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ASU UNC Charlotte UNC Chapel Hill ECU UNCG NC State University of Richmond WCU UD University of North Carolina at Asheville BC Duke| University of North Carolina at Wilmington | Wake Forest University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
UNCW | Wake Forest | ||
| Location | Wilmington, NC | Winston Salem, NC | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 17,987 | 9,121 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #390 | #44 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uncw.edu | wfu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UNCW | Wake Forest | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $4,443 | $63,608 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,111 | $63,608 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,605 | $17,848 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $18,606 | $27,790 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $6,516 | $55,090 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 54% | 34% |
Admission |
UNCW | Wake Forest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,370 | 17,479 | ||
| Admitted | 12,856 | 3,768 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74% | 21.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 36.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.56 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Very High | ||
| ACT Range | 24/28 | 32/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1220/1360 | 1390/1510 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Feb 1, 2026 | Jan 1, 2026 |
Academics |
UNCW | Wake Forest | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 9:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
UNCW | Wake Forest | ||
| Graduation Rate | 67% | 88% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,700 | $77,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 64% | 88% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,500 | $23,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $211 | $237 |
Diversity |
UNCW | Wake Forest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 5% | 16% | ||
| % Women | 14% | 24% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 78% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 0% |
Students |
UNCW | Wake Forest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 77% | 15% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 22% | 76% | ||
Campus |
UNCW | Wake Forest | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of North Carolina at Wilmington is larger than than Wake Forest based on total student enrollment (17,987 students vs. 9,121 students)
UNCW vs. Wake Forest Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UNCW or Wake Forest?
- Wake Forest University is 1,331.6% more expensive to attend than UNCW for in-state tuition ($63,608.00 vs. $4,443.00)
- Out of state tuition is 216.3% higher at Wake Forest than University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($63,608.00 vs. $20,111.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of North Carolina at Wilmington than Wake Forest ($18,606 vs. $27,790)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Wilmington are 41.6% lower than costs at Wake Forest University ($12,605 vs. $17,848)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of North Carolina at Wilmington than Wake Forest University (54% vs. 34%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 745.5% larger than aid received University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($55,090 vs. $6,516)
UNCW vs. Wake Forest Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UNCW or Wake Forest? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Wake Forest or UNCW .
- UNCW has a higher acceptance rate (74%) than Wake Forest (21.6%)
UNCW vs. Wake Forest Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UNCW 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 UNCW.
- The graduation rate at Wake Forest is higher than University of North Carolina at Wilmington (88% vs. 67%)
- Graduates from Wake Forest University earn on average $32,500 more per year than UNCW graduates after ten years. ($77,200 vs. $44,700)
- University of North Carolina at Wilmington students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Wake Forest graduates. ($20,500 vs. $23,000)
- UNCW graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than Wake Forest graduates. ($211 vs. $237)
- More Wake Forest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNCW students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 64%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/