Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
George Washington Georgetown Fordham Syracuse UNC Chapel Hill University of Richmond Mason BC Duke Lafayette College DU Drexel| American University | Wake Forest University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
AU | Wake Forest | ||
| Location | Washington, DC | Winston Salem, NC | ||
| Setting | Large City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 13,019 | 9,121 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #84 | #44 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | american.edu | wfu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
AU | Wake Forest | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $55,724 | $63,608 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $55,724 | $63,608 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,012 | $17,848 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $40,189 | $27,790 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $31,402 | $55,090 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 62% | 34% |
Admission |
AU | Wake Forest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,786 | 17,479 | ||
| Admitted | 8,427 | 3,768 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 47.4% | 21.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22% | 36.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Very High | ||
| ACT Range | 29/33 | 32/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1300/1450 | 1390/1510 | ||
| 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 15, 2026 | Jan 1, 2026 |
Academics |
AU | Wake Forest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 9:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
AU | Wake Forest | ||
| Graduation Rate | 77% | 88% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $64,800 | $77,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 80% | 88% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $23,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $237 |
Diversity |
AU | Wake Forest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 15% | 16% | ||
| % Women | 25% | 24% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 58% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 7% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 0% |
Students |
AU | Wake Forest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 2% | 15% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 94% | 76% | ||
Campus |
AU | Wake Forest | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- American University is larger than than Wake Forest based on total student enrollment (13,019 students vs. 9,121 students)
AU vs. Wake Forest Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, AU or Wake Forest?
- Wake Forest University is 14.1% more expensive to attend than AU for in-state tuition ($63,608.00 vs. $55,724.00)
- Out of state tuition is 14.1% higher at Wake Forest than American University ($63,608.00 vs. $55,724.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wake Forest University than AU ($27,790 vs. $40,189)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 4.9% lower than costs at Wake Forest University ($17,012 vs. $17,848)
- More students receive financial grant aid at American University than Wake Forest University (62% vs. 34%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 75.4% larger than aid received American University ($55,090 vs. $31,402)
AU vs. Wake Forest Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, AU or Wake Forest? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Wake Forest or AU .
- AU has a higher acceptance rate (47.4%) than Wake Forest (21.6%)
AU vs. Wake Forest Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, AU or Wake Forest? 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 Wake Forest and AU.
- The graduation rate at Wake Forest is higher than American University (88% vs. 77%)
- Graduates from Wake Forest University earn on average $12,400 more per year than AU graduates after ten years. ($77,200 vs. $64,800)
- Wake Forest University students graduate with a $1,250 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($23,000 vs. $24,250)
- Wake Forest graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($237 vs. $250)
- More Wake Forest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 80%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/