Marian vs. Wake Forest

Should I go to Marian University or Wake Forest University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Marian 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

UNC Chapel Hill University of Richmond BC Duke Villanova UVA Davidson Holy Cross William & Mary Elon Colgate NC State
Marian University vs. Wake Forest University comparison
Marian University Wake Forest University College 3 College 4
Marian University Wake Forest University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Marian Wake Forest
Location Indianapolis, IN Winston Salem, NC
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 3,701 8,963
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website marian.edu wfu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Marian Wake Forest
Tuition (In State) $37,600 $61,012
Tuition (Out of State) $37,600 $61,012
Room & Board $12,000 $16,652
Avg Net Price $22,554 $26,197
Avg Grant Aid $28,904 $54,233
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 29%

Admission

Marian Wake Forest
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,997 16,857
Admitted 1,874 3,602
Acceptance Rate 93.8% 21.4%
Enrolled % 24.8% 38%
Avg High School GPA 3.56 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025 Jan 1, 2025

Academics

Marian Wake Forest
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (55%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (4%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

Marian Wake Forest
Graduation Rate 58% 88%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,800 $77,200
Making Student Loan Payments 57% 88%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $23,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $237

Diversity

Marian Wake Forest
% Men 37% 43%
% Women 63% 57%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 72% 72%
% Black 12% 6%
% Hispanic 5% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 1% 7%
% Unknown Race 4% 0%

Students

Marian Wake Forest
% In-State 87% 14%
% Out-of-State 10% 77%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Wake Forest University is larger than than Marian based on total student enrollment (8,963 students vs. 3,701 students)

Marian vs. Wake Forest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Marian or Wake Forest?

  • Wake Forest University is 62.3% more expensive to attend than Marian for in-state tuition ($61,012.00 vs. $37,600.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 62.3% higher at Wake Forest than Marian University ($61,012.00 vs. $37,600.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Marian University than Wake Forest ($22,554 vs. $26,197)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Marian University are 38.8% lower than costs at Wake Forest University ($12,000 vs. $16,652)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Marian University than Wake Forest University (100% vs. 29%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 87.6% larger than aid received Marian University ($54,233 vs. $28,904)

Marian vs. Wake Forest Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Marian has a higher acceptance rate (93.8%) than Wake Forest (21.4%)

Marian vs. Wake Forest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Marian 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 Marian.

  • The graduation rate at Wake Forest is higher than Marian University (88% vs. 58%)
  • Graduates from Wake Forest University earn on average $32,400 more per year than Marian graduates after ten years. ($77,200 vs. $44,800)
  • Wake Forest University students graduate with a $4,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Marian graduates. ($23,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Wake Forest graduates are paying $42 less per month on federal student loans than Marian graduates. ($237 vs. $279)
  • More Wake Forest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Marian students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 57%)

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