Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Wake Forest University #192 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median $92,943 four years after enrollment, placing Wake Forest University in the 93.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Finance #6 nationally for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — a program-level strength that anchors Wake Forest University's broad earnings profile. Wake Forest University earn about $9,791 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the university in the 85.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Wake Forest University #40 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting strong graduate earnings relative to cost across the institution's business-led program mix.
Azimuth ranks Wake Forest University #192 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Winston-Salem, NC, Wake Forest University enrolls roughly 5,485 undergraduates. Retention is 92.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 89.1%, reflecting strong degree completion relative to enrollment. Where Wake Forest University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Wake Forest University #40 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $92,943. Graduates earn about $9,791 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Wake Forest University in the 85.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Business anchors the degree portfolio, and the university's business-leaning program mix contributes to consistently strong post-graduation earnings. The composite is shaped by a narrower access profile. Wake Forest University admits about 21.7% of applicants — a selectivity level that limits the size of each entering class and the share of low-income students the institution enrolls (10.1% Pell, 12.0% first-generation). Access sits in the 54.0 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, while affordability sits in the 25.4 percentile and mobility in the 59.3 percentile for their respective measures among nonprofit four-year institutions. For students who gain admission, the earnings trajectory and degree-completion rates position Wake Forest University as a strong long-term financial outcome among private universities in NC.
Wake Forest University's published cost of attendance is $87,499. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $6,525, middle-income families pay around $7,647, and higher-income families pay approximately $58,081. Azimuth ranks Wake Forest University #1063 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Wake Forest University meets demonstrated financial need for admitted students through a combination of need-based scholarships, grants, and loans. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and the university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Merit scholarships are also available for qualifying students, which can further reduce net price depending on academic and extracurricular profile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $30,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at Wake Forest University's median four-year earnings of $92,943, median federal debt of $21,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $243 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Wake Forest University is a strong fit for students drawn to business, finance, and related professional fields who want a private research university experience in Winston-Salem, NC, and are prepared for a selective admissions process and a higher net price in exchange for strong long-term financial outcomes. Graduates earn median $92,943 four years after enrollment, placing Wake Forest University in the 93.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Wake Forest University also sits in the 85.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $9,791 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a signal that the institution's outcomes hold up even after accounting for the profile of students it enrolls. The aid structure matters here. Higher-income families pay a net price of $58,081, and typical federal student debt at graduation is $21,500. 10.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 12.0% are first-generation students — a comparatively narrow access profile that reflects the institution's selective character. Pell-eligible students who are admitted complete at a rate of 83.9%, a meaningful signal for low-income students weighing the fit. Fit depends on two realistic filters: Wake Forest University admits about 21.7% of applicants, making the application process highly competitive, and the program mix is concentrated in Business and related fields. Students whose academic interests align with that concentration and who can manage the higher net price will find the earnings trajectory among the strongest in the nonprofit four-year institutions.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Wake Forest University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Wake Forest University's published cost of attendance is $87,499. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $6,525, middle-income families pay around $7,647, and higher-income families pay approximately $58,081.
Azimuth ranks Wake Forest University #1063 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Wake Forest University meets demonstrated financial need for admitted students through a combination of need-based scholarships, grants, and loans. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and the university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.
Merit scholarships are also available for qualifying students, which can further reduce net price depending on academic and extracurricular profile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $30,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at Wake Forest University's median four-year earnings of $92,943, median federal debt of $21,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $243 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Wake Forest University earn median 4-year earnings of $92,943, placing the institution in the 93.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $9,791 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Wake Forest University in the 85.5 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Wake Forest University #40 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Wake Forest University's concentration in Business.
Business/Commerce, General is the largest program with 154 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $118,167, representing 1.7× the national benchmark for the field. Finance and Political Science follow as substantial cohorts, with Political Science graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $85,668 at 1.4× the benchmark.
Communication and Media Studies and Economics round out the top programs, with Communication and Media Studies graduates earning $77,984 and Economics graduates earning $98,209. This program-level diversity supports consistent long-term earnings growth across Wake Forest University's graduate cohort.
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
18 graduates
Finance and Financial Management Services
147 graduates
Business/Commerce, General
154 graduates
Computer Science
49 graduates
Economics
120 graduates
Wake Forest University's program mix is anchored in social sciences, business, and professional fields — a portfolio shaped by the institution's liberal arts identity and Salem's regional economy. Business/Commerce, General is the largest program with 154 graduates, followed by Finance, Political Science, Communication and Media Studies, and Economics.
The institution offers 31 programs across 1,532 students annually, with 13 programs meeting Azimuth's ranking threshold. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in applied professional fields.
Finance graduates earn median earnings of $145,996 four years after enrollment with 147 graduates, while Business/Commerce, General delivers $118,167 with 154 graduates. Computer Science and Economics follow with median earnings of $115,493 and $98,209 respectively, reflecting the institution's strength in fields with direct labor-market pathways.
Among the most popular majors, Business/Commerce, General graduates earn $118,167, while Political Science and Communication and Media Studies earn $85,668 and $77,984 respectively. Wake Forest University's program distribution reflects a liberal arts emphasis on Business (22%), Social Sciences (20%), and Engineering (3%), positioning graduates for careers in education, public service, business, and professional fields.
Many of these pathways — particularly in Business and education-adjacent fields — support both direct workforce entry and graduate-school-dependent trajectories where four-year earnings reflect early-career outcomes before advanced degree completion. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with regional and national labor-market trends.
Consider these schools with similar outcomes but higher acceptance rates:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Elon University Higher acceptance rate (45.8 percentage points higher) and located 43 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NC | 67% | $74,545 | Compare |
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University Higher acceptance rate (35.5 percentage points higher) and located 76 miles away; similar graduate earnings | VA | 57% | $81,698 | Compare |
North Carolina State University At Raleigh Higher acceptance rate (18.3 percentage points higher) and located 93 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NC | 40% | $68,758 | Compare |
Virginia Military Institute Higher acceptance rate (60.2 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | VA | 82% | $77,369 | Compare |
American University Higher acceptance rate (25.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | DC | 47% | $77,370 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of The Pacific Similar quality tier (#4338 ranked) | CA | 71% | $78,445 | #4338 | Compare |
Saint Xavier University Similar quality tier (#4340 ranked) | IL | 84% | $58,656 | #4340 | Compare |
Illinois Institute Of Technology Similar quality tier (#4345 ranked) | IL | 55% | $82,592 | #4345 | Compare |
Babson College Similar quality tier (#4320 ranked) | MA | 17% | $123,938 | #4320 | Compare |
Holy Family University Similar quality tier (#4348 ranked) | PA | 71% | $62,235 | #4348 | Compare |
