RIT vs. Wake Forest

Comparable Facts

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

Rochester Institute of Technology is larger than Wake Forest based on total student enrollment (17,098 students vs. 9,322 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rochester Institute of Technology is located in Rochester, NY (Large Suburban setting); Wake Forest University is in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting).
• Rochester Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Wake Forest University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Rochester Institute of Technology 13:1; Wake Forest University 10:1.

RIT vs. Wake Forest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RIT 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 RIT ($24,401 vs. $39,534).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rochester Institute of Technology are 12.7% lower than at Wake Forest University ($16,142 vs. $18,494).
• Wake Forest University is 14.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than RIT (about $8,368 more per year; $67,642.00 vs. $59,274.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.1% higher at Wake Forest than at Rochester Institute of Technology (about $8,368 more per year; $67,642.00 vs. $59,274.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rochester Institute of Technology than at Wake Forest University (98% vs. 35%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 79.9% larger than aid received by Rochester Institute of Technology students ($63,117 vs. $35,077).

RIT vs. Wake Forest Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RIT 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 RIT .

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wake Forest University (1470) is 90 points higher than at RIT (1380).
• Incoming Wake Forest students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 31 at RIT ).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rochester Institute of Technology 1300/1460; Wake Forest University 1410/1520.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rochester Institute of Technology 29/33; Wake Forest University 32/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RIT - Test optional; Wake Forest - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: RIT Jan 15, 2027; Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027.
• RIT has a higher acceptance rate (66.9%) than Wake Forest (21.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.3% at RIT vs. 36.1% at Wake Forest.

RIT vs. Wake Forest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RIT 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 Rochester Institute of Technology's (64%).
• Graduates from Wake Forest University earn a median of about $12,300 more per year than RIT graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,200 vs. $64,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wake Forest University graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than RIT graduates ($23,000 vs. $28,000).
• Among borrowers, Wake Forest graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RIT graduates ($237 vs. $289).
• More Wake Forest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIT students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 75%)

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.