St. Mary's vs. Wake Forest

Comparable Facts

Compare St. Mary's College of Maryland in St. Mary's City, MD with Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Wake Forest University is larger than St. Mary's based on total student enrollment (9,322 students vs. 1,630 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• St. Mary's College of Maryland is located in St. Mary's City, MD (Distant Rural setting); Wake Forest University is in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting).
• St. Mary's College of Maryland is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Wake Forest University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: St. Mary's College of Maryland 10:1; Wake Forest University 10:1.

St. Mary's vs. Wake Forest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, St. Mary's 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 St. Mary's College of Maryland than Wake Forest ($21,071 vs. $24,401).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at St. Mary's College of Maryland are 13.1% lower than at Wake Forest University ($16,079 vs. $18,494).
• Wake Forest University is 342.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than St. Mary's (about $52,344 more per year; $67,642.00 vs. $15,298.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 115.6% higher at Wake Forest than at St. Mary's College of Maryland (about $36,268 more per year; $67,642.00 vs. $31,374.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at St. Mary's College of Maryland than at Wake Forest University (98% vs. 35%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 453.8% larger than aid received by St. Mary's College of Maryland students ($63,117 vs. $11,398).

St. Mary's vs. Wake Forest Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, St. Mary's 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 St. Mary's.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wake Forest University (1470) is 230 points higher than at St. Mary's (1240).
• Incoming Wake Forest students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 28 at St. Mary's).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: St. Mary's College of Maryland 1143/1340; Wake Forest University 1410/1520.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: St. Mary's College of Maryland 26/31; Wake Forest University 32/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: St. Mary's - Test optional; Wake Forest - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: St. Mary's Jan 15, 2027; Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027.
• St. Mary's has a higher acceptance rate (68.6%) than Wake Forest (21.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.3% at St. Mary's vs. 36.1% at Wake Forest.

St. Mary's vs. Wake Forest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for St. Mary's 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 St. Mary's College of Maryland's (79%).
• Graduates from Wake Forest University earn a median of about $25,700 more per year than St. Mary's graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,200 vs. $51,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, St. Mary's College of Maryland graduates have a $2,630 lower median loan debt than Wake Forest graduates ($20,370 vs. $23,000).
• Among borrowers, St. Mary's graduates have an estimated $27 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wake Forest graduates ($210 vs. $237).
• More Wake Forest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former St. Mary's students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 82%)

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.