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Clemson Georgia CofC Virginia Tech NC State Auburn Florida State Tennessee Penn State UNC Chapel Hill IU Coastal Carolina| Wake Forest University | University of South Carolina Columbia | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Wake Forest | UofSC | ||
| Location | Winston Salem, NC | Columbia, SC | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 9,121 | 36,579 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #44 | #210 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wfu.edu | sc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Wake Forest | UofSC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $63,608 | $12,288 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $63,608 | $34,534 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,848 | $12,558 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $27,790 | $26,068 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $55,090 | $6,762 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 34% | 91% |
Admission |
Wake Forest | UofSC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,479 | 46,682 | ||
| Admitted | 3,768 | 28,706 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 21.6% | 61.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 36.8% | 25.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 3.69 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 32/34 | 26/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1390/1510 | 1180/1380 | ||
| 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 | Dec 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Wake Forest | UofSC | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Wake Forest | UofSC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 88% | 70% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $77,200 | $51,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 88% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,000 | $23,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $237 | $240 |
Diversity |
Wake Forest | UofSC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 16% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 24% | 14% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 72% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 7% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% |
Students |
Wake Forest | UofSC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 15% | 54% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 76% | 45% | ||
Campus |
Wake Forest | UofSC | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of South Carolina Columbia is larger than than Wake Forest based on total student enrollment (36,579 students vs. 9,121 students)
Wake Forest vs. UofSC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Wake Forest or UofSC?
- Wake Forest University is 417.6% more expensive to attend than UofSC for in-state tuition ($63,608.00 vs. $12,288.00)
- Out of state tuition is 84.2% higher at Wake Forest than University of South Carolina Columbia ($63,608.00 vs. $34,534.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Carolina Columbia than Wake Forest ($26,068 vs. $27,790)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Columbia are 42.1% lower than costs at Wake Forest University ($12,558 vs. $17,848)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of South Carolina Columbia than Wake Forest University (91% vs. 34%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 714.7% larger than aid received University of South Carolina Columbia ($55,090 vs. $6,762)
Wake Forest vs. UofSC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Wake Forest or UofSC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UofSC or Wake Forest .
- UofSC has a higher acceptance rate (61.5%) than Wake Forest (21.6%)
Wake Forest vs. UofSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Wake Forest or UofSC? 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 UofSC and Wake Forest.
- The graduation rate at Wake Forest is higher than University of South Carolina Columbia (88% vs. 70%)
- Graduates from Wake Forest University earn on average $25,500 more per year than UofSC graduates after ten years. ($77,200 vs. $51,700)
- Wake Forest University students graduate with a $250 lower median federal student loan debt than UofSC graduates. ($23,000 vs. $23,250)
- Wake Forest graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than UofSC graduates. ($237 vs. $240)
- More Wake Forest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UofSC 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/