Admissions data checked October 9, 2026 by Florida Test Prep.
Wake Forest University reports a middle 50% SAT of 1420 to 1490 (enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025 median 1450; 24% submitted SAT). We use 1460 as a first planning target, then adjust it to the student's diagnostic and timeline. It is not an admission requirement or a guarantee.
| Middle 50% SAT | 1420 to 1490 (enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025 median 1450; 24% submitted SAT) |
| Middle 50% ACT | 32 to 34 |
| Acceptance rate | 20.8% (fall 2025, 19,600 applicants) |
| Testing for 2026-27 | Test-optional |
| Type | Private university |
Source: Wake Forest official admissions data. A middle 50% describes the central half of the reported group, not a cutoff.
Wake Forest has been test-optional since 2008, and only 24% of enrollees submitted an SAT score.
| School | Middle 50% SAT | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|
| Duke University | 1510 to 1570 | 5.2% |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 1400 to 1530 | 16.7% |
| Wake Forest University | 1420 to 1490 | 20.8% |
| NC State University | 1310 to 1440 | 39.5% |
| UNC Charlotte | 1150 to 1340 | 77.8% |
| Appalachian State University | 1110 to 1270 | 93.9% |
| East Carolina University | 1060 to 1220 | 89.2% |
Cohorts differ by school (admitted vs enrolled, and year). See every school with its cohort and source on SAT Scores for North Carolina Colleges.
North Carolina has no SAT-cutoff state scholarship; its best-known score-tied money is the competitive full-ride programs at NC State and UNC Charlotte.
Park Scholarships: Full tuition, fees, room, board, books, travel, and a computer for about 38 awarded students per class at NC State.
Levine Scholars: Full tuition, housing, meals, fees, summer and civic funding at UNC Charlotte for 22 scholars per class.
The full rules, deadlines and class years are on our North Carolina SAT prep page.
| College | State | Middle 50% SAT |
|---|---|---|
| College of William & Mary | Virginia | 1390 to 1520 |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Illinois | 1390 to 1520 |
| Bates College | Maine | 1410 to 1490 |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | Georgia | 1370 to 1530 |
A score that is competitive at Wake Forest lands in the same part of the range at these schools. Cohorts differ by school, so read each page's notes before comparing.
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Find my teen's target scoreThere is no published minimum; the middle half of the reported group scored 1420 to 1490. A score at or above 1490 puts a student in the top quarter of that group. A score near 1420 is within the range, and grades, coursework and the rest of the application still decide the outcome.
Yes. Wake Forest lists its policy as: Test-optional. A score inside or above the range can still strengthen an application, and some scholarships and programs use scores separately.
20.8% (fall 2025, 19,600 applicants). Rates vary by program and residency, so read the overall figure as context, not a personal prediction.
No. A middle 50% is a description of last year's group, not a cutoff in either direction. It tells you where a score is competitive, which is the useful part for planning test dates.
Want to know what your teen needs for Wake Forest? Their target, their gap and the weeks to close it are what we map in the free Strategy Session.
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