Wake Forest University: A Deep Dive into Student Enrollment Statistics

Wake Forest University (WFU), a private research university nestled in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has a rich history dating back to its founding in 1834. Originally located in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, the university has grown into a comprehensive institution offering undergraduate and graduate programs across various fields, including business, arts and sciences, professional studies, divinity, law, and medicine. This article delves into the university's student enrollment statistics, providing a detailed analysis of trends, demographics, and other relevant data.

Historical Context and Evolution

The establishment of Wake Forest Institute was ratified during the Baptist State Convention of 1833. The school was founded after the North Carolina Baptist State Convention purchased a 615-acre (249 ha) plantation from Calvin Jones in an area north of Raleigh (Wake County) called the "Forest of Wake". The institution, initially named the Wake Forest Manual Labor Institute, opened its doors on February 3, 1834. Students and staff were required to spend half of each day doing manual labor on its plantation. In 1838, the school was renamed Wake Forest College, and the manual-labor system was abandoned.

Key Historical Milestones

1862: The school closed during the American Civil War due to the loss of most students and some faculty to service in the Confederate States Army.
1866: The college re-opened and prospered over the next four decades.
1894: The School of Law was established.
1902: The School of Medicine was established.
1941: The School of Medicine moved to Winston-Salem and became the Bowman Gray School of Medicine.
1956: The college moved to Winston-Salem.
1962: Wake Forest desegregated, accepting Edward Reynolds as the first black full-time undergraduate student.
1967: The school became the fully accredited Wake Forest University.
1969: The Babcock Graduate School of Management, now known as the School of Business, was established.

Overall Student Population

The student population at Wake Forest University is 9,121 (5,471 undergraduate and 3,650 graduate students). The number of students has increased by 1,284 over the past decade. The percentage of undergraduate students at Wake Forest is 59.98%, which is increased by 600 over last 10 years. The graduate student population increased by 684 and it has been increasing. The average student population over the last 10 years is 8,515 where 9,121 students are attending the school for the academic year 2023-2024. 59.98% of total students is undergraduate students and 40.02% students is graduate students. The number of undergraduate students has increased by 600 and the graduate enrollment has increased by 684 over past 10 years.

Gender Distribution

The female to male ratio is 1.33 to 1, indicating that female students enroll more than male students. The following table and chart illustrate the changes in student population by gender at Wake Forest University since 2015.

Undergraduate Enrollment Trends

The average number of Undergraduate students over the last 10 years is 5,252 where 5,471 students are attending the Undergraduate school for the academic year 2023-2024. The following table and chart illustrate the changes in Undergraduate enrollment by attending status and gender at Wake Forest University since 2015.

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Graduate Enrollment Trends

The average number of Graduate students over the last 10 years is 3,263 where 3,650 students are attending the Graduate school for the academic year 2023-2024. The following table and chart illustrate the changes in Graduate enrollment by attending status and gender at Wake Forest University since 2015.

Race and Ethnicity Demographics

The percentage of white students is 61.97%. The percentage was 70.15% 10 years ago and Wake Forest still has a high percentage of white students. 5.89% of enrolled students is Asian and 8.23% is black students. The following table and chart illustrate the student population trends by race/ethnicity at Wake Forest University over the past 10 years (2015-2024).

Distance Learning (Online Courses)

1,013 students are enrolled in online degree programs exclusively for the academic year 2023-2024, which is 11% of total students. The number of online students has increased 350.22% since 2015. The following table and chart illustrate the changes in the online student population by enrolled type at Wake Forest University from 2015 to 2024.

Admissions Statistics

For freshmen enrolling in the fall of 2023, the university received 17,479 applications and admitted 3,768, or 21.56 percent. 1,385 students enrolled, making the yield rate (percentage of accepted students who then enrolled) 36.75 percent. Approximately 55 percent of the class are women and 45 percent are men. Wake Forest University does not require applicants to submit a college entrance exam score; of the 26 percent of applicants who did submit SAT scores, the middle 50 percent for total scores were between 1410 and 1500.

In 2023, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Wake Forest University was 21.6% (3,768 admissions from 17,479 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2022, which was 21.4%. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of applicants grew by 3.69%, while admissions grew by 4.61%. Wake Forest University received 17,479 undergraduate applications in 2023, which represents a 3.69% annual growth. Out of those 17,479 applicants, 3,768 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 21.6% acceptance rate. There were 9,121 students enrolled at Wake Forest University in 2023. 26% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications. Wake Forest University has an overall enrollment yield of 36.8%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

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Costs and Financial Aid

In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at Wake Forest University is $63,608, which is $32,605 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004). After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $27,790. In 2023, 42% of undergraduate students attending Wake Forest University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 15% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

In 2023, the cost of tuition at Wake Forest University was $63,608. The cost of tuition at Wake Forest University is $32,605 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004). In 2023 Wake Forest University had an average net price - the price paid after factoring in grants and loans - of $27,790. Between 2022 and 2023, the average net price of Wake Forest University grew by 6.08%. The average yearly cost of room and board at Wake Forest University was of $16,652 in 2023. The cost of room and board increased by 3.79% between 2022 and 2023. During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,500. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

42% of undergraduate students at Wake Forest University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2023. This represents a growth of 2.44% with respect to 2022, when 41% of undergraduate students received financial aid. In 2021 the default rate for borrower's at Wake Forest University was 0%, which represents 0 out of the 1138 total borrowers.

Retention and Graduation Rates

The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Wake Forest University was 95%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (84%), Wake Forest University had a retention rate higher than its peers.

In 2023, 86% of students graduating from Wake Forest University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 90% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 91% within 200%. The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2023 at Wake Forest University is Female and Asian (100% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (74.3%).

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Degrees Awarded

In 2023, 3,051 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Wake Forest University. 55.1% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 44.9% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (1,960 degrees), 8.38 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (234 degrees). In 2023, 313 more women than men received degrees from Wake Forest University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Wake Forest University is white (1,960 degrees awarded). There were 8.38 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (234 degrees).

In 2023, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Wake Forest University was General Finance with 156 degrees awarded. In 2023, 1,369 degrees were awarded to men at Wake Forest University, which is 0.814 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (1,682). The most common race/ethnicity at Wake Forest University is white (1,960 degrees awarded). There were 8.38 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (234 degrees). The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Wake Forest University is white female (1,070 degrees awarded). There were 1.2 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (890 degrees).

Campus and Resources

Wake Forest University has several campuses and facilities that support its academic and research activities:

Reynolda Campus: The main campus, housing the undergraduate colleges and most graduate schools.
North Campus: Features Hearn Plaza ("the quad"), residential buildings, and Wait Chapel.
South Campus: Home to Manchester Quad, freshman housing, classroom buildings, and the Benson Center.
Reynolda House Museum of American Art: A historic estate that partners with the university for student engagement.
Reynolda Gardens: A 129-acre preserve used for horticultural and environmental science research.
Reynolda Village: Adjacent to campus, offering stores, restaurants, and offices.
Graylyn Estate: A premier meeting destination owned by the university.
University Corporate Center: Houses university offices, including Information Systems and Financial Services.
Charlotte Center: Offers part-time MBA programs and continuing education courses.
Washington, D.C. Campus: Provides undergraduate and law classes.
Casa Artom (Venice): A study abroad location in a historic building on the Grand Canal.
Flow House (Vienna): A three-story villa used for study abroad programs.
Worrell House (London): A large home in Hampstead for the London program.
Wake Downtown: Programs in biomedical sciences and engineering.

Rankings and Reputation

Wake Forest University is ranked No. 46 in National Universities. It's also ranked No. 22 in Lowest Acceptance Rates. The student-faculty ratio at Wake Forest University is 10:1, and it utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. The four-year graduation rate is 87%. Six years after graduation, the median salary for graduates is $67,722.

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