Wake Forest vs. Stanford

Deciding between Wake Forest University and Stanford 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.

Wake Forest University
Stanford University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Wake Forest Winston-Salem, NC
  • Stanford Stanford, CA
  • Setting
  • Wake Forest Midsize City
  • Stanford Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Wake Forest 9,322
  • Stanford 18,625
  • Type
  • Wake Forest Private 4 Year
  • Stanford Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Wake Forest #49
  • Stanford #3
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Wake Forest -
  • Stanford -
  • Status
  • Wake Forest Non-profit
  • Stanford Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Wake Forest
  • Stanford

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Wake Forest $67,642
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Wake Forest $67,642
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Room & Board
  • Wake Forest $18,494
  • Stanford $21,315
  • Average Net Price
  • Wake Forest $24,401
  • Stanford $25,078
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Wake Forest $63,117
  • Stanford $62,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Wake Forest 35%
  • Stanford 61%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Wake Forest 18,727
  • Stanford 57,326
  • Admitted
  • Wake Forest 4,058
  • Stanford 2,067
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Wake Forest 21.7%
  • Stanford 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Wake Forest 36.1%
  • Stanford 81.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Wake Forest 1470
  • Stanford 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Wake Forest 33
  • Stanford 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Wake Forest -
  • Stanford 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Wake Forest -
  • Stanford A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Wake Forest Exceptional
  • Stanford Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Wake Forest Very High
  • Stanford Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Wake Forest 32/34
  • Stanford 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Wake Forest 1410/1520
  • Stanford 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Wake Forest Test optional
  • Stanford Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027
  • Stanford Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Wake Forest 10:1
  • Stanford 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Wake Forest
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Stanford
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • General Studies (16%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Wake Forest 88%
  • Stanford 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Wake Forest $77,200
  • Stanford $122,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Wake Forest 88%
  • Stanford 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Wake Forest $23,000
  • Stanford $12,475
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Wake Forest $237
  • Stanford $128

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Wake Forest 43%
  • Stanford 52%
  • % Women
  • Wake Forest 57%
  • Stanford 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Wake Forest Medium
  • Stanford Very High
  • HBCU
  • Wake Forest No
  • Stanford No
  • % White
  • Wake Forest 72%
  • Stanford 37%
  • % Asian
  • Wake Forest 5%
  • Stanford 20%
  • % Black
  • Wake Forest 6%
  • Stanford 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Wake Forest 7%
  • Stanford 15%
  • % Native American
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • Stanford 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • Stanford 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Wake Forest 3%
  • Stanford 10%
  • % International
  • Wake Forest 7%
  • Stanford 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • Stanford 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Wake Forest 12%
  • Stanford 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Wake Forest 84%
  • Stanford 45%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Stanford University is larger than Wake Forest based on total student enrollment (18,625 students vs. 9,322 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Wake Forest University is located in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting); Stanford University is in Stanford, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Wake Forest University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Stanford University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Wake Forest University 10:1; Stanford University 6:1.

Wake Forest vs. Stanford Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wake Forest or Stanford? 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 Stanford ($24,401 vs. $25,078).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wake Forest University are 13.2% lower than at Stanford University ($18,494 vs. $21,315).
  • Wake Forest University is 2.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Stanford (about $1,732 more per year; $67,642.00 vs. $65,910.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.6% higher at Wake Forest than at Stanford University (about $1,732 more per year; $67,642.00 vs. $65,910.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stanford University than at Wake Forest University (61% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 0.6% larger than aid received by Stanford University students ($63,117 vs. $62,755).

Wake Forest vs. Stanford Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wake Forest or Stanford? 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 Stanford and Wake Forest.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stanford University (1550) is 80 points higher than at Wake Forest (1470).
  • Incoming Stanford students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at Wake Forest).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wake Forest University 1410/1520; Stanford University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wake Forest University 32/34; Stanford University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wake Forest - Test optional; Stanford - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027; Stanford Jan 2, 2027.
  • Wake Forest has a higher acceptance rate (21.7%) than Stanford (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 36.1% at Wake Forest vs. 81.9% at Stanford.

Wake Forest vs. Stanford Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wake Forest and Stanford? 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).

  • Stanford University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Wake Forest University's (88%).
  • Graduates from Stanford University earn a median of about $45,700 more per year than Wake Forest graduates about ten years after starting college ($122,900 vs. $77,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Stanford University graduates have a $10,525 lower median loan debt than Wake Forest graduates ($12,475 vs. $23,000).
  • Among borrowers, Stanford graduates have an estimated $109 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wake Forest graduates ($128 vs. $237).
  • More Wake Forest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Stanford students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 88%)

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.