Virginia Wesleyan University (VWU) vs Wake Forest University (WFU)

Virginia Wesleyan University and Wake Forest University, while both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Virginia Wesleyan, a private liberal arts university in Virginia Beach, Virginia, boasts a tight-knit community with a focus on undergraduate education. Wake Forest, a private research university in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, offers a broader range of academic programs and research opportunities. With varying acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates, these universities cater to different student profiles and aspirations. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover which university aligns best with your academic goals and personal preferences.
Virginia Wesleyan University logo

Virginia Wesleyan University

Wake Forest University logo

Wake Forest University

Overview

Location Virginia Beach, Virginia Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Campus setting City: Large 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 66.0% 94.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation Methodism

Admission

Acceptance rate 86.4% 25.2%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $85

Graduate: $80
SAT range 1150 - 1380 N/A
ACT range 27 - 31 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 13.0%
Students submitting ACT score 4.0%
Total number of applicants 2,076 15,156
Total number of admissions given out 1,793 3,816
Admitted students who chose to enroll 341 1,412
Yield rate 19.0% 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) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $51,994 $79,886
Average net price $22,584 $24,643
Tuition $36,010 $58,708
Room & board $10,264
Room/dormitory: $10,144

Meal plan: $7,870
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

99.0%
Average amount $27,737
33.0%
Average amount $53,244
Students receiving federal student loan 62.0%
Average amount $5,299
17.0%
Average amount $4,985
Students taking out private loans 13.0%
Average amount $13,485
3.0%
Average amount $32,719

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 1,241
Men 39.2% Women 60.8%
5,472
Men 45.7% Women 54.3%
Graduate students 83
Men 41.0% Women 59.0%
3,475
Men 42.4% Women 57.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 1.4% 9.8%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 858 4,152
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Social Sciences
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Legal Profession
  • Education
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Students to faculty ratio 12:1 10:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 46.8% 90.2%
Dropout rate 16.2% 9.5%
Transferred out 36.7% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $39,664
  • Year 2: $37,208
  • Year 3: $43,880
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,137
  • Year 2: $35,330
  • Year 3: $42,341
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $28,598
  • Year 3: $38,256
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,903
  • Year 2: $29,685
  • Year 3: $35,121
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $31,851
  • Year 3: $33,071
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $28,084
  • Year 2: $26,643
  • Year 3: $30,475
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $20,140
  • Year 3: $30,197
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $19,227
  • Year 3: N/A
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $48,432
  • Year 3: N/A
International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $21,781
  • Year 3: N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $169,430
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $155,438
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $96,143
  • Year 2: $96,587
  • Year 3: $105,398
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,169
  • Year 2: $80,510
  • Year 3: $96,761
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $86,086
  • Year 2: $76,836
  • Year 3: $93,939
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,098
  • Year 2: $71,015
  • Year 3: $89,902
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,076
  • Year 2: $65,145
  • Year 3: $79,400
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,533
  • Year 2: $66,653
  • Year 3: $76,702
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,731
  • Year 2: $60,811
  • Year 3: $72,065
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,100
  • Year 2: $55,693
  • Year 3: $70,717
Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,086
  • Year 2: $57,411
  • Year 3: $65,270

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