UNC Chapel Hill vs. Wake Forest

Comparable Facts

Compare University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC with Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is larger than Wake Forest based on total student enrollment (32,438 students vs. 9,322 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, NC (Small City setting); Wake Forest University is in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting).
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Wake Forest University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 15:1; Wake Forest University 10:1.

UNC Chapel Hill vs. Wake Forest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNC Chapel Hill 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 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill than Wake Forest ($10,154 vs. $24,401).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are 25.4% lower than at Wake Forest University ($13,804 vs. $18,494).
• Wake Forest University is 652.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNC Chapel Hill (about $58,648 more per year; $67,642.00 vs. $8,994.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 64.2% higher at Wake Forest than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (about $26,439 more per year; $67,642.00 vs. $41,203.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill than at Wake Forest University (38% vs. 35%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 254.3% larger than aid received by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students ($63,117 vs. $17,814).

UNC Chapel Hill vs. Wake Forest Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNC Chapel Hill 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 UNC Chapel Hill.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wake Forest University (1470) is 10 points higher than at UNC Chapel Hill (1460).
• Incoming Wake Forest students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 31 at UNC Chapel Hill).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1390/1530; Wake Forest University 1410/1520.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 28/34; Wake Forest University 32/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UNC Chapel Hill - Test optional; Wake Forest - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027; Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027.
• Wake Forest has a higher acceptance rate (21.7%) than UNC Chapel Hill (15.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at UNC Chapel Hill vs. 36.1% at Wake Forest.

UNC Chapel Hill vs. Wake Forest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UNC Chapel Hill 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).

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's six-year graduation rate (89%) is higher than Wake Forest University's (88%).
• Graduates from Wake Forest University earn a median of about $11,100 more per year than UNC Chapel Hill graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,200 vs. $66,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduates have a $6,521 lower median loan debt than Wake Forest graduates ($16,479 vs. $23,000).
• Among borrowers, UNC Chapel Hill graduates have an estimated $67 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wake Forest graduates ($170 vs. $237).
• More Wake Forest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNC Chapel Hill 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.