Wake Forest Acceptance Rate: 19% for the Class of 2030, Early Decision and Test-Optional Policy
By Rona Aydin
What is the Wake Forest acceptance rate?
Wake Forest’s WFU Facts page lists 21,497 applicants for first-year admission and a first-year acceptance rate of 19% for 2026-27, the class that entered in fall 2026 as the Class of 2030. In March 2026, the admissions office wrote that it had reviewed “a record 21,000+ applications” and “selected 18% of students for admission” at that point in the cycle (Wake Forest Admissions, March 18, 2026). Wake Forest has not published the number admitted for the Class of 2030; Wake Forest Magazine reported “more than 1,590 first-year students” in fall 2026 (Wake Forest Magazine, August 17, 2026).
For fall 2025, the most recent year in the Common Data Set, Wake Forest received 19,600 first-year applications, admitted 4,068 students and enrolled 1,544, an acceptance rate of 20.8% and a yield of 38.0% by our calculation (Wake Forest Common Data Set 2025-2026). The university’s own account of that class gives 4,073 admitted, a 20.8% acceptance rate and 1,545 enrolled, “the largest in the University’s history” (Inside WFU, September 23, 2025).
How has the Wake Forest acceptance rate changed?
| Entering class | Applied | Admitted | Acceptance rate | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 (Class of 2030) | 21,497 | Not published | 19% (Wake Forest) | More than 1,590 |
| Fall 2025 (Class of 2029) | 19,600 | 4,068 | 20.8% | 1,544 |
| Fall 2024 (Class of 2028) | 18,727 | 4,058 | 21.7% | 1,466 |
| Fall 2023 (Class of 2027) | 17,479 | 3,768 | 21.6% | 1,385 |
| Fall 2022 (Class of 2026) | 16,857 | 3,602 | 21.4% | 1,370 |
Applications rose every year in this period, by 27.5% from fall 2022 to fall 2026 by our calculation, while the acceptance rate moved within a narrow band until the fall 2026 drop to 19%. The fall 2025 class of 1,545 was then the largest in Wake Forest history, and the fall 2026 class is larger.
How does Early Decision work at Wake Forest?
Wake Forest offers two binding Early Decision rounds, a nonbinding Early Action round open only to first-generation college students, and Regular Decision (Wake Forest Admissions). Early Decision I is rolling: the admissions office releases decisions “monthly to those with completed files,” and an Early Decision I applicant who is deferred moves to Regular Decision and is released from the binding commitment (Wake Forest Admissions, September 30, 2026).
Wake Forest does not report Early Decision applicant or admit counts in its recent Common Data Sets, so there is no current official Early Decision acceptance rate. In our view, Early Decision is still worth weighing for a student whose first choice is clearly Wake Forest, because a binding application tells the university the student will enroll. Our analysis of Early Decision and Regular Decision acceptance rates and our guide to Early Decision II cover the choice.
When are the Wake Forest application deadlines for fall 2027?
| Application plan | Application due | Decision released | Binding? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision I | November 15, 2026 | Rolling, monthly to completed files | Yes |
| Early Action (first-generation students only) | November 15, 2026 | By January 15, 2027 | No |
| Early Decision II | January 1, 2027 | By February 15, 2027 | Yes |
| Regular Decision | January 1, 2027 | By April 1, 2027 | No |
Is Wake Forest test optional?
Yes. Wake Forest announced in May 2008 that it would no longer require applicants to submit scores, starting with the class that entered in fall 2009 (Wake Forest Admissions). Scores are considered only if an applicant asks for them to be, self-reported scores are accepted and Wake Forest superscores (Wake Forest Admissions). Our list of colleges that require the SAT or ACT shows how Wake Forest compares.
What SAT scores and class rank do Wake Forest students have?
| Measure | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT total | 1420 | 1450 | 1490 |
| SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing | 700 | 730 | 750 |
| SAT Math | 700 | 730 | 760 |
| ACT Composite | 32 | 33 | 34 |
Because only about a quarter of the class submitted each test, these ranges describe a minority of enrolled students. Of the 17.4% of students whose schools reported class rank, 61.2% ranked in the top tenth and 89.6% in the top quarter. Wake Forest does not report an average GPA in its Common Data Set. Our guide to getting into Wake Forest covers the rest of the application.
Wake Forest uses a waiting list but does not publish waitlist counts in its Common Data Set. In July 2026, the admissions office said it would consider waitlisted applicants for the Class of 2030 until August 1, 2026 (Wake Forest Admissions); what a waitlist offer means there and what to send are in our Wake Forest waitlist guide.
How much does Wake Forest cost?
The WFU Facts page lists undergraduate tuition of $71,894 and an estimated cost of attendance of $98,730 for 2026-27. Under the Wake Forest Gateway Initiative, beginning with students admitted for fall 2026, North Carolina students who apply for aid, from families with incomes of $100,000 or less have tuition and standard living expenses covered, those from $100,001 to $200,000 have full tuition covered, and those from $200,001 to $300,000 have half of tuition covered (Wake Forest Student Financial Aid; Wake Forest News, September 17, 2025). Eligibility depends on household income and typical assets, and requires the FAFSA and CSS Profile. Wake Forest states that it meets 100% of demonstrated need for admitted undergraduates who are U.S. citizens (Wake Forest News). It also awards merit scholarships, covered in our guide to Wake Forest merit scholarships.
What does the Wake Forest acceptance rate mean for applicants?
In the view of Oriel Admissions, Wake Forest is a reach for most applicants, with about one in five admitted and applications rising every year. Because it is test optional and fewer than half of enrolled students submit a score, we believe the transcript, essays, recommendations and interview carry most of the weight, and a student should consider sending a score at or above 1450, the median for fall 2025 submitters. Students who are sure about Wake Forest should consider Early Decision I or II, and North Carolina families should check the Gateway Initiative before ruling out the cost. Families comparing nearby options can read our pages on Duke and Vanderbilt.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Wake Forest Acceptance Rate
Wake Forest reports a first-year acceptance rate of 19% for 2026-27, the Class of 2030, from 21,497 applicants. For fall 2025, its Common Data Set shows 4,068 admitted from 19,600 applicants, or 20.8% by our calculation.
Wake Forest does not report Early Decision applicant or admit counts in its recent Common Data Sets, so there is no current official Early Decision acceptance rate.
Yes. Wake Forest has been test optional since the class that entered in fall 2009. Scores are considered only if the applicant asks, and Wake Forest superscores.
Wake Forest does not set a minimum score. Enrolled students who submitted the SAT in fall 2025 had a middle 50% range of 1420 to 1490, and only 24% of the class submitted the SAT.
For fall 2027 entry, Early Decision I closes November 15, 2026, with rolling monthly decisions, and Early Decision II closes January 1, 2027, with decisions by February 15.
Only for first-generation college students. Early Action is nonbinding, closes November 15 and releases decisions by January 15. Other applicants choose between Early Decision I, Early Decision II and Regular Decision.
Not for every family. Beginning with students admitted for fall 2026, North Carolina students who apply for aid and whose families earn $200,000 or less, with assets also considered, receive full tuition, and those at $100,000 or less also have standard living expenses covered.
Wake Forest enrolled 1,544 first-year students in fall 2025 and more than 1,590 in fall 2026. In the view of Oriel Admissions, it suits students who want a research university with a residential, undergraduate-focused feel.
Sources: WFU Facts, Wake Forest Admissions, March 18, 2026, Inside WFU, September 23, 2025, Wake Forest Common Data Set 2025-2026, Common Data Set 2024-2025, Common Data Set 2023-2024, Common Data Set 2022-2023, Wake Forest how to apply, Wake Forest Admissions, September 30, 2026, Wake Forest test-optional policy, Wake Forest waitlist update, July 9, 2026, Wake Forest Magazine, August 17, 2026, Wake Forest Class of 2031 page, Wake Forest Gateway Initiative, Wake Forest News, September 17, 2025.
About Oriel Admissions
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