Wake Forest University Acceptance Rate
Winston-Salem, North Carolina · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 17,479
- Admitted
- 3,768
- Yield
- 36.8%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Wake Forest University's acceptance rate has fallen from 34.4% in 2014–15 to 21.6% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 11,119 to 17,479 (+57%) over that period.
Its 21.6% rate makes Wake Forest University more selective than about 95% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 53 tracked North Carolina schools, it is more selective than about 92%.
Wake Forest University has been test-optional since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 36.8% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 11,119 | 3,826 | 34.4% | 1,287 |
| 2015–16 | 13,281 | 3,903 | 29.4% | 1,284 |
| 2016–17 | 14,006 | 4,249 | 30.3% | 1,306 |
| 2017–18 | 13,071 | 3,604 | 27.6% | 1,349 |
| 2018–19 | 12,937 | 3,803 | 29.4% | 1,421 |
| 2019–20 | 12,559 | 3,717 | 29.6% | 1,360 |
| 2020–21 | 11,959 | 3,825 | 32% | 1,452 |
| 2021–22 | 15,156 | 3,816 | 25.2% | 1,412 |
| 2022–23 | 16,857 | 3,602 | 21.4% | 1,370 |
| 2023–24 | 17,479 | 3,768 | 21.6% | 1,385 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 9,613 | 2,017 | 21% |
| Men | 7,864 | 1,751 | 22.3% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 690–740 | 26% |
| SAT Math | 700–770 | |
| ACT Composite | 32–34 | 22% |
How Wake Forest University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Wake Forest University's acceptance rate?
Wake Forest University's acceptance rate is 21.6% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (3,768 admitted of 17,479 applicants).
Is Wake Forest University test optional?
Wake Forest University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Wake Forest University?
Wake Forest University received 17,479 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 3,768.
What SAT score do you need for Wake Forest University?
Admitted students at Wake Forest University typically scored 690–740 on SAT Reading/Writing and 700–770 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Wake Forest University getting harder to get into?
Wake Forest University has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 34.4% in 2014–15 to 21.6% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.wfu.edu/.