Vanderbilt vs Wake Forest University (WFU)
Vanderbilt University and Wake Forest University, both esteemed private research institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Vanderbilt, located in Nashville, Tennessee, boasts a lower acceptance rate (10.3%) compared to Wake Forest's (33.1%) in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. While Vanderbilt's student body is more diverse, Wake Forest has a slightly higher graduation rate (89% vs. 87%). Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details, including popular majors, student demographics, and financial aid opportunities, to determine which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Vanderbilt University |
![]() Wake Forest University |
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Overview |
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Location | Nashville, Tennessee | 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 | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 97.0% | 94.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 7.1% | 25.2% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$95
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Undergraduate:
$85
Graduate:
$80
|
SAT range | 1480 - 1570 | N/A |
ACT range | 34 - 35 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 25.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 32.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 47,152 | 15,156 |
Total number of admissions given out | 3,368 | 3,816 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,626 | 1,412 |
Yield rate | 48.3% | 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 | $79,538 | $79,886 |
Average net price | $27,553 | $24,643 |
Tuition | $54,840 | $58,708 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$12,000
Meal plan:
$6,376
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Room/dormitory:
$10,144
Meal plan:
$7,870
|
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
64.0%
Average amount $49,730 |
33.0%
Average amount $53,244 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
10.0%
Average amount $4,979 |
17.0%
Average amount $4,985 |
Students taking out private loans |
2.0%
Average amount $27,798 |
3.0%
Average amount $32,719 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
7,111
Men 48.9% Women 51.1% |
5,472
Men 45.7% Women 54.3% |
Graduate students |
6,685
Men 39.5% Women 60.5% |
3,475
Men 42.4% Women 57.6% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 89.5% | N/A |
International students | 11.7% | 9.8% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | City: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 5,598 | 4,152 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | Yes | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Tennessee California New York Florida Texas | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 8:1 | 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 | 93.4% | 90.2% |
Dropout rate | 6.4% | 9.5% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies (Master's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Marketing (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (First Professional Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Mathematics (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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