UNCG vs. Wake Forest

Deciding between University of North Carolina at Greensboro 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.

University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Wake Forest University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UNCG Greensboro, NC
  • Wake Forest Winston-Salem, NC
  • Setting
  • UNCG Large City
  • Wake Forest Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UNCG 18,012
  • Wake Forest 9,322
  • Type
  • UNCG Public 4 Year
  • Wake Forest Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UNCG #646
  • Wake Forest #49
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UNCG -
  • Wake Forest -
  • Status
  • UNCG Non-profit
  • Wake Forest Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UNCG
  • Wake Forest
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UNCG $7,661
  • Wake Forest $67,642
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UNCG $24,012
  • Wake Forest $67,642
  • Room & Board
  • UNCG $10,688
  • Wake Forest $18,494
  • Average Net Price
  • UNCG $11,404
  • Wake Forest $24,401
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UNCG $9,863
  • Wake Forest $63,117
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UNCG 87%
  • Wake Forest 35%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UNCG 12,948
  • Wake Forest 18,727
  • Admitted
  • UNCG 11,460
  • Wake Forest 4,058
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UNCG 88.5%
  • Wake Forest 21.7%
  • Enrolled
  • UNCG 21.2%
  • Wake Forest 36.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UNCG 1250
  • Wake Forest 1470
  • Typical ACT score
  • UNCG 24
  • Wake Forest 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • UNCG 3.59
  • Wake Forest -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UNCG A-
  • Wake Forest -
  • Admissions Standards
  • UNCG Challenging
  • Wake Forest Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UNCG
  • Wake Forest Very High
  • ACT Range
  • UNCG 22/27
  • Wake Forest 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • UNCG 1150/1355
  • Wake Forest 1410/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UNCG Test optional
  • Wake Forest Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UNCG Mar 1, 2027
  • Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UNCG 18:1
  • Wake Forest 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UNCG
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Wake Forest
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UNCG 53%
  • Wake Forest 88%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UNCG $39,100
  • Wake Forest $77,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UNCG 56%
  • Wake Forest 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UNCG $22,737
  • Wake Forest $23,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UNCG $235
  • Wake Forest $237
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UNCG 33%
  • Wake Forest 43%
  • % Women
  • UNCG 67%
  • Wake Forest 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UNCG High
  • Wake Forest Medium
  • HBCU
  • UNCG No
  • Wake Forest No
  • % White
  • UNCG 52%
  • Wake Forest 72%
  • % Asian
  • UNCG 5%
  • Wake Forest 5%
  • % Black
  • UNCG 28%
  • Wake Forest 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UNCG 8%
  • Wake Forest 7%
  • % Native American
  • UNCG 0%
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UNCG 0%
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UNCG 4%
  • Wake Forest 3%
  • % International
  • UNCG 2%
  • Wake Forest 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UNCG 0%
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UNCG 93%
  • Wake Forest 12%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UNCG 5%
  • Wake Forest 84%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of North Carolina at Greensboro in Greensboro, 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 Greensboro is larger than Wake Forest based on total student enrollment (18,012 students vs. 9,322 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of North Carolina at Greensboro is located in Greensboro, NC (Large City setting); Wake Forest University is in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting).
  • University of North Carolina at Greensboro 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 Greensboro 18:1; Wake Forest University 10:1.

UNCG vs. Wake Forest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNCG 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 Greensboro than Wake Forest ($11,404 vs. $24,401).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Greensboro are 42.2% lower than at Wake Forest University ($10,688 vs. $18,494).
  • Wake Forest University is 782.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNCG (about $59,981 more per year; $67,642.00 vs. $7,661.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 181.7% higher at Wake Forest than at University of North Carolina at Greensboro (about $43,630 more per year; $67,642.00 vs. $24,012.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of North Carolina at Greensboro than at Wake Forest University (87% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 539.9% larger than aid received by University of North Carolina at Greensboro students ($63,117 vs. $9,863).

UNCG vs. Wake Forest Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNCG 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 UNCG.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wake Forest University (1470) is 220 points higher than at UNCG (1250).
  • Incoming Wake Forest students have a 9 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 24 at UNCG).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina at Greensboro 1150/1355; Wake Forest University 1410/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina at Greensboro 22/27; Wake Forest University 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UNCG - Test optional; Wake Forest - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UNCG Mar 1, 2027; Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027.
  • UNCG has a higher acceptance rate (88.5%) than Wake Forest (21.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.2% at UNCG vs. 36.1% at Wake Forest.

UNCG vs. Wake Forest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UNCG 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 University of North Carolina at Greensboro's (53%).
  • Graduates from Wake Forest University earn a median of about $38,100 more per year than UNCG graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,200 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Carolina at Greensboro graduates have a $263 lower median loan debt than Wake Forest graduates ($22,737 vs. $23,000).
  • Among borrowers, UNCG graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wake Forest graduates ($235 vs. $237).
  • More Wake Forest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNCG students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 56%)

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.