Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Auburn Alabama Kentucky Clemson Ole Miss UofSC Florida State ASU IU JMU Georgia UNC Chapel Hill| Wake Forest University | The University of Tennessee | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Wake Forest | Tennessee | ||
| Location | Winston Salem, NC | Knoxville, TN | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 9,121 | 36,304 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #44 | #222 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wfu.edu | tennessee.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Wake Forest | Tennessee | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $63,608 | $11,332 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $63,608 | $29,522 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,848 | $12,500 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $27,790 | $20,885 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $55,090 | $11,491 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 34% | 85% |
Admission |
Wake Forest | Tennessee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,479 | 50,488 | ||
| Admitted | 3,768 | 23,221 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 21.6% | 46% | ||
| Enrolled % | 36.8% | 28.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 3.66 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 32/34 | 25/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1390/1510 | 1190/1340 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Required to be considered for admission | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Wake Forest | Tennessee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 18:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Wake Forest | Tennessee | ||
| Graduation Rate | 88% | 63% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $77,200 | $56,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 88% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,000 | $20,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $237 | $206 |
Diversity |
Wake Forest | Tennessee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 16% | 9% | ||
| % Women | 24% | 11% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 72% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 7% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 3% |
Students |
Wake Forest | Tennessee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 15% | 58% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 76% | 41% | ||
Campus |
Wake Forest | Tennessee | ||
| 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
- The University of Tennessee is larger than than Wake Forest based on total student enrollment (36,304 students vs. 9,121 students)
Wake Forest vs. Tennessee Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Wake Forest or Tennessee?
- Wake Forest University is 461.3% more expensive to attend than Tennessee for in-state tuition ($63,608.00 vs. $11,332.00)
- Out of state tuition is 115.5% higher at Wake Forest than The University of Tennessee ($63,608.00 vs. $29,522.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Tennessee than Wake Forest ($20,885 vs. $27,790)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee are 42.8% lower than costs at Wake Forest University ($12,500 vs. $17,848)
- More students receive financial grant aid at The University of Tennessee than Wake Forest University (85% vs. 34%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 379.4% larger than aid received The University of Tennessee ($55,090 vs. $11,491)
Wake Forest vs. Tennessee Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Wake Forest or Tennessee? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Tennessee or Wake Forest .
- Tennessee has a higher acceptance rate (46%) than Wake Forest (21.6%)
Wake Forest vs. Tennessee Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Wake Forest or Tennessee? 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 Tennessee and Wake Forest.
- The graduation rate at Wake Forest is higher than The University of Tennessee (88% vs. 63%)
- Graduates from Wake Forest University earn on average $20,900 more per year than Tennessee graduates after ten years. ($77,200 vs. $56,300)
- The University of Tennessee students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Wake Forest graduates. ($20,000 vs. $23,000)
- Tennessee graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than Wake Forest graduates. ($206 vs. $237)
- More Wake Forest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tennessee 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/