SCU vs. Wake Forest

Deciding between Santa Clara University and Wake Forest University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Santa Clara University
Wake Forest University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • SCU Santa Clara, CA
  • Wake Forest Winston-Salem, NC
  • Setting
  • SCU Midsize City
  • Wake Forest Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • SCU 9,728
  • Wake Forest 9,322
  • Type
  • SCU Private 4 Year
  • Wake Forest Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SCU #61
  • Wake Forest #49
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SCU Roman Catholic
  • Wake Forest -
  • Status
  • SCU Non-profit
  • Wake Forest Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SCU
  • Wake Forest

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • Wake Forest $67,642
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • Wake Forest $67,642
  • Room & Board
  • SCU $19,893
  • Wake Forest $18,494
  • Average Net Price
  • SCU $53,883
  • Wake Forest $24,401
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SCU $28,368
  • Wake Forest $63,117
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SCU 71%
  • Wake Forest 35%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SCU 18,970
  • Wake Forest 18,727
  • Admitted
  • SCU 9,105
  • Wake Forest 4,058
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SCU 48%
  • Wake Forest 21.7%
  • Enrolled
  • SCU 17.7%
  • Wake Forest 36.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SCU 1420
  • Wake Forest 1470
  • Typical ACT score
  • SCU 32
  • Wake Forest 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • SCU 3.67
  • Wake Forest -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SCU A-
  • Wake Forest -
  • Admissions Standards
  • SCU Exceptional
  • Wake Forest Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • SCU Low
  • Wake Forest Very High
  • ACT Range
  • SCU 31/33
  • Wake Forest 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • SCU 1350/1490
  • Wake Forest 1410/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SCU Test optional
  • Wake Forest Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SCU Jan 7, 2027
  • Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SCU 11:1
  • Wake Forest 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SCU
    • Business (33%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Wake Forest
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SCU 85%
  • Wake Forest 88%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SCU $81,900
  • Wake Forest $77,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SCU 84%
  • Wake Forest 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SCU $21,500
  • Wake Forest $23,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SCU $222
  • Wake Forest $237

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SCU 49%
  • Wake Forest 43%
  • % Women
  • SCU 51%
  • Wake Forest 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SCU High
  • Wake Forest Medium
  • HBCU
  • SCU No
  • Wake Forest No
  • % White
  • SCU 49%
  • Wake Forest 72%
  • % Asian
  • SCU 16%
  • Wake Forest 5%
  • % Black
  • SCU 3%
  • Wake Forest 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • SCU 17%
  • Wake Forest 7%
  • % Native American
  • SCU 0%
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SCU 0%
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SCU 7%
  • Wake Forest 3%
  • % International
  • SCU 3%
  • Wake Forest 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SCU 4%
  • Wake Forest 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SCU 55%
  • Wake Forest 12%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SCU 36%
  • Wake Forest 84%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • SCU Yes
  • Wake Forest Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • SCU No
  • Wake Forest No
  • Meal Plan
  • SCU Yes
  • Wake Forest Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • SCU No
  • Wake Forest No
  • Daycare Facility
  • SCU Yes
  • Wake Forest No

Comparable Facts

Compare Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, CA with Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Santa Clara University is larger than Wake Forest based on total student enrollment (9,728 students vs. 9,322 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Santa Clara University is located in Santa Clara, CA (Midsize City setting); Wake Forest University is in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting).
  • Santa Clara University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Wake Forest University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Clara University 11:1; Wake Forest University 10:1.

SCU vs. Wake Forest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCU or Wake Forest? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wake Forest University than SCU ($24,401 vs. $53,883).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wake Forest University are 7% lower than at Santa Clara University ($18,494 vs. $19,893).
  • Wake Forest University is 10.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SCU (about $6,349 more per year; $67,642.00 vs. $61,293.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.4% higher at Wake Forest than at Santa Clara University (about $6,349 more per year; $67,642.00 vs. $61,293.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Clara University than at Wake Forest University (71% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 122.5% larger than aid received by Santa Clara University students ($63,117 vs. $28,368).

SCU vs. Wake Forest Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SCU or Wake Forest? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Wake Forest and SCU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wake Forest University (1470) is 50 points higher than at SCU (1420).
  • Incoming Wake Forest students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 32 at SCU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Santa Clara University 1350/1490; Wake Forest University 1410/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Santa Clara University 31/33; Wake Forest University 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SCU - Test optional; Wake Forest - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SCU Jan 7, 2027; Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027.
  • SCU has a higher acceptance rate (48%) than Wake Forest (21.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.7% at SCU vs. 36.1% at Wake Forest.

SCU vs. Wake Forest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SCU and Wake Forest? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Wake Forest University's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than Santa Clara University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Santa Clara University earn a median of about $4,700 more per year than Wake Forest graduates about ten years after starting college ($81,900 vs. $77,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Clara University graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than Wake Forest graduates ($21,500 vs. $23,000).
  • Among borrowers, SCU graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wake Forest graduates ($222 vs. $237).
  • More Wake Forest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCU students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 84%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.