Wake Forest vs. Virginia Tech

Deciding between Wake Forest University and Virginia Tech? 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
Virginia Tech

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Wake Forest Winston-Salem, NC
  • Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Wake Forest Midsize City
  • Virginia Tech Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Wake Forest 9,322
  • Virginia Tech 38,857
  • Type
  • Wake Forest Private 4 Year
  • Virginia Tech Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Wake Forest #49
  • Virginia Tech #142
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Wake Forest -
  • Virginia Tech -
  • Status
  • Wake Forest Non-profit
  • Virginia Tech Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Wake Forest
  • Virginia Tech

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Wake Forest $67,642
  • Virginia Tech $15,948
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Wake Forest $67,642
  • Virginia Tech $37,764
  • Room & Board
  • Wake Forest $18,494
  • Virginia Tech $16,550
  • Average Net Price
  • Wake Forest $24,401
  • Virginia Tech $24,912
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Wake Forest $63,117
  • Virginia Tech $9,168
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Wake Forest 35%
  • Virginia Tech 60%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Wake Forest 18,727
  • Virginia Tech 52,498
  • Admitted
  • Wake Forest 4,058
  • Virginia Tech 28,758
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Wake Forest 21.7%
  • Virginia Tech 54.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Wake Forest 36.1%
  • Virginia Tech 25.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Wake Forest 1470
  • Virginia Tech 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • Wake Forest 33
  • Virginia Tech 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Wake Forest -
  • Virginia Tech 3.97
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Wake Forest -
  • Virginia Tech A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Wake Forest Exceptional
  • Virginia Tech Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Wake Forest Very High
  • Virginia Tech Low
  • ACT Range
  • Wake Forest 32/34
  • Virginia Tech 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Wake Forest 1410/1520
  • Virginia Tech 1280/1450
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Wake Forest Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Virginia Tech Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027
  • Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Wake Forest 10:1
  • Virginia Tech 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Wake Forest
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Virginia Tech
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (19%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Wake Forest 88%
  • Virginia Tech 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Wake Forest $77,200
  • Virginia Tech $65,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Wake Forest 88%
  • Virginia Tech 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Wake Forest $23,000
  • Virginia Tech $23,966
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Wake Forest $237
  • Virginia Tech $247

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Wake Forest 41%
  • Virginia Tech 55%
  • % Women
  • Wake Forest 59%
  • Virginia Tech 45%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Wake Forest Medium
  • Virginia Tech Medium
  • HBCU
  • Wake Forest No
  • Virginia Tech No
  • % White
  • Wake Forest 72%
  • Virginia Tech 68%
  • % Asian
  • Wake Forest 5%
  • Virginia Tech 9%
  • % Black
  • Wake Forest 6%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Wake Forest 7%
  • Virginia Tech 5%
  • % Native American
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Wake Forest 3%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % International
  • Wake Forest 7%
  • Virginia Tech 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • Virginia Tech 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Wake Forest 12%
  • Virginia Tech 61%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Wake Forest 84%
  • Virginia Tech 34%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Virginia Tech is larger than Wake Forest based on total student enrollment (38,857 students vs. 9,322 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Wake Forest University is located in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting); Virginia Tech is in Blacksburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Wake Forest University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Tech is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Wake Forest University 10:1; Virginia Tech 17:1.

Wake Forest vs. Virginia Tech Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wake Forest or Virginia Tech? 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 Virginia Tech ($24,401 vs. $24,912).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Tech are 10.5% lower than at Wake Forest University ($16,550 vs. $18,494).
  • Wake Forest University is 324.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Virginia Tech (about $51,694 more per year; $67,642.00 vs. $15,948.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 79.1% higher at Wake Forest than at Virginia Tech (about $29,878 more per year; $67,642.00 vs. $37,764.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Tech than at Wake Forest University (60% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 588.4% larger than aid received by Virginia Tech students ($63,117 vs. $9,168).

Wake Forest vs. Virginia Tech Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wake Forest University (1470) is 100 points higher than at Virginia Tech (1370).
  • Incoming Wake Forest students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 30 at Virginia Tech).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wake Forest University 1410/1520; Virginia Tech 1280/1450.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wake Forest University 32/34; Virginia Tech 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wake Forest - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Virginia Tech - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027; Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027.
  • Virginia Tech has a higher acceptance rate (54.8%) than Wake Forest (21.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 36.1% at Wake Forest vs. 25.3% at Virginia Tech.

Wake Forest vs. Virginia Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wake Forest and Virginia Tech? 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 Virginia Tech's (82%).
  • Graduates from Wake Forest University earn a median of about $12,200 more per year than Virginia Tech graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,200 vs. $65,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Wake Forest University graduates have a $966 lower median loan debt than Virginia Tech graduates ($23,000 vs. $23,966).
  • Among borrowers, Wake Forest graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Virginia Tech graduates ($237 vs. $247).
  • More Wake Forest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Virginia Tech students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 81%)

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.