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ECU ASU UNC Chapel Hill University of Richmond UNC Charlotte UNCW University of North Carolina at Asheville BC Duke Villanova UVA ETSU| Wake Forest University | Western Carolina University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Wake Forest | WCU | ||
| Location | Winston Salem, NC | Cullowhee, NC | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 8,963 | 11,635 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #763 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wfu.edu | wcu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Wake Forest | WCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $61,012 | $1,000 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $61,012 | $5,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,652 | $11,173 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $26,197 | $13,022 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $54,233 | $4,526 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 29% | 99% |
Admission |
Wake Forest | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 16,857 | 17,917 | ||
| Admitted | 3,602 | 15,201 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 21.4% | 84.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 38% | 12.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 3.44 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | |||
| ACT Range | 19/26 | |||
| SAT Range | 1020/1240 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 1, 2024 | Mar 1, 2024 |
Academics |
Wake Forest | WCU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Wake Forest | WCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 88% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $77,200 | $39,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 88% | 58% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,000 | $22,010 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $237 | $227 |
Diversity |
Wake Forest | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 43% | 41% | ||
| % Women | 57% | 59% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 72% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 7% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% |
Students |
Wake Forest | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 14% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 77% | 18% | ||
Campus |
Wake Forest | WCU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Western Carolina University is larger than than Wake Forest based on total student enrollment (11,635 students vs. 8,963 students)
Wake Forest vs. WCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Wake Forest or WCU?
- Wake Forest University is 6,001.2% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($61,012.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 1,120.2% higher at Wake Forest than Western Carolina University ($61,012.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than Wake Forest ($13,022 vs. $26,197)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 49% lower than costs at Wake Forest University ($11,173 vs. $16,652)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Carolina University than Wake Forest University (99% vs. 29%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 1,098.3% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($54,233 vs. $4,526)
Wake Forest vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Wake Forest or WCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WCU or Wake Forest .
- WCU has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than Wake Forest (21.4%)
Wake Forest vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Wake Forest or WCU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between WCU and Wake Forest.
- The graduation rate at Wake Forest is higher than Western Carolina University (88% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from Wake Forest University earn on average $38,100 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($77,200 vs. $39,100)
- Western Carolina University students graduate with a $990 lower median federal student loan debt than Wake Forest graduates. ($22,010 vs. $23,000)
- WCU graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Wake Forest graduates. ($227 vs. $237)
- More Wake Forest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 58%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/