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North Carolina Central University NCAT UNC Chapel Hill University of Richmond Fayetteville State University BC Duke Villanova UVA Davidson Holy Cross William & Mary| Wake Forest University | Winston Salem State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Wake Forest | WSSU | ||
| Location | Winston Salem, NC | Winston-Salem, NC | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 9,121 | 4,776 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #44 | #953 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wfu.edu | wssu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Wake Forest | WSSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $63,608 | $3,401 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $63,608 | $14,057 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,848 | $11,484 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $27,790 | $12,948 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $55,090 | $9,254 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 34% | 88% |
Admission |
Wake Forest | WSSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,479 | 9,273 | ||
| Admitted | 3,768 | 6,357 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 21.6% | 68.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 36.8% | 13.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 3.01 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 32/34 | 14/18 | ||
| SAT Range | 1390/1510 | 820/1050 | ||
| 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 | Feb 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Wake Forest | WSSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Wake Forest | WSSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 88% | 41% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $77,200 | $35,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 88% | 33% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,000 | $25,663 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $237 | $265 |
Diversity |
Wake Forest | WSSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 16% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 24% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | Yes | ||
| % White | 72% | 16% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 72% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 7% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 2% |
Students |
Wake Forest | WSSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 15% | 77% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 76% | 22% | ||
Campus |
Wake Forest | WSSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Wake Forest University is larger than than WSSU based on total student enrollment (9,121 students vs. 4,776 students)
Wake Forest vs. WSSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Wake Forest or WSSU?
- Wake Forest University is 1,770.3% more expensive to attend than WSSU for in-state tuition ($63,608.00 vs. $3,401.00)
- Out of state tuition is 352.5% higher at Wake Forest than Winston Salem State University ($63,608.00 vs. $14,057.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Winston Salem State University than Wake Forest ($12,948 vs. $27,790)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Winston Salem State University are 55.4% lower than costs at Wake Forest University ($11,484 vs. $17,848)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Winston Salem State University than Wake Forest University (88% vs. 34%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 495.3% larger than aid received Winston Salem State University ($55,090 vs. $9,254)
Wake Forest vs. WSSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Wake Forest or WSSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WSSU or Wake Forest .
- WSSU has a higher acceptance rate (68.6%) than Wake Forest (21.6%)
Wake Forest vs. WSSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Wake Forest or WSSU? 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 WSSU and Wake Forest.
- The graduation rate at Wake Forest is higher than Winston Salem State University (88% vs. 41%)
- Graduates from Wake Forest University earn on average $41,500 more per year than WSSU graduates after ten years. ($77,200 vs. $35,700)
- Wake Forest University students graduate with a $2,663 lower median federal student loan debt than WSSU graduates. ($23,000 vs. $25,663)
- Wake Forest graduates are paying $28 less per month on federal student loans than WSSU graduates. ($237 vs. $265)
- More Wake Forest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSSU students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 33%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/