Fordham vs. Wake Forest

Deciding between Fordham University and Wake Forest University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Fordham University
Wake Forest University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Fordham Bronx, NY
  • Wake Forest Winston-Salem, NC
  • Setting
  • Fordham Large City
  • Wake Forest Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Fordham 16,150
  • Wake Forest 9,322
  • Type
  • Fordham Private 4 Year
  • Wake Forest Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Fordham #133
  • Wake Forest #49
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Fordham Roman Catholic
  • Wake Forest -
  • Status
  • Fordham Non-profit
  • Wake Forest Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Fordham
  • Wake Forest

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Fordham $64,915
  • Wake Forest $67,642
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Fordham $64,915
  • Wake Forest $67,642
  • Room & Board
  • Fordham $24,090
  • Wake Forest $18,494
  • Average Net Price
  • Fordham $48,190
  • Wake Forest $24,401
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Fordham $35,988
  • Wake Forest $63,117
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Fordham 95%
  • Wake Forest 35%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Fordham 43,364
  • Wake Forest 18,727
  • Admitted
  • Fordham 25,719
  • Wake Forest 4,058
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Fordham 59.3%
  • Wake Forest 21.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Fordham 9.7%
  • Wake Forest 36.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Fordham 1400
  • Wake Forest 1470
  • Typical ACT score
  • Fordham 31
  • Wake Forest 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Fordham 3.67
  • Wake Forest -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Fordham A-
  • Wake Forest -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Fordham Exceptional
  • Wake Forest Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Fordham Low
  • Wake Forest Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Fordham 30/33
  • Wake Forest 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • Fordham 1320/1480
  • Wake Forest 1410/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Fordham Test optional
  • Wake Forest Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Fordham Jan 1, 2027
  • Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Fordham 14:1
  • Wake Forest 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Fordham
    • Business (26%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
  • Wake Forest
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Fordham 78%
  • Wake Forest 88%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Fordham $64,200
  • Wake Forest $77,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Fordham 77%
  • Wake Forest 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Fordham $26,000
  • Wake Forest $23,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Fordham $268
  • Wake Forest $237

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Fordham 39%
  • Wake Forest 43%
  • % Women
  • Fordham 61%
  • Wake Forest 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Fordham High
  • Wake Forest Medium
  • HBCU
  • Fordham No
  • Wake Forest No
  • % White
  • Fordham 59%
  • Wake Forest 72%
  • % Asian
  • Fordham 10%
  • Wake Forest 5%
  • % Black
  • Fordham 4%
  • Wake Forest 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Fordham 14%
  • Wake Forest 7%
  • % Native American
  • Fordham 0%
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Fordham 0%
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Fordham 3%
  • Wake Forest 3%
  • % International
  • Fordham 7%
  • Wake Forest 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Fordham 2%
  • Wake Forest 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Fordham 38%
  • Wake Forest 12%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Fordham 51%
  • Wake Forest 84%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Fordham Yes
  • Wake Forest Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Fordham No
  • Wake Forest No
  • Meal Plan
  • Fordham Yes
  • Wake Forest Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Fordham Yes
  • Wake Forest No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Fordham No
  • Wake Forest No

Comparable Facts

Compare Fordham University in Bronx, NY with Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Fordham University is larger than Wake Forest based on total student enrollment (16,150 students vs. 9,322 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Fordham University is located in Bronx, NY (Large City setting); Wake Forest University is in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting).
  • Fordham University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Wake Forest University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Fordham University 14:1; Wake Forest University 10:1.

Fordham vs. Wake Forest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fordham or Wake Forest? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wake Forest University than Fordham ($24,401 vs. $48,190).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wake Forest University are 23.2% lower than at Fordham University ($18,494 vs. $24,090).
  • Wake Forest University is 4.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fordham (about $2,727 more per year; $67,642.00 vs. $64,915.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.2% higher at Wake Forest than at Fordham University (about $2,727 more per year; $67,642.00 vs. $64,915.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fordham University than at Wake Forest University (95% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 75.4% larger than aid received by Fordham University students ($63,117 vs. $35,988).

Fordham vs. Wake Forest Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Fordham or Wake Forest? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Wake Forest and Fordham.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wake Forest University (1470) is 70 points higher than at Fordham (1400).
  • Incoming Wake Forest students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 31 at Fordham).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fordham University 1320/1480; Wake Forest University 1410/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fordham University 30/33; Wake Forest University 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Fordham - Test optional; Wake Forest - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Fordham Jan 1, 2027; Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027.
  • Fordham has a higher acceptance rate (59.3%) than Wake Forest (21.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.7% at Fordham vs. 36.1% at Wake Forest.

Fordham vs. Wake Forest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fordham and Wake Forest? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Wake Forest University's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than Fordham University's (78%).
  • Graduates from Wake Forest University earn a median of about $13,000 more per year than Fordham graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,200 vs. $64,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Wake Forest University graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than Fordham graduates ($23,000 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Wake Forest graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Fordham graduates ($237 vs. $268).
  • More Wake Forest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fordham students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 77%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.