Wake Forest University

Wake Forest University is a private institution that was founded in 1834. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,447 (fall 2022), and the campus size is 340 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Wake Forest University's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #47. Its tuition and fees are $64,758.


Wake Forest University is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, just a few hours by car from skiing in the Blue Ridge Mountains or relaxing on the beaches of South Carolina. Campus Recreation offers intramural sports and outdoor trips such as kayaking on the New River, mountain biking and sky-diving. The Demon Deacons, Wake’s athletic teams, are members of the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference. When Wake Forest played rival Duke University in 1922 and won, a local reporter described the Wake players as "Demon Deacons," and thus, the mascot was born. Students must live on campus for six semesters in one of the residence halls. Greek organizations play a big role at Wake Forest, with membership consisting of almost half of the student body.


Wake Forest is made up of six schools. Its graduate programs include those in the highly ranked School of Law, School of Business and School of Medicine. Undergraduates are enrolled in either Wake Forest College or the business school. More than 60 percent of students take advantage of Wake’s study abroad programs offered in more than 70 countries around the world. Notable alumni include the shortest NBA player of all-time, Muggsy Bogues; legendary golfer Arnold Palmer; and journalist and talk show host Al Hunt.