Wake Forest vs. University of Dayton

Deciding between Wake Forest University and University of Dayton? 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
University of Dayton

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Wake Forest Winston-Salem, NC
  • University of Dayton Dayton, OH
  • Setting
  • Wake Forest Midsize City
  • University of Dayton Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Wake Forest 9,322
  • University of Dayton 10,506
  • Type
  • Wake Forest Private 4 Year
  • University of Dayton Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Wake Forest #49
  • University of Dayton #204
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Wake Forest -
  • University of Dayton Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Wake Forest Non-profit
  • University of Dayton Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Wake Forest
  • University of Dayton

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Wake Forest $67,642
  • University of Dayton $49,140
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Wake Forest $67,642
  • University of Dayton $49,140
  • Room & Board
  • Wake Forest $18,494
  • University of Dayton $16,800
  • Average Net Price
  • Wake Forest $24,401
  • University of Dayton $32,794
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Wake Forest $63,117
  • University of Dayton $33,418
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Wake Forest 35%
  • University of Dayton 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Wake Forest 18,727
  • University of Dayton 21,981
  • Admitted
  • Wake Forest 4,058
  • University of Dayton 14,386
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Wake Forest 21.7%
  • University of Dayton 65.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Wake Forest 36.1%
  • University of Dayton 11.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Wake Forest 1470
  • University of Dayton 1290
  • Typical ACT score
  • Wake Forest 33
  • University of Dayton 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Wake Forest -
  • University of Dayton 3.77
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Wake Forest -
  • University of Dayton A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Wake Forest Exceptional
  • University of Dayton Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Wake Forest Very High
  • University of Dayton Low
  • ACT Range
  • Wake Forest 32/34
  • University of Dayton 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • Wake Forest 1410/1520
  • University of Dayton 1200/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Wake Forest Test optional
  • University of Dayton Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027
  • University of Dayton Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Wake Forest 10:1
  • University of Dayton 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Wake Forest
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • University of Dayton
    • Business (28%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Health Professions (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Wake Forest 88%
  • University of Dayton 74%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Wake Forest $77,200
  • University of Dayton $57,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Wake Forest 88%
  • University of Dayton 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Wake Forest $23,000
  • University of Dayton $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Wake Forest $237
  • University of Dayton $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Wake Forest 43%
  • University of Dayton 52%
  • % Women
  • Wake Forest 57%
  • University of Dayton 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Wake Forest Medium
  • University of Dayton Low
  • HBCU
  • Wake Forest No
  • University of Dayton No
  • % White
  • Wake Forest 72%
  • University of Dayton 78%
  • % Asian
  • Wake Forest 5%
  • University of Dayton 1%
  • % Black
  • Wake Forest 6%
  • University of Dayton 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Wake Forest 7%
  • University of Dayton 3%
  • % Native American
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • University of Dayton 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • University of Dayton 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Wake Forest 3%
  • University of Dayton 2%
  • % International
  • Wake Forest 7%
  • University of Dayton 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • University of Dayton 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Wake Forest 12%
  • University of Dayton 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Wake Forest 84%
  • University of Dayton 41%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Dayton is larger than Wake Forest based on total student enrollment (10,506 students vs. 9,322 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Wake Forest vs. University of Dayton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wake Forest or University of Dayton? 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 University of Dayton ($24,401 vs. $32,794).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Dayton are 9.2% lower than at Wake Forest University ($16,800 vs. $18,494).
  • Wake Forest University is 37.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Dayton (about $18,502 more per year; $67,642.00 vs. $49,140.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 37.7% higher at Wake Forest than at University of Dayton (about $18,502 more per year; $67,642.00 vs. $49,140.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Dayton than at Wake Forest University (95% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 88.9% larger than aid received by University of Dayton students ($63,117 vs. $33,418).

Wake Forest vs. University of Dayton Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wake Forest or University of Dayton? 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 University of Dayton and Wake Forest.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wake Forest University (1470) is 180 points higher than at University of Dayton (1290).
  • Incoming Wake Forest students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 28 at University of Dayton).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wake Forest University 1410/1520; University of Dayton 1200/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wake Forest University 32/34; University of Dayton 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wake Forest - Test optional; University of Dayton - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027; University of Dayton Feb 1, 2027.
  • University of Dayton has a higher acceptance rate (65.4%) than Wake Forest (21.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 36.1% at Wake Forest vs. 11.7% at University of Dayton.

Wake Forest vs. University of Dayton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wake Forest and University of Dayton? 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 University of Dayton's (74%).
  • Graduates from Wake Forest University earn a median of about $19,900 more per year than University of Dayton graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,200 vs. $57,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Wake Forest University graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than University of Dayton graduates ($23,000 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Wake Forest graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of Dayton graduates ($237 vs. $268).
  • More Wake Forest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Dayton students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 84%)

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.