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UNCW ECU WCU University of North Carolina at Asheville NC State UNC Charlotte UNC Chapel Hill JMU Tennessee University of Richmond Elon UofSC| Appalachian State University | Wake Forest University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
ASU | Wake Forest | ||
| Location | Boone, NC | Winston Salem, NC | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 21,253 | 9,121 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #597 | #44 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | appstate.edu | wfu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
ASU | Wake Forest | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $4,242 | $63,608 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,238 | $63,608 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,258 | $17,848 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,712 | $27,790 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $7,677 | $55,090 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 47% | 34% |
Admission |
ASU | Wake Forest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 24,001 | 17,479 | ||
| Admitted | 21,275 | 3,768 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 88.6% | 21.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19.9% | 36.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.96 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | |||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | 32/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1100/1280 | 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 | Feb 1, 2026 | Jan 1, 2026 |
Academics |
ASU | Wake Forest | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 9:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
ASU | Wake Forest | ||
| Graduation Rate | 65% | 88% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $41,600 | $77,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 88% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,500 | $23,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $211 | $237 |
Diversity |
ASU | Wake Forest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 3% | 16% | ||
| % Women | 6% | 24% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 85% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 0% |
Students |
ASU | Wake Forest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 87% | 15% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 76% | ||
Campus |
ASU | Wake Forest | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Appalachian State University is larger than than Wake Forest based on total student enrollment (21,253 students vs. 9,121 students)
ASU vs. Wake Forest Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, ASU or Wake Forest?
- Wake Forest University is 1,399.5% more expensive to attend than ASU for in-state tuition ($63,608.00 vs. $4,242.00)
- Out of state tuition is 199.5% higher at Wake Forest than Appalachian State University ($63,608.00 vs. $21,238.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Appalachian State University than Wake Forest ($14,712 vs. $27,790)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Appalachian State University are 45.6% lower than costs at Wake Forest University ($12,258 vs. $17,848)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Appalachian State University than Wake Forest University (47% vs. 34%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 617.6% larger than aid received Appalachian State University ($55,090 vs. $7,677)
ASU vs. Wake Forest Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, ASU or Wake Forest? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Wake Forest or ASU .
- ASU has a higher acceptance rate (88.6%) than Wake Forest (21.6%)
ASU vs. Wake Forest Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, ASU 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 ASU.
- The graduation rate at Wake Forest is higher than Appalachian State University (88% vs. 65%)
- Graduates from Wake Forest University earn on average $35,600 more per year than ASU graduates after ten years. ($77,200 vs. $41,600)
- Appalachian State University students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Wake Forest graduates. ($20,500 vs. $23,000)
- ASU graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than Wake Forest graduates. ($211 vs. $237)
- More Wake Forest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ASU students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 74%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/