Wake Forest University (WFU) vs University of Miami

Wake Forest University and University of Miami, two distinct institutions of higher learning, offer unique educational experiences to their students. Wake Forest, a private liberal arts university located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, boasts a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 30%. The University of Miami, a private research university situated in Coral Gables, Florida, has a more accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 39%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with popular majors at Wake Forest including Economics, Biology, and Political Science, while popular majors at the University of Miami include Business Administration, Biology, and Psychology. While Wake Forest has a smaller student body, with a total undergraduate enrollment of around 5,000 students, the University of Miami has a larger student body, with a total undergraduate enrollment of over 11,000 students. Additionally, Wake Forest has a higher graduation rate, with 89% of students completing their degrees within

	University of Miami	Wake Forest University
Overview
Location	Coral Gables, Florida	Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Campus setting	City: Small	City: Midsize
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Private (Non Profit)	Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system	Semester	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	93.0%	94.0%
Common app member	Yes	No
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	28.5%	25.2%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $70 Graduate: $85	Undergraduate: $85 Graduate: $80
SAT range	1300 - 1460	N/A
ACT range	30 - 33	N/A
Students submitting SAT score	31.0%
Students submitting ACT score	24.0%
Total number of applicants	42,245	15,156
Total number of admissions given out	12,037	3,816
Admitted students who chose to enroll	2,766	1,412
Yield rate	23.0%	37.0%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Required	Required
Recommendation letters	Required	Required
High school transcript	Not required	Required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$79,410	$79,886
Average net price	$34,492	$24,643
Tuition	$53,112	$58,708
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $9,180 Meal plan: $6,800	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)	71.0% Average amount $35,012	33.0% Average amount $53,244
Students receiving federal student loan	30.0% Average amount $3,991	17.0% Average amount $4,985
Students taking out private loans	5.0% Average amount $28,087	3.0% Average amount $32,719

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	12,089 Men 46.5% Women 53.5%	5,472 Men 45.7% Women 54.3%
Graduate students	7,007 Men 44.4% Women 55.6%	3,475 Men 42.4% Women 57.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Low
Out-of-state students	71.6%	N/A
International students	13.4%	9.8%
Campus local/setting	City: Small	City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity	5,307	4,152
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	Florida New York New Jersey Pennsylvania Maryland	N/A

Academics
Popular study areas	Health Professions Business Legal Profession Biological and Biomedical Sciences Visual & Performing Arts	Business Health Professions Legal Profession Education Biological and Biomedical Sciences
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

Outcome
Graduation rate	83.5%	90.2%
Dropout rate	15.8%	9.5%
Transferred out	N/A	N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $125,015 Year 3: $172,147 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $92,295 Year 2: $95,591 Year 3: $108,205 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $78,024 Year 2: $83,022 Year 3: $88,651 Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $51,220 Year 2: $72,796 Year 3: $87,198 Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $60,833 Year 2: $60,623 Year 3: $78,127 Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $67,830 Year 2: $71,095 Year 3: $77,849 Law (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $59,299 Year 2: $58,673 Year 3: $75,770 Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $48,570 Year 2: $53,358 Year 3: $72,668 Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $57,413 Year 2: $60,623 Year 3: $72,612 Medicine (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $57,755 Year 2: $58,980 Year 3: $67,113	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

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key academic differences between Wake Forest University and the University of Miami?

Wake Forest University is known for its strong liberal arts foundation and emphasis on undergraduate education, with a smaller student body fostering close faculty-student relationships. The University of Miami, while also offering a broad range of programs, has a larger student body and a more extensive research focus, particularly in areas like marine science, medicine, and music. Miami also has a more diverse range of graduate programs.
How does the campus environment differ between Wake Forest and the University of Miami?

Wake Forest boasts a beautiful, traditional campus in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, known for its Georgian architecture and close-knit community feel. The University of Miami's campus is located in Coral Gables, Florida, offering a more tropical and vibrant atmosphere. Miami's campus is larger and more spread out, reflecting its larger student population and diverse facilities.
What are the strengths of the undergraduate programs at Wake Forest compared to the University of Miami?

Wake Forest excels in providing a highly personalized undergraduate experience with a strong emphasis on writing and critical thinking. Its undergraduate business and pre-med programs are particularly well-regarded. The University of Miami offers strong undergraduate programs across various disciplines, with notable strengths in its School of Communication, College of Engineering, and Frost School of Music. Miami also provides more opportunities for undergraduate research.
How do the career services and alumni networks compare at Wake Forest and the University of Miami?

Both universities have robust career services. Wake Forest's smaller size can lead to a more intimate alumni network, which can be advantageous for networking and career opportunities, particularly in the Southeast. The University of Miami's larger alumni base, spread across the globe, provides extensive networking opportunities in various industries and locations, especially in Florida and Latin America.
What is the cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, and living expenses, at Wake Forest and the University of Miami?

The cost of attendance at both universities is relatively high. While the exact figures fluctuate annually, both Wake Forest and the University of Miami are private institutions with comparable tuition rates. Living expenses in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where Wake Forest is located, are generally lower than in Coral Gables, Florida, where the University of Miami is situated. Financial aid packages and scholarships are available at both institutions to help offset costs.
How do the extracurricular activities and student life experiences differ at Wake Forest and the University of Miami?

Wake Forest offers a vibrant student life with a strong emphasis on campus traditions and a close-knit community. Students are actively involved in various clubs, organizations, and Greek life. The University of Miami provides a more diverse range of extracurricular activities, reflecting its larger and more diverse student body. Miami's location in South Florida offers unique opportunities for outdoor recreation, cultural experiences, and access to professional sports teams.
What are the athletic programs like at Wake Forest and the University of Miami?

Both universities compete in NCAA Division I athletics. The University of Miami is known for its highly successful football program and strong performance in other sports like baseball and basketball. Wake Forest also has competitive athletic programs, particularly in basketball and golf, and is part of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), providing opportunities for exciting competition.
Which university is better for students interested in research opportunities?

The University of Miami generally offers more extensive research opportunities, particularly in fields like marine science, medicine, and engineering, due to its larger size, more graduate programs, and greater research funding. Wake Forest also provides research opportunities, especially for undergraduates, but the scope is typically smaller.
How does the location of each university impact the student experience?

Wake Forest's location in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, offers a more traditional college town experience with a focus on campus life and a slower pace. The University of Miami's location in Coral Gables, Florida, provides access to a vibrant metropolitan area with diverse cultural attractions, beaches, and a more active social scene. The weather in Miami is also a significant draw for many students.
Which university is a better fit for students seeking a strong sense of community?

Wake Forest University is often considered to have a stronger sense of community due to its smaller size, emphasis on undergraduate education, and close-knit campus environment. While the University of Miami also fosters a sense of community, its larger size and more diverse student body can lead to a slightly different experience.

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