Wake Forest University is a private research university in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, known for its small class sizes, strong business school, and personal attention to students. As a pioneer in test-optional admissions among selective universities, Wake Forest emphasizes holistic review and character-driven education.
Mascot: Demon Deacon
Notable Alumni
Tim Duncan (NBA legend)•Arnold Palmer (legendary golfer)•Chris Paul (NBA All-Star)
At a Glance
Cost
Published sticker prices for 2025-2026. Actual cost after aid varies.
Top Programs & National Ranking
Approximate national ranking based on departmental rankings, research output, and program reputation.
Highlights
Campus Experience
Greek life doesn't just influence Wake Forest's social scene — it controls it, with over 50% of students affiliated and the campus newspaper running editorials about how hard it is to have a social life outside the system. The academics are genuinely rigorous, and the culture is Southern, preppy, and tight-knit. If you don't get into your preferred sorority or fraternity, the social adjustment is real.
A meticulously maintained Georgian-style campus with uniform red brick and white-columned buildings set among magnolias and dogwoods. Wait Chapel anchors the scenic main quad, and the cohesive colonial aesthetic gives the campus a timeless, dignified beauty.
Based on Niche reviews, Princeton Review surveys, student forums, and institutional data.
Safety
The enclosed suburban campus benefits from a dedicated university police force with low violent crime rates. Most incidents are minor.
The campus sits in a relatively safe suburban part of Winston-Salem. The broader city has above-average crime rates, but the immediate area is quiet and residential.
Based on Clery Act data, student surveys, and local crime statistics.
Plan Your Visit
Schedule: Weekdays during the academic year; select Saturdays
Duration: ~90 minutes (student-led walking tour)
Tours depart from the Porter Byrum Welcome Center, 1580 Wake Forest Road. Info sessions offered on select dates prior to tours. Arrive on time — late arrivals receive a self-guided tour book instead. Most of the tour is outdoors; dress for weather.
Book a TourA self-guided tour book is available for those who prefer independent exploration or when guided tours are unavailable. A virtual campus tour is also available online.
Tour ResourcesSeptember through November for gorgeous fall foliage on the brick-and-ivy campus, or March through April when dogwoods and azaleas bloom across North Carolina. Football Saturdays (September-November) add school spirit. Avoid late December through mid-January (winter break) and June-August. Visit twice if serious — once when school is in session.
Free visitor parking at the Porter Byrum Welcome Center (1580 Wake Forest Road) with EV charging available. Lot C is a dedicated visitor lot. Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO) in Greensboro is 30 minutes away. Charlotte Douglas Airport (CLT) is 80 minutes away but has more flight options. Shuttles available to both airports. From I-40, exit onto Cherry Street/University Parkway to the main campus entrance.
Location
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