Facts & Figures

By the Numbers

Wake Forest combines the facilities of a research institution with a degree of faculty engagement most often associated with small liberal arts colleges. To put it another way: Yes, you can have it all.

As you’re exploring Wake Forest, take a look below to learn a little bit about who we are. Additional quick facts and other information about Wake Forest can be found on our About Us site.

Mentored Research

Undergraduate students are immediately eligible for mentored research, with 52% faculty participation since 2018.

97%

Percentage of Wake Forest University graduates that find employment or graduate school placement within six months of receiving their degrees.

68,648,118

Round-trip miles traveled by Wake Foresters studying abroad from summer 2014 through spring 2023. For a single traveler, that’s 144 round trips from Earth to the moon.

Enrollment (2022-23)

  • Applicants for first-year admission: 17,496
  • First-year student accepted/enrolled: 3,601/1,379 (20%)
  • Total undergraduate enrollment: 5,447
  • Graduate and professional schools: 3,516
  • Total university enrollment: 8,963

Costs & Fees (2023-24)

  • Undergraduate tuition: $64,758
  • Housing: $11,214
  • Food: $6,634
  • Books, supplies and other fees: $4,950
  • Estimated cost of attendance: $87,556

Visit our Affordability page for more on costs and fees.

Academics

  • Majors offered: 50
  • Minors offered: 60
  • Student to faculty ratio: 11 to 1
  • Faculty with the highest degree in their field: 94%
  • Classes with fewer than 50 students: 99%

Student Demographics

  • States represented: 47
  • Countries represented: 48
  • Ethnic diversity (historically underrepresented groups): 33%

Campus Life

Athletics

  • Division: NCAA Division I (Football Bowl Subdivision)
  • Conference: Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)
  • Varsity teams: 18 (9 men’s, 9 women’s)
  • NCAA Championships: 10
  • Student-athlete graduation rate as measured by the NCAA: 96%

The Wake Forest Basics

  • Founded: 1834
  • Status: Private, coeducational collegiate university with a liberal arts curriculum
  • President: Susan R. Wente
  • Motto: Pro Humanitate (For Humanity)
  • Colors: Old Gold and Black
  • Mascot: The Demon Deacon
  • Alma Mater: “Dear Old Wake Forest”

Dear old Wake Forest, Thine is a noble name;
Thine is a glorious fame, Constant and true.
We give thee of our praise, Adore thine ancient days,
Sing thee our humble lays, Mother, so dear.
Dear old Wake Forest, Mystic thy name to cheer;
Be thou our guardian near fore’er and aye.
We bow before thy shrine, Thy brow with bays entwine,
All honor now be thine, Mother, today.

— George W. Paschal, Class of 1892 (Thuringian folk song)

  • Fight Song: “O Here’s To Wake Forest”