Welcome to Wake Forest.
Like many other colleges and universities, we place our institutional motto in our official seal. But we don’t leave it there. We let it roam. We let its Deac flag fly.
Our motto, Pro Humanitate (For Humanity), is a calling to use our knowledge, talents and compassion to better the lives of others. It can mean donating time and resources to our communities or simply a lifelong commitment to pursuing our best self. No matter your personal interpretation, it’s an opportunity to leave the world better than we found it.
We welcome you to explore Wake Forest and get to know us better. We think you’ll quickly recognize what makes this such a special place.
The Big Picture
School Colors
Old Gold and Black
Type
Private
Motto
Pro Humanitate (For Humanity)
Nickname
Demon Deacons
Campus Size
340 acres
President
Dr. Susan R. Wente (14th President)
Who We Are
Enrollment
9,121
Undergraduate: 5,471
Graduate: 3,650
U.S. States
50 (+ Puerto Rico & D.C.)
Foreign Countries
39
Ethnic Diversity
37%
Gender
57% (Female)
43% (Male)
Full-time Employees*
Faculty: 2,312
Staff: 5,169
Data represents undergraduate enrollment, Fall 2023, unless otherwise noted.
* As of Fall 2022
How We Learn
Programs of Study
Undergraduate
Graduate
Information regarding our graduate programs can be found on the Colleges & Schools page.
Student-Faculty Ratio
11:1
Class Sizes
99% of undergraduate classes have fewer than 50 students.
Career Outcomes
96% of graduates over the last 10 years are employed or in grad school within nine months of receiving their degrees.
Study Abroad
60% of our undergraduates have an academic study-abroad experience.
How We Play
Division
NCAA Division I (Football Bowl Subdivision)
Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)
NCAA Championships
10
Student-Athlete Graduation Rate
96% (as measured by the NCAA)
Who We Become
Degree Recipients
82,229 (Living degree recipients)
Where We Call Home
North Carolina: 38%
U.S. States: 50
Foreign Countries: 103
Notable Alumni
- Richard Burr (‘78)
- Tim Duncan (’97)
- Robert Ehrlich (JD ’82)
- Charlie Ergen (MBA ’76)
- Emily Giffin (‘94)
- Kay Hagan (JD ‘78)
- Thomas Marshburn (MD ’89)
- Arnold Palmer (‘51)
- Chris Paul (’07)
A Brief Look Back…
1834
First known as the Wake Forest Manual Labor Institute, we are one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in North Carolina.
All-Inclusive
On April 27, 1962, Wake Forest University became the first major private institution in the South to integrate.
WFC to WFU
Wake Forest College became Wake Forest University in 1967. The letters WFC can still be found in ironwork around campus.
Why Wake Forest?
Leadership and Character
The Program for Leadership and Character inspires, educates, and empowers leaders of character to serve humanity.
Career-Focused Outcomes
Our goal is simple: To provide Wake Forest students with the tools and confidence to navigate the often daunting path from college to career.
Pro Humanitate
Translated as “For Humanity,” Pro Humanitate calls upon the entire University community to engage in the fundamental questions about what it means to be human.
More from the Forest
Additional resources and information about Wake Forest are provided below.