Charleston Southern vs Wake Forest University (WFU)
Charleston Southern University and Wake Forest University, two distinct institutions of higher learning, offer unique educational experiences to their students. Charleston Southern, a private Christian university, boasts a tight-knit community with a strong emphasis on faith-based education. Wake Forest, a private research university, is renowned for its academic excellence and vibrant campus life. With acceptance rates of 75% and 29%, respectively, these universities cater to different applicant pools. Charleston Southern's popular majors include Business, Education, and Nursing, while Wake Forest excels in fields such as Business, Biology, and Psychology. Explore the comparison table below to delve into further details about these universities, including student body demographics, graduation rates, and more, to determine which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Charleston Southern University |
![]() Wake Forest University |
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Overview |
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Location | Charleston, South Carolina | Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | City: Midsize |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | 4-1-4 | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 68.0% | 94.0% |
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Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | Baptist | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 57.2% | 25.2% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$85
Graduate:
$80
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SAT range | 990 - 1200 | N/A |
ACT range | 18 - 23 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 50.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 39.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 3,940 | 15,156 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,254 | 3,816 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 690 | 1,412 |
Yield rate | 30.6% | 37.0% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $42,500 | $79,886 |
Average net price | $18,182 | $24,643 |
Tuition | $28,630 | $58,708 |
Room & board | $11,032 |
Room/dormitory:
$10,144
Meal plan:
$7,870
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
99.0%
Average amount $22,425 |
33.0%
Average amount $53,244 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
56.0%
Average amount $5,238 |
17.0%
Average amount $4,985 |
Students taking out private loans |
12.0%
Average amount $10,921 |
3.0%
Average amount $32,719 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,725
Men 35.6% Women 64.4% |
5,472
Men 45.7% Women 54.3% |
Graduate students |
616
Men 36.7% Women 63.3% |
3,475
Men 42.4% Women 57.6% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 23.5% | N/A |
International students | 2.3% | 9.8% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | City: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 1,424 | 4,152 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | South Carolina North Carolina Georgia Florida Pennsylvania | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 13:1 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 49.3% | 90.2% |
Dropout rate | 49.7% | 9.5% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Master's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
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