- Photos
-
-
_
U.S. News Rankings
| Ranking score and category | |||||
|
|||||
Summary
Wake Forest University is a private institution that was founded in 1834. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 4,775, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 340 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Wake Forest University's ranking in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 27. Its tuition and fees are $43,200 (2012-13).
Wake Forest University is located in Winston-Salem, N.C., just a few hours by car from skiing in the Blue Ridge Mountains or relaxing on the beaches of South Carolina. Campus Recreation offers intramural sports and outdoor trips such as kayaking on the New River or bouldering in Little Lost Cove. The Demon Deacons, Wake’s athletic teams, are members of the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference. When Wake Forest played rival Duke University in 1922 and won, a local reporter described the Wake players as "Demon Deacons," and thus, the mascot was born. Students must live on campus for four semesters in one of the residence halls. Greek organizations play a big role at Wake Forest, with a membership consisting of almost half of the student body.
Wake Forest is comprised of two undergraduate schools and five graduate or professional schools. Its graduate programs include the highly ranked School of Law, Babcock Graduate School of Management, and School of Medicine. Undergraduates are enrolled in either Wake Forest College or the Calloway School of Business and Accountancy, Wake’s undergraduate business program. About 60 percent of students take advantage of Wake’s study abroad programs offered in more than 70 countries around the world. Notable alumni include the shortest NBA player of all-time, Muggsy Bogues; legendary golfer Arnold Palmer; and journalist and talk show host Al Hunt.
| School mission and unique qualities (as provided by the school): | |
|
One of the nation's most respected private schools, Wake Forest University is a collegiate university recognized for its outstanding academic reputation and challenging liberal arts curriculum. With 4,500 undergraduates, the University provides the highly personalized attention characteristic of America's most selective private institutions coupled with the breadth and depth of a large research institution. Founded in 1834, Wake Forest is committed to personal education, inquiry and exploration, and service. The Graduate School for Arts and Sciences, along with professional schools in law, medicine, business and divinity, enrich the intellectual environment and provide robust resources to undergraduates, as do extensive programs in international studies, entrepreneurship and undergraduate research. The University further distinguishes itself through its beautiful residential campus, sophisticated computing and networking technology, and Atlantic Coast Conference athletic programs. The vibrant campus offers students opportunities to get involved, explore ideas, and take initiative to create programs and events of their own. Wake Forest professors embody the teacher-scholar ideal, which links exceptional teaching with fundamental research and discovery. This results in meaningful research opportunities for students and classroom experiences with professors who are relevant in their fields. Undergraduate classes are taught by full-time faculty, not graduate assistants. Wake Forest's motto, Pro Humanitate (for humanity), is at the heart of the University's identity and reflects a dedication to making a difference in the world. Volunteerism is a priority among Wake Forest students, who serve regularly at local agencies or travel around the country and the world to participate in various projects. Wake Forest is home to the Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials, which works closely with industry leaders to transfer its groundbreaking work in nanotechnology to practical applications in the areas of medicine, manufacturing and national defense. The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine is an international leader in the translation of scientific discovery into clinical therapies. Wake Forest received a significant grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to support its new Humanities Institute and has developed new initiatives to support sustainability, entrepreneurship, public engagement, translational science, bioethics, and molecular signaling. |
General Information
| School type | private, coed college |
| Year founded | 1834 |
| Religious affiliation | N/A |
| Academic calendar | semester |
| Setting | suburban |
| 2011 Endowment | $1,058,250,000 |
Applying
When applying to Wake Forest University, it's important to note the application deadline is January 1, and the early decision deadline is January 1. The application fee at Wake Forest University is $50. It is more selective, with an acceptance rate of 39.9 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | more selective |
| Fall 2011 acceptance rate | 39.9% |
| Application deadline | January 1 |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | N/A |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at Wake Forest University is 11:1, and the school has 56.5 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Wake Forest University include: Business/Commerce, General; Speech Communication and Rhetoric; Biology/Biological Sciences, General; Political Science and Government, General; and Psychology, General. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 93.8 percent.
Student Life
Wake Forest University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 4,775, with a gender distribution of 48.0 percent male students and 52.0 percent female students. At this school, 71.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 29.0 percent of students live off campus. Wake Forest University is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.
See what students are saying about life at Wake Forest University.
| Total enrollment | 7,351 |
| Student gender distribution | |
|
|
|
| Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity | |
|
|
|
| Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority | |
|
|
|
| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA I |
Campus Info & Services
Wake Forest University offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring and health insurance. Wake Forest University also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Wake Forest University.
| Students who have cars on campus | N/A |
| Health insurance offered | Yes |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | Yes |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At Wake Forest University, 40.2 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $28,513.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.
| Tuition and fees | $43,200 (2012-13) |
| Room and board | $11,660 (2012-13) |
| Financial aid statistics | |
|
|
|
* Overview details based on 2011 data
