Should I go to Wake Forest University or Messiah College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Wake Forest or Messiah College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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UNC Chapel Hill University of Richmond BC Duke Villanova UVA Davidson Holy Cross William & Mary Elon Colgate Liberty University| Wake Forest University | Messiah College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Wake Forest | Messiah College | ||
| Location | Winston Salem, NC | Grantham, PA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 9,121 | 3,344 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #44 | #362 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Interdenominational | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wfu.edu | messiah.edu | ||
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Costs |
Wake Forest | Messiah College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $63,608 | $39,700 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $63,608 | $39,700 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,848 | $11,910 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $27,790 | $29,882 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $55,090 | $24,223 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 34% | 100% |
Admission |
Wake Forest | Messiah College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,479 | 2,375 | ||
| Admitted | 3,768 | 1,864 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 21.6% | 78.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 36.8% | 32% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 3.8 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | |||
| ACT Range | 32/34 | 22/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1390/1510 | 1100/1340 | ||
| 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 |
Academics |
Wake Forest | Messiah College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Wake Forest | Messiah College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 88% | 74% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $77,200 | $48,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 88% | 85% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,000 | $25,989 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $237 | $268 |
Diversity |
Wake Forest | Messiah College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 16% | 6% | ||
| % Women | 24% | 17% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 72% | 83% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 7% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% |
Students |
Wake Forest | Messiah College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 15% | 63% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 76% | 36% | ||
Campus |
Wake Forest | Messiah College | ||
| 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 |
Which college is more expensive, Wake Forest or Messiah College?
Which college is harder to get into, Wake Forest or Messiah College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Messiah College or Wake Forest .
Which is better, Wake Forest or Messiah College? 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 Messiah College and Wake Forest.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/