Colgate vs. Wake Forest

Should I go to Colgate University or Wake Forest University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Colgate or Wake Forest is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Colgate University vs. Wake Forest University comparison
Colgate University Wake Forest University College 3 College 4
Colgate University Wake Forest University
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Overview

Colgate Wake Forest
Location Hamilton, NY Winston Salem, NC
Setting Distant Town Midsize City
Enrollment 3,141 8,963
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #27
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colgate.edu wfu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Colgate Wake Forest
Tuition (In State) $63,904 $61,012
Tuition (Out of State) $63,904 $61,012
Room & Board $16,106 $16,652
Avg Net Price $27,074 $26,197
Avg Grant Aid $54,647 $54,233
% Receiving Grant Aid 41% 29%

Admission

Colgate Wake Forest
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 21,109 16,857
Admitted 2,624 3,602
Acceptance Rate 12.4% 21.4%
Enrolled % 30.9% 38%
Avg High School GPA 3.77 -
Typical High School Grades A- -
Admissions Standards Exceptional Unavailable
Applicant Competition Very High Very High
ACT Range 32/34
SAT Range 1410/1530
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, 2025 Jan 1, 2025

Academics

Colgate Wake Forest
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (33%)
  • English and Literature (11%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (7%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

Colgate Wake Forest
Graduation Rate 92% 88%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,300 $77,200
Making Student Loan Payments 86% 88%
Median Student Loan Debt $16,125 $23,000
Median Loan Payment $166 $237

Diversity

Colgate Wake Forest
% Men 44% 43%
% Women 56% 57%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 72%
% Black 4% 6%
% Hispanic 9% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 9% 7%
% Unknown Race 4% 0%

Students

Colgate Wake Forest
% In-State 19% 14%
% Out-of-State 71% 77%

Campus

Colgate Wake Forest
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Wake Forest University is larger than than Colgate based on total student enrollment (8,963 students vs. 3,141 students)

Colgate vs. Wake Forest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colgate or Wake Forest?

  • Colgate University is 4.7% more expensive to attend than Wake Forest for in-state tuition ($63,904.00 vs. $61,012.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.7% higher at Colgate than Wake Forest University ($63,904.00 vs. $61,012.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wake Forest University than Colgate ($26,197 vs. $27,074)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colgate University are 3.4% lower than costs at Wake Forest University ($16,106 vs. $16,652)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Colgate University than Wake Forest University (41% vs. 29%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colgate University students is 0.8% larger than aid received Wake Forest University ($54,647 vs. $54,233)

Colgate vs. Wake Forest Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colgate or Wake Forest? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Wake Forest or Colgate .

  • Wake Forest has a higher acceptance rate (21.4%) than Colgate (12.4%)

Colgate vs. Wake Forest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colgate 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 Colgate.

  • The graduation rate at Colgate is higher than Wake Forest University (92% vs. 88%)
  • Graduates from Wake Forest University earn on average $1,900 more per year than Colgate graduates after ten years. ($77,200 vs. $75,300)
  • Colgate University students graduate with a $6,875 lower median federal student loan debt than Wake Forest graduates. ($16,125 vs. $23,000)
  • Colgate graduates are paying $71 less per month on federal student loans than Wake Forest graduates. ($166 vs. $237)
  • More Wake Forest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colgate students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 86%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/