Wake Forest vs. Penn State Beaver

Comparable Facts

Compare Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC with Penn State Beaver in Monaca, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Wake Forest University is larger than Penn State Beaver based on total student enrollment (9,322 students vs. 482 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Wake Forest University is located in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting); Penn State Beaver is in Monaca, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Wake Forest University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Beaver is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Wake Forest University 10:1; Penn State Beaver 12:1.

Wake Forest vs. Penn State Beaver Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wake Forest or Penn State Beaver? 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 Penn State Beaver than Wake Forest ($18,581 vs. $24,401).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Beaver are 21.7% lower than at Wake Forest University ($14,474 vs. $18,494).
• Wake Forest University is 369.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Beaver (about $53,234 more per year; $67,642.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 180.3% higher at Wake Forest than at Penn State Beaver (about $43,508 more per year; $67,642.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Beaver than at Wake Forest University (88% vs. 35%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 597.8% larger than aid received by Penn State Beaver students ($63,117 vs. $9,045).

Wake Forest vs. Penn State Beaver Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wake Forest or Penn State Beaver? 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 Penn State Beaver and Wake Forest.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wake Forest University (1470) is 280 points higher than at Penn State Beaver (1190).
• Incoming Wake Forest students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 25 at Penn State Beaver).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wake Forest University 1410/1520; Penn State Beaver 1080/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wake Forest University 32/34; Penn State Beaver 24/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wake Forest - Test optional; Penn State Beaver - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027.
• Penn State Beaver has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than Wake Forest (21.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 36.1% at Wake Forest vs. 9.5% at Penn State Beaver.

Wake Forest vs. Penn State Beaver Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wake Forest and Penn State Beaver? 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 Penn State Beaver's (47%).
• Graduates from Wake Forest University earn a median of about $21,900 more per year than Penn State Beaver graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,200 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wake Forest University graduates have a $3,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Beaver graduates ($23,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Wake Forest graduates have an estimated $40 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Beaver graduates ($237 vs. $277).
• More Wake Forest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Beaver students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 69%)

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.