Transfer Students

Wake Forest students relaxing and having fun on Davis Field

We’re just what you’re looking for.

No matter when you join our family, you’ll feel right at home as soon as you arrive.

Why transfer to Wake Forest University?

As a transfer student at Wake Forest, you will begin a journey of discovery, where you will work through challenges, develop skills, and envision a future that will impact the world. Your faculty members will invite you to analyze, create, and question in ways that will engage and inspire you inside and outside of the classroom.

Clubs and organizations will provide you chances to bring to life the Wake Forest Pro Humanitate mindset and pursue your passions in concrete ways. You will engage with the liberal arts in disciplines that will shape you for the rest of your life.

And, through this all, you will form friendships with fellow students, faculty, and staff mentors that will last a lifetime.

More in this section

Applying as a Transfer Student

Seeking a Second Undergraduate Degree

Seeking Unclassified Student Status

The Best Decision I Ever Made

Hear from Wake Forest transfer students about their decision to attend Wake Forest, a place filled with incredibly talented people who want to engage with the world in impactful ways.

Applying as a Transfer Student

Students participating in the Wakechella event

A student who has graduated from high school and then taken any college coursework must apply as a transfer applicant to Wake Forest. An applicant for admission who has attended another college must have an overall average of at least C on all college work attempted and must either be a graduate of a standard junior college or furnish a certificate of honorable dismissal stating eligibility in all respects to enter the last college attended.

The Application Process

Wake Forest welcomes the submission of applications from transfer students, and the number of transfer students admitted varies from semester to semester depending on the current enrollment. Traditionally, more students are admitted for the fall semester than the spring semester.

Information on our transfer credit policy

Application deadlines for transfer students are listed below. International students should review information found on our International Students page for additional information and instructions on how to apply.

When do I need to apply by?

Spring 2026

Apply by: November 1, 2025

Decisions are released by mid-December

Fall 2026

Apply by: March 15, 2026

Decisions are released by mid-May

What do I need to include with my application for admission?

A complete list of items that you will need to include as part of your application for admission are included on our Apply page.

Specific to transfer applicants, the following documents are required:

College transcripts from all colleges attended
Final High School transcript
Required upon Enrollment: Dean’s Statement for Transfer Students from each college attended; the Common Application “Transfer College Report” form may also be used to verify your academic standing
TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo (International students only)

We do not offer interviews to transfer applicants.

Seeking a Second Undergraduate Degree

Students desiring a second undergraduate degree from WFU must apply to transfer to Wake Forest University. You must still complete all degree requirements (including all basic and divisional requirements) prior to earning your second degree.

In order to graduate from Wake Forest, you must complete at least half of your degree and half of your major and minor (if applicable) at Wake Forest.

Submit all materials to:

Undergraduate Admissions
P.O. Box 7305
Winston-Salem, NC 27109-7305

Seeking Unclassified Student Status

Students walking across campus inbetween classes.

Individuals desiring to continue their education as non-degree seeking students may take courses at Wake Forest. Only students who have already earned an undergraduate degree will be considered.

In addition to the application materials listed on our Apply page, the following items must be submitted in order for your application to be considered:

Completed Unclassified Student Application
Final college transcript (must state degree earned and date of graduation)

Commonly Asked Questions

Does Wake Forest University have a residency requirement for transfer students?

Yes. Transfer students have the same residency requirement as first-year students, with the caveat that terms spent at other institutions may contribute towards meeting the six semester total (at the Office of Residence Life and Housing‘s determination).

What are the housing options for transfer students?

Transfer students are usually paired with another transfer student through a similar housing process to first-year students (i.e., a housing questionnaire designed to place a student with a roommate who shares personality characteristics regarding the living space). Transfer students are almost always placed into upper-class student housing blocs similar to returning Wake Forest students.

Do transfer students at Wake Forest need to attend orientation?

There is an abbreviated, one day orientation program for incoming transfer students, and attendance is required. This orientation happens shortly before the start of classes each term, and focuses on advising and learning what campus resources are available to Wake Forest students.