Annapolis vs. Wake Forest

Deciding between United States Naval Academy 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.

United States Naval Academy
Wake Forest University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Annapolis Annapolis, Maryland
  • Wake Forest Winston-Salem, NC
  • Setting
  • Annapolis Large Suburban
  • Wake Forest Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Annapolis 4,474
  • Wake Forest 9,322
  • Type
  • Annapolis Public 4 Year
  • Wake Forest Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Annapolis
  • Wake Forest #49
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Annapolis -
  • Wake Forest -
  • Status
  • Annapolis Non-profit
  • Wake Forest Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Annapolis
  • Wake Forest

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Annapolis $0
  • Wake Forest $67,642
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Annapolis $0
  • Wake Forest $67,642
  • Room & Board
  • Annapolis $0
  • Wake Forest $18,494
  • Average Net Price
  • Annapolis -
  • Wake Forest $24,401
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Annapolis $0
  • Wake Forest $63,117
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Annapolis 0%
  • Wake Forest 35%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Annapolis 15,149
  • Wake Forest 18,727
  • Admitted
  • Annapolis 1,405
  • Wake Forest 4,058
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Annapolis 9.3%
  • Wake Forest 21.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Annapolis 84.2%
  • Wake Forest 36.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Annapolis 1310
  • Wake Forest 1470
  • Typical ACT score
  • Annapolis 28
  • Wake Forest 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Annapolis 3.8
  • Wake Forest -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Annapolis A-
  • Wake Forest -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Annapolis Very High
  • Wake Forest Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Annapolis Extreme
  • Wake Forest Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Annapolis 25/31
  • Wake Forest 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • Annapolis 1210/1410
  • Wake Forest 1410/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Annapolis Required
  • Wake Forest Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Annapolis Jan 31, 2027
  • Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Annapolis 8:1
  • Wake Forest 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Annapolis
    • Engineering (30%)
    • Social Sciences (30%)
    • Physical Sciences (17%)
    • History (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
  • Wake Forest
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Annapolis -
  • Wake Forest 88%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Annapolis N/A
  • Wake Forest $77,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Annapolis -
  • Wake Forest 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Annapolis N/A
  • Wake Forest $23,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Annapolis N/A
  • Wake Forest $237

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Annapolis 70%
  • Wake Forest 43%
  • % Women
  • Annapolis 30%
  • Wake Forest 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Annapolis -
  • Wake Forest Medium
  • HBCU
  • Annapolis No
  • Wake Forest No
  • % White
  • Annapolis 0%
  • Wake Forest 72%
  • % Asian
  • Annapolis 0%
  • Wake Forest 5%
  • % Black
  • Annapolis 0%
  • Wake Forest 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Annapolis 0%
  • Wake Forest 7%
  • % Native American
  • Annapolis 0%
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Annapolis 0%
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Annapolis 0%
  • Wake Forest 3%
  • % International
  • Annapolis 0%
  • Wake Forest 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Annapolis 0%
  • Wake Forest 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Annapolis 7%
  • Wake Forest 12%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Annapolis 91%
  • Wake Forest 84%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland with Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Wake Forest University is larger than Annapolis based on total student enrollment (9,322 students vs. 4,474 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • United States Naval Academy is located in Annapolis, Maryland (Large Suburban setting); Wake Forest University is in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting).
  • United States Naval Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Wake Forest University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: United States Naval Academy 8:1; Wake Forest University 10:1.

Annapolis vs. Wake Forest Cost Comparison

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

  • In-state tuition differs between Wake Forest University and Annapolis ($67,642.00 vs. $0.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition differs between Wake Forest and United States Naval Academy ($67,642.00 vs. $0.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wake Forest University than at United States Naval Academy (35% vs. 0%).

Annapolis vs. Wake Forest Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Annapolis 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 Annapolis.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wake Forest University (1470) is 160 points higher than at Annapolis (1310).
  • Incoming Wake Forest students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 28 at Annapolis).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: United States Naval Academy 1210/1410; Wake Forest University 1410/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: United States Naval Academy 25/31; Wake Forest University 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Annapolis - Required; Wake Forest - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Annapolis Jan 31, 2027; Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027.
  • Wake Forest has a higher acceptance rate (21.7%) than Annapolis (9.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 84.2% at Annapolis vs. 36.1% at Wake Forest.

Annapolis vs. Wake Forest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Annapolis 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).

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.