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Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, North Carolina · Private · 5,485 undergrads

Wake Forest admits 21% of applicants (fall 2025, Common Data Set 2025-26), is test-optional for fall 2027, and regular decision is due Jan 1, 2027.

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Can I get into Wake Forest?

21% of applicants get in

Grades and essays carry this one; most strong applicants still hear no. The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent scores had 1420–1490 on the SAT.

Add your SAT to see where you sit

Likely: even the low end of our estimate is 60% or more, and the college admits at least 25% of applicants. Target: our estimate is 30% or more. Reach: our estimate is under 30%, or the college admits under 15%. Long shot: our estimate is under 12%, or the college admits under 12%. Estimates use the college's admit rate and score range plus your grades and scores. They are not a promise.

19,600 applied, 4,068 admitted, fall 2025 (Common Data Set).

What does Wake Forest cost?

$28,165 a year

What students who got federal aid paid on average after grants, 2024-25. The sticker price, with housing and food, is $91,202.

Tap your family income:

Average paid after grants by family income
under $30,000$6,242
$30,000–$48,000$6,576
$48,000–$75,000$14,876
$75,000–$110,000$13,571
over $110,000$65,247

Own a business or have divorced parents? Run Wake Forest's own calculator.

Net price 2024-25, College Scorecard.

When is Wake Forest due?

6 days left

6days
Early decisionBinding
Due Sunday, Nov 15, 2026
6days
Early action
Due Sunday, Nov 15, 2026
53days
Early decision IIBinding
Due Friday, Jan 1, 2027
53days
Regular decision
Due Friday, Jan 1, 2027

Merit scholarships: apply by Nov 15, 2026.

Add to calendar Every Wake Forest deadline

Checked on admissions.wfu.edu Nov 5, 2026. See the source

Does Wake Forest need the SAT or ACT?Optional

No.

Test-optional for fall 2027. 22% of enrolled first-years sent the SAT. Send your SAT if it's 1460 or higher, the middle of what enrolled first-years scored.

Which colleges require scores

Checked on admissions.wfu.edu Nov 2, 2026. See the source

What it's like

5,485
undergrads. Mid-size: plenty of people, and professors who can learn your name.
City
Campus setting in Winston-Salem, NC.
93%
of first-years come back for year two.
87%
finish in four years. 91% within six.
$104.4k
median pay 10 years after starting.
$19.5k
median federal debt at graduation.

Lists Wake Forest is on

Test-optional collegesColleges due Nov 15Colleges due Jan 1Early decision II collegesMost selective in North CarolinaColleges for a 1450 SATColleges for a 32 ACTColleges for a 34 ACTCheapest after aid, families under $30k

Questions people ask

Is Wake Forest University test-optional for fall 2027?
Yes. Wake Forest is test-optional for students entering in fall 2027, so you choose whether to send SAT or ACT scores. Checked on admissions.wfu.edu on Nov 2, 2026.
What is Wake Forest University's acceptance rate?
21% for fall 2025: 4,068 of 19,600 applicants were admitted (Common Data Set).
What SAT score do you need for Wake Forest University?
The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent SAT scores had 1420 to 1490 (Common Data Set, fall 2025). A quarter scored higher and a quarter lower, so a score in that range is typical, not a cutoff.
How much does Wake Forest University cost for a family earning $60,000?
Families earning $48,000–$75,000 paid an average of $14,876 a year after grants in 2024-25 (students who got federal aid). The sticker price is $91,202.
When is the Wake Forest University application deadline for fall 2027?
Early decision is due Nov 15, 2026. Early action is due Nov 15, 2026. Early decision II is due Jan 1, 2027. Regular decision is due Jan 1, 2027. Checked on admissions.wfu.edu on Nov 5, 2026.
What is Wake Forest University's graduation rate?
91% of students finish within six years and 87% within four (IPEDS).