Getting in
For Fall 2025, 19,600 first-year students applied to Wake Forest, 4,068 were admitted and 1,544 enrolled: an acceptance rate of 20.8%.
Source: Wake Forest Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1. Read Oct 1, 2026.
By school or major. Wake Forest does not admit by major, and its Common Data Set reports one first-year acceptance rate for the whole university.
Source: Wake Forest Undergraduate Admissions, First-Year Students (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Early decision and early action. The Common Data Set leaves its early decision counts blank and gives no early action counts, so it gives no early acceptance rate. Wake Forest says it tends to enroll just over half of each incoming class through Early Decision.
Source: Wake Forest Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), sections C21 and C22. Read Oct 1, 2026.
Majors
56 majors across 2 schools. Every bachelor's degree major in Wake Forest's 2026-2027 Academic Bulletin, grouped by the school that offers it, with the degree it leads to. Minors and graduate programs are left out.
Wake Forest College (arts and sciences)52
- African American Studies (BA)
- Anthropology (BA)
- Applied Mathematics (BS)
- Applied Statistics (BS)
- Art History (BA)
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BS)
- Biology (BA)
- Biology (BS)
- Biophysics (BS)
- Chemistry (BA)
- Chemistry (BS)
- Chinese Language and Culture (BA)
- Classical Languages (BA)
- Classical Studies (BA)
- Communication (BA)
- Computer Science (BA)
- Computer Science (BS)
- Critical and Creative Media (BA)
- Decision Analytics (BS)
- Economics (BA)
- Economics (BS)
- Elementary Education (BA)
- Engineering (BS)
- English (BA)
- Environment and Sustainability Studies (BA)
- Environmental Science (BA)
- French Studies (BA)
- German (BA)
- German Studies (BA)
- Greek (BA)
- Health and Exercise Science (BS)
- History (BA)
- Japanese Language and Culture (BA)
- Latin (BA)
- Mathematics (BA)
- Mathematics (BS)
- Music (BA)
- Neuroscience (BA)
- Neuroscience (BS)
- Philosophy (BA)
- Physics (BA)
- Physics (BS)
- Politics and International Affairs (BA)
- Psychology (BA)
- Religious Studies (BA)
- Russian (BA)
- Sociology (BA)
- Spanish (BA)
- Statistics (BS)
- Studio Art (BA)
- Theatre (BA)
- Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (BA)
Source: Wake Forest 2026-2027 Academic Bulletin, Requirements for Degrees (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
School of Business4
- Accountancy (BS)
- Business and Enterprise Management (BS)
- Decision Analytics (BS)
- Finance (BS)
Source: Wake Forest 2026-2027 Academic Bulletin, Requirements for Degrees (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Deadlines for Fall 2027
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
| Plan | Apply by | Decision | Binding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision I | November 15 | Rolling | Yes |
| Early Action (first-generation college students only) | November 15 | By January 15 | No |
| Early Decision II | January 1 | By February 15 | Yes |
| Regular Decision | January 1 | By April 1 | No |
Merit- and talent-based scholarship applications are due November 15. An optional virtual interview can be requested within five days of applying, and no later than November 18, 2026; optional video interviews are due November 20 (Early Decision I and Early Action) or January 9 (Early Decision II and Regular Decision).
Source: Wake Forest Undergraduate Admissions, Info for the Class of 2031 (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Early Decision I and II are binding: if admitted, you have committed to being a Wake Forest student, and you send the Early Decision Agreement with the application. Early Action is open only to first-generation college students; it is not binding, and admitted students have until May 1 to decide.
Source: Wake Forest Undergraduate Admissions, First-Year Students (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Testing
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
Wake Forest has been test-optional since 2008: neither the SAT nor the ACT is required. If you think your scores reflect your ability, send them; if not, don't, and you won't be penalized. International students whose first language is not English send a TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo score.
Source: Wake Forest Undergraduate Admissions, Test Optional (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
The Common Data Set also marks the SAT or ACT as not required for fall 2027 applicants, but considered if submitted.
Source: Wake Forest Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C8. Read Oct 1, 2026.
Applying next year?
For students applying in fall 2027, entering fall 2028
Not announced yet. When we checked Wake Forest's admission pages on October 1, 2026, we found no announced changes for fall 2028 entry. The deadlines and rules above are for fall 2027 entry.
Source: Wake Forest Undergraduate Admissions, First-Year Students (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Cost, and what families paid after aid
The published cost of a year at Wake Forest, 2026-2027:
| Tuition | $71,894 |
|---|---|
| Required fees | $1,276 |
| Housing (on campus) | $12,900 |
| Food (meal plan) | $7,396 |
| Books and supplies | $1,720 |
| Transportation | $1,550 |
| Personal expenses | $1,930 |
| Total | $98,666 |
For an undergraduate living on campus. New students also pay a $380 orientation fee in their first semester.
Source: Wake Forest Student Financial Aid, 2026-27 Cost of Attendance (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Average net price per year, by family income, 2023-24:
| Family income | Paid after grants |
|---|---|
| $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 incomes | $28,719 |
What first-year, full-time students who received federal aid paid after grants and scholarships, by family income, in 2023-24, the latest year the Department of Education publishes. Your own price comes from Wake Forest's aid offer.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Similar schools
Chosen for how close each is to Wake Forest University on acceptance rate, public or private, location and majors offered.
University of RichmondRichmond, VA · Private22.2% admitted$31,309 average net price
Spelman CollegeAtlanta, GA · Private23.8% admitted$38,967 average net price
Vassar CollegePoughkeepsie, NY · Private20.9% admitted$39,343 average net price
Carleton CollegeNorthfield, MN · Private21.8% admitted$25,407 average net price
University of MiamiCoral Gables, FL · Private17.6% admitted$37,244 average net price
Admitted: each school's latest first-year acceptance rate, so the year can differ from school to school; each school's page names its year and source. Average net price: what federal aid recipients paid per year after grants, 2023-24, and the in-state figure for a public university.