Private Non-profit 📍 Winston-Salem, North Carolina 👥 5,485 students

Wake Forest University

#5 in North Carolina
High ROI
⏱ 0.5 years to break even
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97 ROI Score
● 70–100: High ROI
● 45–69: Good ROI
● 20–44: Moderate ROI
● 0–19: Low ROI
💰
$78,158
Median Graduate Salary
10 years after enrollment
🎓
$21,500
Median Student Debt
Among degree completers
🏫
$67,642
In-State Tuition
Per year
💵
$28,719
Average Net Price
After grants & aid
🏆
89%
Graduation Rate
4-yr programs, 150% time
📝
22%
Acceptance Rate
Overall admission rate

📊 ROI Breakdown

Graduate Median Salary
$78,158
−
HS-only Median Salary
$38,792
=
Annual Salary Premium
$39,366
$21,500 (median debt) ÷ $39,366 (annual premium) = 0.5 years to break even

Salary vs. Debt Comparison

Graduate Salary
$78,158
Student Debt
$21,500
HS-only Salary
$38,792

Top ROI Colleges in North Carolina

# College ROI Rating Break-Even Grad Salary Student Debt
1 Duke University
Durham
 High ROI 0.2 yrs $97,800 $13,000
2 Chamberlain University-North Carolina
Charlotte
 High ROI 0.4 yrs $92,405 $20,919
3 Davidson College
Davidson
 High ROI 0.4 yrs $81,400 $18,688
4 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill
 High ROI 0.4 yrs $72,200 $14,000
5 Elon University
Elon
 High ROI 0.6 yrs $74,545 $20,500
See All North Carolina Rankings →
Data Source: All figures sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Median salary = 10 years post-enrollment. Debt = median debt of completers. ROI calculation by Search 6000+ US Colleges. Last updated: May 13, 2026.