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College Comparison

UIUC vs Wake Forest University: Which is Better?

Side-by-side comparison of acceptance rates, SAT scores, tuition, earnings, and more, updated with the latest College Scorecard data.

School

UIUC

Champaign, IL

School

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, NC

Head-to-Head Stats

MetricUIUCWake Forest
Acceptance Rate43.7%21.6%wins
SAT Range (25th–75th)1270–15101390–1510wins
ACT Range (25th–75th)29–3432–34wins
Tuition (Out-of-State)$34,501wins$64,758
Avg Net Price$15,201wins$28,746
Median Earnings (10 yr)$81,054wins$78,158
Graduation Rate84.9%90.9%wins
Retention Rate94.3%94.7%wins
Student–Faculty Ratio20:19:1wins
Total Enrollment34,623wins5,471

Verdict

Based on the data above, Wake Forest edges out UIUC on 6 of 10 measurable categories, including key factors like acceptance rate, earnings, and graduation rate. That said, the right choice depends heavily on your major, financial situation, and campus culture fit.

UIUC Strengths

  • Tuition (Out-of-State): $34,501
  • Avg Net Price: $15,201
  • Median Earnings (10 yr): $81,054
  • Total Enrollment: 34,623

Wake Forest Strengths

  • Acceptance Rate: 21.6%
  • SAT Range (25th–75th): 1390–1510
  • ACT Range (25th–75th): 32–34
  • Graduation Rate: 90.9%

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