Wake Forest vs. William & Mary

Comparable Facts

Compare Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC with William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

William & Mary is larger than Wake Forest based on total student enrollment (9,818 students vs. 9,322 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Wake Forest University is located in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting); William & Mary is in Williamsburg, VA (Large Suburban setting).
• Wake Forest University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. William & Mary is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Wake Forest University 10:1; William & Mary 12:1.

Wake Forest vs. William & Mary Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wake Forest or William & Mary? 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 William & Mary than Wake Forest ($19,686 vs. $24,401).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William & Mary are 12.5% lower than at Wake Forest University ($16,182 vs. $18,494).
• Wake Forest University is 161% more expensive for in-state tuition than William & Mary (about $41,728 more per year; $67,642.00 vs. $25,914.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 32.5% higher at Wake Forest than at William & Mary (about $16,604 more per year; $67,642.00 vs. $51,038.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at William & Mary than at Wake Forest University (43% vs. 35%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 172.7% larger than aid received by William & Mary students ($63,117 vs. $23,144).

Wake Forest vs. William & Mary Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wake Forest or William & Mary? 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 William & Mary and Wake Forest.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wake Forest University (1470) is the same as at William & Mary (1470).
• Incoming Wake Forest students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 33) as students at William & Mary (33).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wake Forest University 1410/1520; William & Mary 1400/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wake Forest University 32/34; William & Mary 32/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wake Forest - Test optional; William & Mary - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027; William & Mary Jan 2, 2027.
• William & Mary has a higher acceptance rate (34.1%) than Wake Forest (21.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 36.1% at Wake Forest vs. 26.6% at William & Mary.

Wake Forest vs. William & Mary Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wake Forest and William & Mary? 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).

• William & Mary's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Wake Forest University's (88%).
• Graduates from Wake Forest University earn a median of about $8,500 more per year than William & Mary graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,200 vs. $68,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, William & Mary graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than Wake Forest graduates ($19,500 vs. $23,000).
• Among borrowers, William & Mary graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.