Wake Forest University is a prestigious institution with an acceptance rate of 21%. For applicants who are admitted and submit test scores, a significant portion have SAT scores between 1380 and 1510 or ACT scores between 31 and 34. However, having a high GPA is crucial to gaining acceptance to Wake Forest University.

In order to stand out in the applicant pool at Wake Forest University, you will need a GPA of 3.91 or higher. This means achieving nearly all A’s in your classes and demonstrating a strong academic record. Additionally, taking advanced placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) classes can showcase your ability to handle rigorous coursework and excel academically.

The admission process at Wake Forest University is highly competitive, with applicants needing to demonstrate not only a high GPA, but also strong test scores and extracurricular involvement. It is important to showcase your academic abilities through your transcript, as well as your personal achievements and interests through your application. Admissions decisions are made holistically, taking into account various aspects of each applicant’s profile to form a well-rounded class of students.

Acceptance Rate	SAT Score Range	ACT Score Range	Required GPA
21%	1380-1510	31-34	3.91

Wake Forest University Acceptance Rate

Wake Forest admissions is very selective with an acceptance rate of 30%. Students that get into Wake Forest have an average SAT score between 1270-1410 or an average ACT score of 28-32

U.S. News also ranks Wake Forest #5 in the U.S. for the quality of its undergraduate teaching— higher than many bigger and more famous schools. This strength in academics is paired with a dedication to serving the world and a thoughtful and adventurous educational philosophy, demonstrated through its embrace of new ideas like testing-optional admissions policies.

Interested in applying to Wake Forest? Let’s get started with the basics: Wake Forest’s acceptance rate, its admissions requirements and application procedures, and the special features you need to keep in mind as you put together your Wake Forest application.

Applying to Wake Forest: A Quick Overview

The first step to getting admitted to Wake Forest is filling out all the required component of its application. To apply to Wake Forest, you’ll need to submit the following:

• Application form (choose between several options)
• High school transcript
• Secondary School Report and Midyear Report (once available)
• One teacher recommendation
• Interview on campus or via Skype (strongly recommended)
• $65 application fee or fee waiver

Under certain circumstances, you might need to submit other materials along with your application. For instance, there are additional requirements for international applicants and for applicants who would like to be considered for need-based financial aid. You might also choose to submit materials that demonstrate an exceptional talent you possess, such as audio or visual samples of your work.

A particularly notable item on this list is your interview. Interviews are strongly recommended at Wake Forest, and they’re only held on campus or via Skype between June 1 and November 30, so students frequently interview before actually submitting their applications. This is different from the interview process at many other colleges, so you’ll need to plan ahead to fit your interview in.  

With its low acceptance rate, Wake Forest expects more of its applicants than simply filling out all the required forms. Successful applicants are those who demonstrate academic prowess as well as talents outside the classroom. They also show the potential to both enrich and be enriched by Wake Forest’s particular academic philosophy, which emphasizes initiative, self-motivation, and a “sense of adventure” in exploring new topics and interests.

A strong academic record is an essential component of a successful Wake Forest application, according to a letter from the Dean of Admissions posted on the admissions website. While the university doesn’t provide a specific cutoff for high school GPA or class rank, they do note that 61% of successful applicants are in the top 5% of their high school classes, and 87% rank in the top 10%.

The rest of your application matters too, particularly your extracurricular activities. Wake Forest tends to prize depth over breadth when it comes to extracurriculars, so showing a long-term, highly involved commitment to a particular activity (or set of related activities) is typically more attractive to them than a long list of short-term activities.

One item that’s not on the list of requirements will probably stand out to you, and that’s standardized test scores. Since 2008, Wake Forest has maintained a testing-optional admissions policy, meaning that you can choose whether or not to submit your scores for the SAT, ACT, SAT II subject tests, AP tests, and any other standardized exams.

If you choose not to submit scores, you won’t be penalized, and your application will be evaluated on its other merits. On the other hand, if you believe your test scores strengthen your application and wish to submit them, you’re welcome to do so, and they’ll be considered as part of your application package. It’s entirely up to you.

Another thing you don’t need to worry about is which version of the application is best to use. We’ve noted above that Wake Forest offers several different options for its basic application form. In addition to an institutional form that can be completed online or by mail, you can apply to Wake Forest via the Common Application, the Coalition Application, or the College Foundation of North Carolina application system.

wake forest average gpa

Average GPA: 3.9

The average GPA at Wake Forest is 3.9. This makes Wake Forest Extremely Competitive for GPAs.

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA. This school did not officially report its average GPA, but we’ve estimated it here using data from over 1,000 schools.)

With a GPA of 3.9, Wake Forest requires you to be at the top of your class. You’ll need nearly straight A’s in all your classes to compete with other applicants. You should also have taken plenty of AP or IB classes to show your ability to excel in academic challenge.

If you’re a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change from this point on. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 3.9, you’ll need a higher SAT score to compensate and show that you’re prepared to take on college academics. This will help you compete effectively with other applicants.

Admissions Rate: 29.4%

The acceptance rate at Wake Forest is 29.4%. In other words, of 100 students who apply, 29 are admitted.

This means the school is quite selective. If you have strong academic scores, you have a great shot at getting in.

wake forest university tuition

Sticker Price

$77,278

Fee	Cost
Tuition	$56,722
Books and Supplies	$1,500
Other Fees	$1,038
Room and Board	$15,520
Other Expenses Budget	$2,498

Annual Prices

The annual list price to attend Wake Forest University on a full time basis for 2020/2021 is $77,278 for all students regardless of their residency. This fee is comprised of $56,722 for tuition, $15,520 room and board, $1,500 for books and supplies and $1,038 for other fees. Out of state tuition for Wake Forest University is $56,722, the same as North Carolina residents. All price data is sourced from the 2020/2021 U.S. Department of Education National Center for Education Statistics survey.

Net Price

Net price is indicative of what it actually costs to attend Wake Forest University when typical grants and scholarships are considered. The net price varies by family income and financial need.

Average Net Price 2019/2020

$26,324

Family Income	Net Price Paid
$0 to $30,000	$10,401
$30,001 to $48,000	$5,612
$48,001 to $75,000	$10,228
$75,001 to $110,000	$24,718
$110,000+	$52,236

The average reported annual net price for Wake Forest University for students receiving grants or scholarship aid was $26,324 in 2019/2020. Net price includes tuition and required fees, books and supplies, and average cost for room and board and other expenses.

Financial Aid

38% of full-time undergrad Wake Forest University received financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships, fellowships from the institution or from Federal, State or local government agencies. This aid averaged $47,832 per student during the 2019/2020 school year. Grant and scholarship aid does not need to be paid back. 17% of students received Federal Student Loans averaging $5,042 and 4% of undergrads took out private student loans averaging $34,976.

Type	Avg./Student	Students Receiving
Total Grant and Scholarship Aid	$47,832	38%
Institutional Grants and Scholarships	$45,885	34%
Pell Grants	$4,916	8%
Other Federal Grants	$1,782	8%
State and Local Grants	$5,484	4%
Federal Student Loans	$5,042	17%
Other Student Loans	$34,976	4%

Student Loans

To gauge a more realistic picture of what it may really cost you out of pocket to go to Wake Forest University, we’ve modeled a ten year student loan with an original principal value of $124,740. The loan balance of $124,740 is a four year multiple of the $31,185 average net price. This is a estimate of what you could owe upon graduation if you were to qualify for average financial aid and what a degree really may cost. Should you not qualify for financial aid, you may owe significantly more when you graduate. Based on these assumptions, a monthly repayment of $1,190 could be required to satisfy your student loan.

Please note that financial aid is not guaranteed and is only available for qualifying students. Federal Student Loans are not grants and must be repaid with interest. The current Stafford loan interest rate is 2.75%.

Example Loan	$124,740
Stafford Loan Interest Rate	2.75%
Time to Pay Off Student Loan	10 years
Example Monthly Payment	$1,190.16
Total Interest Paid	$18,078.86
Sum of All Loan Payments	$142,818.86

Projected 4 Year Degree Price

4 Year Sticker Price

$309,112

Year	All Residents
1	$77,278
2	$80,428
3	$83,705
4	$87,117

Based on published tuition prices, we estimate the current cost of a 4 year bachelor’s degree and living expenses at Wake Forest University to be $309,112 – assuming graduation in normal time. The estimation assumes a 4.1% annual increase over the next 4 years which has been the recent trend for this school.

Credit Hour Cost and Price per Class

	Price Per Credit	3 Credit Class	4 Credit Class
All Residents	$2,352	$7,056	$9,408

Estimated cost for a class at Wake Forest University based on published credit hour prices. Note that not all schools allow single class enrollment. These prices should be used for comparison purposes as to how much it may cost to take a class at Wake Forest University versus other colleges.

Tuition Payment Plans Available

Tuition Payment Plan	Yes
Prepaid Tuition Plan	Yes
Alternative Tuition Plan	Yes
Guaranteed Tuition Plan	No