Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
UVA University of Richmond Washington and Lee JMU Virginia Tech George Washington UNC Chapel Hill Davidson Mason Villanova CNU VCU| Wake Forest University | College of William and Mary | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Wake Forest | William & Mary | ||
| Location | Winston Salem, NC | Williamsburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 9,121 | 9,762 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #44 | #69 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wfu.edu | wm.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Wake Forest | William & Mary | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $63,608 | $18,252 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $63,608 | $42,053 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,848 | $14,555 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $27,790 | $20,422 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $55,090 | $20,908 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 34% | 40% |
Admission |
Wake Forest | William & Mary | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,479 | 17,548 | ||
| Admitted | 3,768 | 5,741 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 21.6% | 32.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 36.8% | 28.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 3.85 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | High | ||
| ACT Range | 32/34 | 32/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1390/1510 | 1365/1510 | ||
| 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 | Jan 1, 2026 | Jan 2, 2026 |
Academics |
Wake Forest | William & Mary | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 13:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Wake Forest | William & Mary | ||
| Graduation Rate | 88% | 91% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $77,200 | $68,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 88% | 85% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,000 | $19,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $237 | $201 |
Diversity |
Wake Forest | William & Mary | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 16% | 12% | ||
| % Women | 24% | 17% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 72% | 59% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 9% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 7% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 6% |
Students |
Wake Forest | William & Mary | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 15% | 60% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 76% | 35% | ||
Campus |
Wake Forest | William & Mary | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- College of William and Mary is larger than than Wake Forest based on total student enrollment (9,762 students vs. 9,121 students)
Wake Forest vs. William & Mary Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Wake Forest or William & Mary?
- Wake Forest University is 248.5% more expensive to attend than William & Mary for in-state tuition ($63,608.00 vs. $18,252.00)
- Out of state tuition is 51.3% higher at Wake Forest than College of William and Mary ($63,608.00 vs. $42,053.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of William and Mary than Wake Forest ($20,422 vs. $27,790)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of William and Mary are 22.6% lower than costs at Wake Forest University ($14,555 vs. $17,848)
- More students receive financial grant aid at College of William and Mary than Wake Forest University (40% vs. 34%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 163.5% larger than aid received College of William and Mary ($55,090 vs. $20,908)
Wake Forest vs. William & Mary Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Wake Forest or William & Mary? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between William & Mary or Wake Forest .
- William & Mary has a higher acceptance rate (32.7%) than Wake Forest (21.6%)
Wake Forest vs. William & Mary Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Wake Forest or William & Mary? 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 William & Mary and Wake Forest.
- The graduation rate at William & Mary is higher than Wake Forest University (91% vs. 88%)
- Graduates from Wake Forest University earn on average $8,500 more per year than William & Mary graduates after ten years. ($77,200 vs. $68,700)
- College of William and Mary students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Wake Forest graduates. ($19,500 vs. $23,000)
- William & Mary graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than Wake Forest graduates. ($201 vs. $237)
- More Wake Forest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former William & Mary students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 85%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/