Metrics of excellence

Record-breaking application numbers, the largest incoming undergraduate class in the University’s history and expanding national influence in key academic areas affirm the continuing strength of Wake Forest’s educational reputation.

This year’s incoming first-year class came from a highly competitive pool of nearly 20,000 applicants. The University welcomed 4,073 for admission, resulting in our most selective class ever with a 20.8 percent acceptance rate.

The Class of 2029 is the largest in the University’s history: 1,545.

While the class’s size and academic credentials are notable, its composition also reflects the University’s commitment to access. Preliminary numbers show Pell-eligible students now make up 14% of the class, and the number of first-generation students has grown to 12%; both 10-year highs.

On Sept.17, the University announced the North Carolina Gateway to Wake Forest University initiative.

“The North Carolina Gateway to Wake Forest University demonstrates our deep commitment to students from our home state,” said President Susan R. Wente. “It says clearly to students and families who may not have considered Wake Forest because of cost: ‘Wake Forest is within your reach.’

Three out of every five class sections at Wake Forest have fewer than 20 students. 99% of class sections have fewer than 50 students. Approximately 95% of Wake Forest faculty had PhDs or other terminal degrees.

Graduates consistently secure positions at top organizations and gain acceptance into prestigious graduate schools. More than 97% percent of undergraduates who enroll at Wake Forest as first-time, full-time students return for their second year.

“Wake Forest sits in an enviable spot among colleges and universities,” said President Susan R. Wente. “We have a strong culture, embodied in our motto, Pro Humanitate, that calls to those who seek to be catalysts for good. Our approach to developing students to lead with character and integrity is rooted in our liberal arts foundation and deep faculty engagement. And students love the vibrant atmosphere that comes with cheering on our Demon Deacon athletics as they compete at the highest levels.

“This unique combination of a personalized academic experience within a comprehensive, national university sets Wake Forest apart from large public universities and private colleges. Opportunities abound for mentored research, study abroad experiences, experiential learning, and interdisciplinary studies.”

Within six months of graduation, 97 percent of the Class of 2024 is employed or enrolled in graduate programs.

In 2023, U.S. News and World Report revised its methodology for ranking national universities, changing 17 of the 19 indicators from prior years. The aspects of a Wake Forest education most prized by students and alumni, like class size and faculty with a terminal degree, are no longer factors in the ranking methodology. On September 23, 2025, U.S. News and World Report revealed its 2025-2026 ranking of national universities, with a methodology relatively unchanged from the previous two years. Wake Forest is listed at 51, tied with five other schools. Five schools are tied at 46 in this year’s rankings, so no schools are listed at 47, 48, 49 or 50.

U.S. News rounds the overall score, so the difference between being ranked 46 and 51 is a few decimal points. Since U.S. News’ 2023 changes to its methodology, Wake Forest’s position in its rankings has changed little.

The contrast between the high demand for and the high quality of a Wake Forest education and the rankings provides evidence of the waning influence these rankings have on the decisions of prospective students and their families. Inside Higher Ed reports on research from the Art & Science Group, a higher education consulting and research firm, that finds only about one in 10 high school students cares about an institution’s particular rank.

Recognition of the University’s areas of academic excellence continues to grow.

In July, the second campus of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Charlotte welcomed its first class of students at the Howard R. Levine Center for Education in the heart of The Pearl Innovation District. Wake Forest University School of Medicine serves as the academic core of Advocate Health, one of the largest non-profit healthcare systems in the U.S.

Through its Educating Character Initiative, the Program for Leadership and Character has built a community of educators from more than 400 higher education institutions engaged in developing and implementing ideas for integrating character education on their campuses.

“At a time of change in higher education, a desire for leaders of character and integrity remains a constant,” said President Wente. “We’re proud that Wake Forest has been a leader in a movement toward educating character not only on this campus but on campuses nationwide.”

In the past four years, eight Wake Forest faculty have won highly competitive CAREER awards, the National Science Foundation’s most prestigious award for young faculty intended to provide a foundation for a lifetime of scientific leadership that integrates research and education. The awards total more than $4 million.

Through collaborative research, innovative curriculum development, and new faculty hires, a focus on Neuroscience and Society aims to expand and enhance Wake Forest’s vibrant community dedicated to advancing neuroscience for the benefit of individuals and society.