Wake Forest University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Wake Forest campus
Denis Tangney Jr. / Getty Images

Wake Forest University is a private research university with an acceptance rate of 30%. Located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Wake Forest University is one of the more selective test-optional colleges in the country. Nearly all successful applicants have grades that are well above average, and although students are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores, the scores of those who do submit tend to be above average. The university is a member of Phi Beta Kappa for its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences, and Wake Forest boasts of its small classes and impressive 11-to-1 student to faculty ratio. Overall, the university provides an unusual balance of a small college academic atmosphere and a large university sports scene.

Considering applying to Wake Forest University? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including the average SAT/ACT scores of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, Wake Forest University had an acceptance rate of 30%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 30 students were admitted, making Wake Forest's admissions process competitive.

Admissions Statistics (2018-19)
Number of Applicants 12,558
Percent Admitted 30%
Percent Admitted Who Enrolled (Yield) 37%

SAT Scores and Requirements

Wake Forest has a test-optional standardized testing policy. Applicants to Wake Forest may submit SAT or ACT scores to the school, but they are not required. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 41% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

SAT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
ERW 650 710
Math 660 760
ERW=Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

This admissions data tells us that of those students who submitted SAT scores to Wake Forest, most fall within the top 20% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to Wake Forest scored between 650 and 710, while 25% scored below 650 and 25% scored above 710. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 660 and 760, while 25% scored below 660 and 25% scored above 760. While the SAT is not required, this data tells us that a composite SAT score of 1470 or higher is a competitive score for Wake Forest.

Requirements

Wake Forest does not require SAT scores for admission.

ACT Scores and Requirements

Wake Forest has a test-optional standardized testing policy. Applicants to Wake Forest may submit SAT or ACT scores to the school, but they are not required. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 45% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

ACT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
Composite 29 33

This admissions data tells us that of those students who submitted ACT scores to Wake Forest, most fall within the top 9% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to Wake Forest received a composite ACT score between 29 and 33, while 25% scored above 33 and 25% scored below 29.

Requirements

Wake Forest does not require ACT scores for admission.

GPA

Wake Forest does not provide data about admitted students' high school GPAs. In 2018, 74% of Wake Forest's incoming freshman class ranked in the top 10% of their high school class.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

Wake Forest University Applicants' Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph.
Wake Forest University Applicants' Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph. Data courtesy of Cappex.

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to Wake Forest University. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

Wake Forest University, which accepts fewer than one-third of applicants, is selective. However, Wake Forest has a holistic admissions process and is test-optional, and admissions decisions are based on much more than numbers. A strong application essay and glowing letters of recommendation can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule. Wake Forest also places emphasis on the interview, which is optional but strongly recommended.

To apply, students can use the Common Application, Coalition Application, Wake Forest Application, or College Foundation of North Carolina Application. Wake Forest has an Early Decision program that can improve admission chances for students who are sure the university is their top choice school.

In the graph above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. As you can see, most accepted students had averages in the "A" range and an SAT score (ERW+M) of 1200 or higher and an ACT score of 26 or higher. Bear in mind that Wake Forest is test-optional, so students with scores outside of the reported range need not submit their scores to Wake Forest.

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and Wake Forest University Undergraduate Admissions Office.

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Grove, Allen. "Wake Forest University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo, Aug. 29, 2020, thoughtco.com/wake-forest-gpa-sat-and-act-786762. Grove, Allen. (2020, August 29). Wake Forest University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/wake-forest-gpa-sat-and-act-786762 Grove, Allen. "Wake Forest University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/wake-forest-gpa-sat-and-act-786762 (accessed March 19, 2024).