Top Ranked Programs
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.