College Profiles/ Wake Forest University
College Profile · Fall 2027 Entry
Wake Forest University Admissions: Acceptance Rate, Cost, Financial Aid and Deadlines
Winston-Salem, NC · 5,595 undergraduates. Everything families need to apply to Wake Forest University for fall 2027, verified against the school’s own Common Data Set, cost of attendance and admissions pages, with ConnectPrep’s strategic read.
By Jeremy Fine, Founder of ConnectPrep
Updated October 11, 2026 · Data verified against official sources
✓ Every figure cited
Quick answer
Wake Forest University admitted 20.8% of first-year applicants.[1] The 2026-2027 cost of attendance is $98,730.[2] For fall 2027 entry, deadlines are Early Decision I Nov 15, Early Decision II Jan 1, Early Action Nov 15 (first-generation college students only), Regular Decision Jan 1.[3]
20.8%
Overall admit rate[1]
32 to 34
Middle 50% ACT[4]
$98,730
Cost of attendance, 2026-2027[2]
89.1%
Six-year graduation rate[4]
Wake Forest University at a Glance
- Location
- Winston-Salem, NC
- Type
- Private nonprofit
- Student to faculty ratio
- 10:1[5]
- Endowment
- $2 billion (federal data)[4]
- SAT/ACT, fall 2027
- Optional[3]
- Application
- Common App, Coalition (Scoir)[3]
- First-year retention
- 92.6%[4]
The ConnectPrep Take on Wake Forest University
The ConnectPrep take
Wake Forest wants genuine enthusiasm for academic rigor, a passion for service, and a mind unafraid of interdisciplinary exploration, all tied to its motto Pro Humanitate. Read that as a request to show service and intellectual range, not a list of activities. Wake admitted 20.8% of applicants, and 37.9% of admits enrolled. Two binding rounds, ED I on Nov 15 and ED II on Jan 1, give a committed student two chances, and nonbinding Early Action is open only to first-generation students. Testing is optional and superscored; federal data shows a middle 50% ACT of 32 to 34, so send a 33 or higher. Virtual interviews must be requested by Nov 18. The costliest mistake is applying RD on Jan 1 and missing merit: scholarship candidates need every material in by Nov 15.
What to do this fall
- Submit every application material by Nov 15 for merit and talent scholarship consideration, even when applying RD.
- Request a virtual interview by Nov 18, or record the video interview by Jan 9 for RD.
- Talent applicants complete the Presidential Scholarship application with essays, a video or portfolio and a mentor recommendation.
- Send superscored results at an ACT of 33 or higher; otherwise apply without scores.
Applying to Wake Forest University? Get a free strategy session. We map your student’s round, testing plan, essays and every scholarship deadline for this school.
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Wake Forest University Admissions Statistics
| Applicant pool |
Applied |
Admitted |
Admit rate |
| All first-year applicants[1] |
|
4,073 |
20.8% |
- Yield, the share of admitted students who enrolled, was 37.9%.[1]
Testing and academic profile
| Academic profile of enrolled first-years |
Middle 50% or share |
| SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing[4] |
700 to 750 |
| SAT Math[4] |
710 to 770 |
| ACT composite[4] |
32 to 34 |
Test score ranges on this page come from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard, which reports an earlier entering class than the school’s newest Common Data Set.[4]
ConnectPrep score target
Aim for 750 in Reading and Writing and 770 in Math, the 75th percentile for each section here, or 34 on the ACT. A higher score is always better, and the test can be retaken. Not there yet? Take a free practice test and we will build the plan to close the gap.
What Wake Forest University looks for
In its own words: Wake Forest looks for genuine enthusiasm for academic rigor, a passion for service, and a mind unafraid of challenge and interdisciplinary exploration, seeking students who best represent its core values and its motto Pro Humanitate.[6]
Wake Forest University Application Deadlines 2026-2027
| Round |
Deadline |
Decision |
| Early Decision I |
Nov 15 |
ED I rolling; ED II by Feb 15 |
| Early Decision II |
Jan 1 |
|
| Early Action |
Nov 15 (first-generation college students only) |
mid-Jan |
| Regular Decision |
Jan 1 |
by Apr 1 |
Insider deadlines families miss
These scholarship, honors, program, interview and aid deadlines come from Wake Forest University’s own pages. Anything tagged Before RD is due before the Regular Decision deadline.
| Program or rule |
Deadline |
What to know |
Merit and talent based scholarships (Stamps, Reynolds, Carswell, Graylyn, Leadership and Character)
Before RD |
Nov 15 |
All application materials must be submitted by Nov 15 for merit scholarship consideration, even though RD is due Jan 1. Signature scholarships generally need no separate application.[7] |
Presidential Scholarship for Distinguished Achievement
Before RD |
Nov 15 |
Talent award (dance, debate, music, theatre, visual arts) with its own application in the WFU student portal, including talent essays, a video or portfolio, and a mentor recommendation; it falls under the Nov 15 merit and talent scholarship deadline.[8] |
Optional virtual or video interview
Before RD |
Nov 18 (virtual request); Jan 9 (video, RD) |
Virtual interviews must be requested within five days of applying and no later than Nov 18, so RD applicants who apply in late December can only use the video option (due Jan 9; Nov 20 for ED I and EA).[7] |
| Lelia and David Farr Scholarship (entrepreneurship) |
Jan 15 |
Requires a brief letter of application mailed to the Office of Entrepreneurship plus a recommendation, due Jan 15.[8] |
| Early Action limited to first-generation students |
Nov 15 |
Wake's non-binding Early Action round is open only to first-generation college students.[6] |
See how Wake Forest University compares with other colleges in the South deadlines database or the full 2026-2027 college application deadlines hub.
Wake Forest University Cost and Financial Aid
| Cost and aid |
Figure |
| Cost of attendance (2026-2027)[2] |
$98,730 |
| Tuition[2] |
$71,894 |
| Average share of need met[9] |
100.0% |
Undergraduate living on campus, including tuition, fees, housing, food, books, transportation and personal expenses.[2]
- Wake Forest University states that it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need.[9]
- North Carolina Gateway: beginning fall 2026, admitted North Carolina undergraduates from families earning less than $200,000 attend tuition-free; under $100,000, aid also covers standard living expenses; $200,000 to $300,000, aid covers 50% of tuition.[9]
What families actually pay: net price by income
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus the average grants and scholarships for first-year students receiving aid, by family income. It comes from federal data, which runs a year or two behind the school’s current cost figures.[4]
| Family income |
Average net price per year |
| $0 to $30,000 |
$6,525 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 |
$6,331 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 |
$7,647 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 |
$12,771 |
| Over $110,000 |
$58,081 |
| All aided students |
$28,719 |
Academics and Majors at Wake Forest University
Signature programs
North Carolina Gateway to Wake Forest
Tuition-free attendance for admitted North Carolina students from families earning under $200,000, with living costs also covered below $100,000.[9]
Business majors
Undergraduates can pursue business majors such as Business and Enterprise Management and Decision Analytics inside a liberal arts university.[10]
Engineering
An engineering major and minor offered within Wake Forest's liberal arts setting.[10]
Program for Leadership and Character
A Wake Forest program that has built a community of educators from more than 400 higher education institutions working on character education.[1]
Special admission paths
- Early Decision I (binding, November 15).[6]
- Early Decision II (binding, January 1).[6]
- Early Action for first-generation college students (non-binding, November 15).[6]
- Optional video or virtual interview.[6]
Wake Forest University Retention and Graduation Rates
| Outcome |
Figure |
| First-year students who returned for sophomore year[4] |
92.6% |
| Graduated within six years[4] |
89.1% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting college[4] |
$78,158 |
| Median federal loan debt of graduates[4] |
$21,500 |
| Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants[4] |
10% |
Make Wake Forest University a realistic goal
ConnectPrep builds the full plan: the right round, a score target and test schedule, essays that sound like your student, and every scholarship and program deadline on one calendar. Start with a free consultation or a free practice test.
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Wake Forest University FAQs
What is the Wake Forest University acceptance rate?
Wake Forest University admitted 20.8% of first-year applicants.
When are the Wake Forest University application deadlines for 2026-27?
For students entering in fall 2027: Early Decision I Nov 15; Early Decision II Jan 1; Early Action Nov 15 (first-generation college students only); Regular Decision Jan 1. 3 scholarship, honors or program deadlines come before Regular Decision; see the insider deadlines table on this page.
How much does Wake Forest University cost?
The 2026-2027 cost of attendance is $98,730. The school states it meets 100% of demonstrated need.
What does Wake Forest cost for a family earning under $75,000?
Beginning fall 2026, admitted North Carolina students from families earning under $200,000 attend tuition-free, and aid also covers living expenses under $100,000. Federal data shows an average net price of $7,647 for families earning $48,001 to $75,000. Wake meets 100% of need, with aid forms due Nov 15 for ED I.
Who can apply Early Action to Wake Forest?
Only first-generation college students. Wake's nonbinding Early Action round closes Nov 15, with decisions in mid-January. Everyone else chooses between binding ED I on Nov 15, binding ED II on Jan 1, or Regular Decision on Jan 1, and anyone seeking merit should complete materials by Nov 15.
About the author
Jeremy Fine
Jeremy Fine founded ConnectPrep in 2013 and brings more than 20 years of experience in education, spanning test preparation, college advising and academic program management. He holds a BA from Washington University in St. Louis and an MPA from the University of Pittsburgh.
ConnectPrep is based in Westport, Connecticut, and works with students from kindergarten through graduate school, in person and online. Meet the team.
This profile is an independent ConnectPrep resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Wake Forest University. Figures come from the sources listed above as published when checked in October 2026; the Common Data Set year is noted where used. Policies and costs change, so confirm with the school before applying.
