Rate 2025
  • Wake Forest University Acceptance Rate 2026

Wake Forest University Acceptance Rate : Wake Forest University is a highly competitive institution, and its admissions figures are what makes Wake Forest University one of the top 50 universities in the world for undergraduate admissions.

Like the trends across the leading school’s Wake Forest University, acceptance rates have decreased over the past eight years and are likely to continue to decline for the foreseeable future.

Wake Forest University Admissions and Acceptance Rate

The class of 2023 was among the most challenging years for students to be admitted into Wake Forest University ever to the present. In 2023 12,500 students were enrolled at Wake Forest University of which 3,625 students were accepted, resulting in an acceptance rate of 29. %.

Wake Forest Overview

Wake Forest University was established in 1834. It was an institution that was co-educational and private. The University is a private one with hundreds of students from across the globe.

Students can choose from 42 different majors and programs offered by the six institutions and colleges, creating a lively and multi-faceted academic community. The campus covers 340 acres and has 5,441 undergraduate students in attendance.

Wake Forest Overview

The University follows school year is split into two terms, and students must stay on campus for a minimum of six semesters. Wake Forest University is ranked fifth in the Best Colleges in the 2022 ranking.

The University is home to more than 250 student organizations ranging from clubs that focus on service to political organizations, fraternities and sororities, and religiously-related organizations. E.g., At Wake Forest, approximately half of the students are engaged within Greek society.

We will now look into the Wake Forest acceptance rate and the criteria to gain Wake Forest admissions.

Wake Forest: Early Decision Acceptance Rate

Wake Forest offers applicants an ED I round with a deadline of November 15th and an ED II round with a January 1st deadline. The school has yet to announce the Class of 2025 and Class of 2026 acceptance rates. However, we have confirmed they admitted 773 out of 2241 applicants for the class of 2024.

The 34 percent ED accepted rate was one notch more than the assumed rate from regular decision candidates in the same year.

However, our data on students suggests that some minor variations in ED and RD acceptance rates can be explained by the possibility that the ED pool contains a high proportion of non-competitive applicants. Also, the statistical differences may be underestimating the benefits applicants who are competitive to Wake get from applying to ED.

Wake Forest Early Decision Acceptance Rate

Wake Forest Statistics

Year Founded  1834
4 Year Graduation Rate  82%
Gender Distribution 53% female, 47% male
Acceptance Rate 28%
Residency 12% in state, 78% out of state, 10% international
Location Type Suburban
Schedule System Semesters
Student/Faculty Ratio 11:1
Average Class Size 20
Demographics 70% Caucasian, 12% Other, 7% Hispanic, 7% Black, 4% Asian

National Rankings

US News Rankings:

  • #23 Best Undergraduate Teaching
  • #25 Best Value Schools
  • #27 National Universities
  • #35 Study Abroad
  • #50 Undergraduate Research

Independent Rankings:

  • #3 Best Test Optional Colleges per Niche
  • #14 Most Accessible Professors per The Princeton Review
  • #33 Research Universities per Forbes
  • #36 Top Private Universities per Niche
  • #56 Top Colleges per Forbes
  • #62 Best Value Colleges per Niche
  • #68 Best National Universities per The Times of Higher Education

Wake Forest Acceptance Rate – Class of 2026

Fifteen thousand one hundred fifty-six people applied to be part of The Demon Deacon Class of 2025–only 3,816 were accepted. This is an acceptance rate of 25 percent.

Although Wake Forest has yet to release Class of 2026 admissions data publicly, we do believe that applicants rose to nearly 18,000. We can therefore predict an acceptance rate of around 21%. Wake Forest Class of 2026 acceptance rate could be as low as 21 percent.

Wake Forest Acceptance Rate

Wake Forest Admissions – SAT, ACT and Class Rank

Based on the most up-to-date official data made available (Class in 2025), The mid-50 percentage SAT range for students enrolled in freshman was 1380-1480, while for the ACT range was 30 to 33.

It is worth noting it is important to note that Wake Forest has been a testing-optional school since 2008, yet 23 percent of accepted students were able to submit SAT scores together with 32% who had submitted ACT results.

Regarding class rank, the first-year students had 69% who were able to be in the top 10 percent in their class at high school. 91% were within the entire quarter.

What are Wake Forest GPA Requirements?

Based on Wake Forest GPA requirements, aspiring students should be able to achieve a 3.9 GPA. Wake Forest expects you to be one of the most outstanding students in your classes with this GPA score.

To stand out from the other applicants, they must earn an ‘A or better within your course. Maintaining a good GPA is crucial for acceptance to a school such as Wake Forest.

Many top universities use their Academic Index statistic, which takes your GPA and test scores prior to evaluating the qualitative factors, to make sure that students have met academic requirements. In addition to achieving good grades, it is recommended to be taking as numerous AP and honors classes as you can. This is the number of APs you need to be striving for.

You have a low-grade point average; you are in high school. But, increasing the GPA is more challenging in the junior or senior years; therefore, improving your score on tests is the most effective way to improve the quality of your Academic Index.

What Wake Forest SAT Scores Are Considered For Admission?

Many schools claim not to have SAT cutoffs but conceal SAT requirements. The average score of the school determines the SAT score. The Wake Forest University mean SAT scores are 1390 from 1600, based on a 1600-point scale.

To increase your Wake Forest University acceptance rate and increase your chances of acceptance, you must send in all of your SAT scores.

The university is considered moderately competitive based on this SAT score. This score is somewhat competitive. New SAT percentiles range from 25th to 75th percentiles between 1310-1470.

See an overview of Wake Forest SAT Scores in the table below:

Sections 25 % 75 % Average Score
Math 660 760 710
Reading + Writing 650 710 680
Composite 1310 1470 1390

What is the Wake Forest ACT Requirement?

Because the Wake Forest University Acceptance Rate is highly selective, The average SAT/ACT score could increase the likelihood of being selected. People who don’t want to provide SAT scores may submit your ACT instead. A score of 31 on the ACT is considered a high score by the University.

Wake Forest ACT requirements make it a strong rival using this result. Its 25th percentile ACT score is 29, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 33.

However, even if Wake Forest claims that there’s no requirement for minimum scores, it will be challenging to get into Wake Forest if your ACT score is below 29 unless you can show something inspiring on your resume.

A person who scores a score of 29 on a scale of 30 is considered incompetent academically. If you choose to take the ACT instead of the SAT, you will have an advantage over other test takers in sharing your scores.

That is, when you send ACT scores to universities, you have the option to select the tests you want to submit. Only the top 10 examinations will be taken into consideration. If you accept the SAT, some institutions will ask that you offer scores from every test you’ve ever attempted.

It is important to note that the ACT is not considered an extra score by many institutions. You can get the top possible score in a composite by submitting your top section scores on each exam day to your school. Most colleges only look at your total ACT score for a single session.

It is essential to plan your test around the importance of high scores in your overall test strategy. Wake Forest will only consider the highest section scores of the difficulties in evaluating your application.

How to Apply to Wake Forest

Deadlines

Early Decision I November 15
Early Decision II January 1
Regular Decision January 1

Application Requirements

  • Wake Forest Application, Common Application, or Coalition Application
  • $85 application free
  • Secondary School Report Form
  • Teacher Recommendation Form
  • Official high school transcript
  • SAT/ACT scores (optional)

Application Fee =85

Wake Forest University International Admissions

The application process for international applicants to Wake Forest University is very like the process for applicants in the U.S; however, there are some additional requirements. These are the basic requirements:

  • Original transcripts(high school or college based on the type of program)
  • English language minimum requirements
  • Test scores from various tests that are standardized(optional test scores UG).
  • Recommendations(as specified).
  • Completed Confidential Financial Information for International Applicants Form

International applicants fill out the same application process as other students. WFU is not a requirement for applicants to provide scores from the SAT/ACT on the application for admission. If they submit scores, the score reports must be received straight from testing companies.

In-state vs. Out-of-state Tuition at Wake Forest

Wake Forest University is an independent, non-profit institution; therefore, it offers the same tuition rates for the residents of North Carolina as it does for other states.

Schools that are public receive funding from the government to assist them in paying for their expenses. State-run public schools can provide lower tuition to students that meet state residency standards.

Picking a college that you can qualify for state-wide status will reduce the cost of tuition for college. Make sure to verify the criteria of your state for tuition in-state. Each state is different and has its own set of rules on what constitutes an individual’s eligibility for tuition within the state.

Most states require students to be residents of that state for a specific amount of time before qualifying. There could be additional conditions, as well, based on the form that you and your parents are currently in.

Tuition for International Students at Wake Forest

The tuition in Wake Forest is the same for all students. Students not from the U.S. are not eligible to receive federal financial aid. However, they may be eligible for specific school or private awards, scholarships, and other funding options.

Admissions Trends & Notes – (Class of 2026)

  • The number of applicants for the class of 2026 increased by around 19 percent.
  • WFU hopes to establish a 2022-23’s first-year class of 1,400 students.
  • 57% of first-year students from 2021-22 were women.
  • The class of 2025 students comprised representatives of 42 U.S. states and 23 nations.
  • In addition, nearly one-quarter are classified as African American, Asian American, Latinx, Native American, or a mix of racial backgrounds.

Who Gets Into Wake Forest?

We’ll now shift our focus toward the population statistics for this Wake Forest undergraduate student body.

Geography- National

The states where the most significant number of undergraduates come from are:

  1. North Carolina
  2. New York
  3. Florida
  4. New Jersey
  5. Georgia
  6. Massachusetts
  7. Virginia
  8. Pennsylvania
  9. Maryland
  10. Connecticut

Like all highly-selective schools, Wake Forest is seeking geographical diversity. If you are from a state with fewer people living there, like Wyoming (3 students), Idaho (3 students), or South Dakota (1 student), Your location is more likely to give an advantage to your chances of admission as opposed to an area that has a large number of students each year (like the ten mentioned above).

Geography- International

International students represent 9.2 percent of the student population in Wake Forest. 39 countries are represented. The number of international students has increased in the past decade. Seven years ago, international students were only 7.5 percent of the campus students.

Ethnicity

When it comes to ethnicity and the division that is evident in Wake Forest student body is as the following:

  • White: 69%
  • Asian: 4%
  • Hispanic: 8%
  • African American: 6%
  • More than two races, Four percent

Religious Preference

In terms of their spiritual or religious identities, students most often identify in these ways:

  • Catholic: 24%
  • Presbyterian: 7%
  • Christian: 6%
  • Baptist: 6%
  • Methodist: 6%
  • Jewish: 5%
  • No Preference: 17%
  • Other/Unknown: 6%

Wake Forest’s Yield Rate

The Wake Forest University yield rate, the percentage of admitted students who decide to enroll in the school, divided by the number of students accepted, is 37%.

This is lower than other top private schools in the same area, such as Duke (61 percent), Vanderbilt (40%), and Tulane (45 percent). This implies that most accepted students eventually decide to go to a different school.

How Wake Forest Evaluates Applicants

Wake Forest ranks the following five categories as “very significant” in the admissions process. These categories include rigor of secondary school records, Class rank, GPA essay, application essays, and personal qualities/character. An interview, recommendations, extracurricular activities, and aptitude are all rated as “important.”

According to the dean of admissions, “…a holistic and meticulous process allows us to assess each applicant uniquely. We look for students who have achieved academic excellence, demonstrated intellectual curiosity and inventiveness, and demonstrated compassion and character for the people surrounding them.

We carefully review the abilities of talents, experiences, and talents that each student could contribute to Wake Forest. Wake Forest community.”

Achieving the status of an athletic student could also provide a massive boost to your chances of admission. Wake Forest’s 16 varsity teams provide 470+ undergraduates each year.

For tips on making an impression on the other side of the equation, read our previous blog post entitled How many extracurricular activities do I need for college?

Tips for Applying to Wake Forest

If you’re planning on joining the more than 12,000 Wake Forest hopefuls for the next admissions cycle, it is essential to be aware of these things:

  1. In the beginning, Wake Forest strongly recommends registering to be interviewed by the admissions department. However, it’s not mandatory. Each interview takes about 25 minutes and is an evaluation in its nature. In the case of the pandemic interview, the discussions have been conducted online. The school has not offered alumni interviews. To get advice on what kinds of questions you must have prepared for, check out our college interview tips blog.
  2. WFU takes into account its legacy status in the admissions process. Thus, applicants who have Wake Forest alum parents will receive an advantage in their chances of admission.
  3. Wake Forest does consider ” evidence of interest” as a prerequisite for admission. You should contact the school on social media and get an admissions representative. If you can visit the campus, go on the official campus tour, or talk with admissions representatives at a fair for a college near your home.
  4. Finally, ensure you spend the time and effort on the essays, supplementary essays, and brief answers requested by Wake Forest. For the 2021-22 cycle, the following was required:

Essay Prompts

  • Prompt 1: How did you get attracted to Wake Forest University? Please tell us about any interaction you were involved in your relationship with Wake Forest that was important to you. (150 words, required)
  • Prompt 2A: Write down five books you’ve read that have intrigued you. (you’ll have to list the author’s name, title, and if it was mandatory)
  • Prompt 2B: Discuss what book you’ve read that has helped you better understand the world’s complexity. (150 words, optional)
  • Prompt 3: Share with us about the subject that stimulates your interest. (150 words, optional)
  • Prompt 4: Give us your Top Ten list. There’s a space to identify the theme of the list. There are ten lines per item with a limit of characters of 100 characters each. (optional)

The essays are highly essential during an admissions procedure. Wake Forest wants to learn much about the students offered a place in their first class.

The only thing you can be sure of is that Wake’s additional prompts are distinctive. Therefore, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to alter the content previously written for other schools to which you’re applying.

According to the admissions department: “Our short-response prompts represent questions specific to Wake Forest and thus afford you the chance to show us what makes you “uniquely yours.”

Therefore, when preparing your essay and answers to these questions, Take advantage of the chance to provide us an insight into your innermost thoughts. Let us know what you’ve read and the things you’ve done, and what you’ve learned. What do you think? Anything and everything that you value.”

What Else Can Students Do To Meet Wake Forest University Admissions Requirement?

The Wake Forest Open Curriculum option shows the university’s desire to attract intellectually curious and motivated students. Being the first adopter of an exam-optional policy, Wake Forest prioritizes extracurricular involvement and diversity over numbers.

WFU is more than academics; it also cares about active students beyond the classroom. The essential requirements in Wake Forest admissions are a student’s writing abilities, extracurricular activities, and proof of talent and character.

The applicants must exhibit the maturity of their students and academic achievement as well as nature and motivation.

This table summarizes what the Wake Forest admission requirements are:

Application fee: 85 USD Required
Teacher Recommendation Letter Required
Secondary School Report Form Required
Official high school transcript Required
Wake Forest average SAT /ACT scores Optional
GPA Score Required
First-generation Considered
Essay/ Personal Statement Required
Character Required
Class Rank Required

Wake Forest University Financial Aid

The year 2022 saw 1,434 out of the 5,472 students enrolled in the program receive financial aid. Wake Forest meets 98% of the financial need of undergraduate students.

Financial aid for a full-time first-year student is approximately $55,478 per year. The average is 26.37 percent Off. Wake Forest undergrads take out student loans to pay the remaining expenses. On average, Wake Forest graduates with student loans have $36,609 in credit card debt.

The debt average for each type of loan varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans $21,721
Wake Forest-Specific Loans $3,956
Private Loans $64,388
Most Common Loans for Wake Forest Students
Federal Loans 24.41%
Institutional Loans 2.37%
Private loans 6.61%

The majority of students can take out institutional or government loans because they typically offer lower rates of interest with more flexibility in repayment than loans from private lenders. Government loans are subsidized or unsubsidized.

Subsidized loans don’t accrue interest until the time of school, whereas unsubsidized loans start accruing interest from the moment the loan is made. Students who aren’t eligible for federal loans sufficient to pay for tuition can take loans from private lenders.

Parents may also apply for the ParentPLUS loan, a federal loan for parents helping their children with college expenses.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) assists colleges in assessing the financial requirements students and their families have. It can then provide a financial aid package that meets or meets their needs. For more details on Wake Forest financial aid, read on, or go to their website for financial assistance.

Scholarships at Wake Forest University

Students might be eligible for grants or scholarships to pay for college. In contrast to loans, scholarships and budgets don’t have to be repaid.

In 2022 Wake Forest awarded 1,352 need-based scholarships to students offering a sum of $70 million to assist students who have financial needs to pay the costs of attending school. In addition, $10.36 million in merit-based scholarships was given to students without proof of financial need.

Is Wake Forest Hard To Get Into?

It’s challenging to enter Wake Forest.

The year 2021 was the last time Wake Forest accepted a 45percent of applicants, approximately 3,816 among the 847 students who submitted applications.

Schools that are extremely difficult to be accepted into, such as Wake Forest, get fewer than 60% of applicants. A minimum of 50% of admitted students can show GPAs within the top 10 percent in their class at high school. They also scored over 1230 on the SAT and 26 on the ACT.

It isn’t easy to be accepted as an exchange student.

Wake Forest has not reported information on waitlisted or admitted students.

What is Wake Forest Looking for?

Wake Forest seeks intellectually curious enthusiastic students, as demonstrated in their Open Curriculum option, which allows students can develop their curriculum with the supervision of an adviser.

As the first institution to adopt the test-optional policy –the university went test-optional in 2008 – Wake Forest puts aspects such as extracurricular engagement and diversity over the raw numbers.

While your academics and coursework are crucial, WFU wants to see involvement outside the classroom.

“Candidates to be considered for admission must provide proof of their maturity and academic accomplishment, as well as proof of their character as well as enthusiasm for studies,” Wake Forest says and notes that “high school program and class performance together with the ability of the student to write in extracurricular activities, as well as evidence of talent and character, are the primary factors to be considered for admission.”

Should I Apply to Wake Forest?

If you’re academically competent and have an excellent academic record, there’s no harm in filling in a Wake Forest application as long as you have $65 to spare.

However, having excellent marks in an intense academic program for high schools (AP/IB) is almost the minimum requirement to be admitted.

The most successful students who might have performed poorly on standardized tests can benefit from the school’s long-standing policy of testing voluntarily.

However, even those with above-average skills (relative to other applicants from WFU) must still be able to choose from a variety of “Target” and “Safety” schools they have chosen. For more details, please read our blog: How to Make your Perfect College List.

Academic Life at Wake Forest

The ratio of students to faculty at Wake Forest University is 11:1. The school is home to 56.8 percent of its classes having less than 20 students.

The most sought-after majors offered at Wake Forest University include Marketing, Business, and Management as well as Related Support Services; Social Sciences Communication Journalism and Related Programs including Biomedical and Biological Sciences; Psychology; Foreign Languages Literature, Literatures, and Linguistics Mathematical and Statistics; Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology; English Language and Letters/Literary and Physical Sciences. The retention rate of first-year students as a measure of satisfaction with the school is 95%.

Student Life at Wake Forest

Wake Forest University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,472 (fall 2021), which includes a gender ratio of 46 percent male students and 54 percent female students.

In this college, 76% of students reside in college-owned owned or affiliated housing. Twenty-four percent of students live outside the campus. In terms of sports, Wake Forest University is part of the NCAA I.

Wake Forest University Campus

Wake Forest University offers student services, including nonremedial tutoring at women’s centers, health services, and health insurance.

Wake Forest University also provides security and safety on campuses such as 24-hour patrols of vehicles and foot and late-night transport/escort services 24, hours emergency phone lines lighting pathways/sidewalks, and restricted access to dormitories (key security card, key, and so on. ).

Location & Contact

Address

1834 Wake Forest Road
PO Box 7373 Reynolda Station
Winston-Salem, NC  27109
United States

Contact

Phone: 336-758-5000

FAQS

Q.1 What GPA do you need to get into Wake Forest?

 ANS. With a grade of 3.9, Wake Forest demands that you be the best in your class. You must score nearly 100% A’s in your classes to stand out from other applicants.

In addition, you must take many challenging classes, such as AP and IB courses, to prove that college-level academics are accessible.

Q.2 What is the acceptance rate for Wake Forest?

ANS. 32% (2020)

Q.3 Why is Wake Forest so famous?

ANS. Wake Forest is ranked #28 by U.S. News – the school is a reputable institution because 94.5 percent of its graduates are employed or enrolled in graduate schools within one year of matriculating. Students choose an institution such as Wake Forest for its interdisciplinary learning method.

Q.4 Why is Wake Forest ranked so high?

ANS. Like in previous years, Wake Forest was ranked among the top 25 schools across the nation on the Top Value list. It is built on a combination of academic quality and the cost of tuition for students who are eligible for financial aid based on need.

Q.5 What majors is Wake Forest known for?

ANS. The most popular programs at Wake Forest University include Marketing, Business, and Management as well as Related Support Services; Social Sciences; Communication, Journalism as well as Related Programs; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Psychology; Foreign Languages Literatures, Literatures, and Linguistics Mathematical and Statistics; Parks,

Final Words 

Because of the school’s strict admissions requirements, you’ll have to be an academically strong candidate to have a greater chance of being accepted.

For instance, you’ll have an increased chance of getting into the college of your choice with a score of at least 1470 on the SAT or 31 on the ACT.

In addition, meeting the admission requirements, like having a great volunteer track and a letter of recommendation, will help you get into a school such as Wake Forest.

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