Wake Forest vs. Pitt

Deciding between Wake Forest University and University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,500 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Wake Forest University
University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Wake Forest Winston-Salem, NC
  • Pitt Pittsburgh, PA
  • Setting
  • Wake Forest Midsize City
  • Pitt Large City
  • Enrollment
  • Wake Forest 9,322
  • Pitt 35,724
  • Type
  • Wake Forest Private 4 Year
  • Pitt Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Wake Forest #49
  • Pitt #138
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Wake Forest -
  • Pitt -
  • Status
  • Wake Forest Non-profit
  • Pitt Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Wake Forest
  • Pitt

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Wake Forest $67,642
  • Pitt $21,926
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Wake Forest $67,642
  • Pitt $41,430
  • Room & Board
  • Wake Forest $18,494
  • Pitt $13,620
  • Average Net Price
  • Wake Forest $24,401
  • Pitt $25,223
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Wake Forest $63,117
  • Pitt $16,494
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Wake Forest 35%
  • Pitt 53%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Wake Forest 18,727
  • Pitt 60,898
  • Admitted
  • Wake Forest 4,058
  • Pitt 35,372
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Wake Forest 21.7%
  • Pitt 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Wake Forest 36.1%
  • Pitt 13%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Wake Forest 1470
  • Pitt 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • Wake Forest 33
  • Pitt 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Wake Forest -
  • Pitt 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Wake Forest -
  • Pitt A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Wake Forest Exceptional
  • Pitt Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Wake Forest Very High
  • Pitt Low
  • ACT Range
  • Wake Forest 32/34
  • Pitt 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Wake Forest 1410/1520
  • Pitt 1280/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Wake Forest Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Pitt Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027
  • Pitt

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Wake Forest 10:1
  • Pitt 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Wake Forest
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Pitt
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Wake Forest 88%
  • Pitt 79%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Wake Forest $77,200
  • Pitt $58,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Wake Forest 88%
  • Pitt 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Wake Forest $23,000
  • Pitt $26,909
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Wake Forest $237
  • Pitt $278

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Wake Forest 17%
  • Pitt 11%
  • % Women
  • Wake Forest 24%
  • Pitt 16%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Wake Forest Low
  • Pitt Low
  • HBCU
  • Wake Forest No
  • Pitt No
  • % White
  • Wake Forest 72%
  • Pitt 74%
  • % Asian
  • Wake Forest 5%
  • Pitt 9%
  • % Black
  • Wake Forest 6%
  • Pitt 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Wake Forest 7%
  • Pitt 3%
  • % Native American
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • Pitt 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • Pitt 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Wake Forest 3%
  • Pitt 3%
  • % International
  • Wake Forest 7%
  • Pitt 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • Pitt 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Wake Forest 12%
  • Pitt 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Wake Forest 84%
  • Pitt 33%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is larger than Wake Forest based on total student enrollment (35,724 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 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
  • Wake Forest University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Wake Forest University 10:1; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 13:1.

Wake Forest vs. Pitt Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wake Forest or Pitt? 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 Pitt ($24,401 vs. $25,223).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus are 26.4% lower than at Wake Forest University ($13,620 vs. $18,494).
  • Wake Forest University is 208.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pitt (about $45,716 more per year; $67,642.00 vs. $21,926.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 63.3% higher at Wake Forest than at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (about $26,212 more per year; $67,642.00 vs. $41,430.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus than at Wake Forest University (53% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 282.7% larger than aid received by University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus students ($63,117 vs. $16,494).

Wake Forest vs. Pitt Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wake Forest University (1470) is 100 points higher than at Pitt (1370).
  • Incoming Wake Forest students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 31 at Pitt).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wake Forest University 1410/1520; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 1280/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wake Forest University 32/34; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wake Forest - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Pitt - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027.
  • Pitt has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Wake Forest (21.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 36.1% at Wake Forest vs. 13% at Pitt.

Wake Forest vs. Pitt Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wake Forest and Pitt? 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 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus's (79%).
  • Graduates from Wake Forest University earn a median of about $19,200 more per year than Pitt graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,200 vs. $58,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Wake Forest University graduates have a $3,909 lower median loan debt than Pitt graduates ($23,000 vs. $26,909).
  • Among borrowers, Wake Forest graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pitt graduates ($237 vs. $278).
  • More Wake Forest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pitt 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.