Wake Forest University
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Wake Forest University

🇺🇸 United States / North Carolina / Winston-Salem
Private R2 Est. 1834

About

Wake Forest University is a private research university in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States. Established in 1834 by Baptists, the university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, has been located north of downtown Winston-Salem since the university moved there in 1956. Wake Fores...

Wake Forest University is a private research university in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States. Established in 1834 by Baptists, the university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, has been located north of downtown Winston-Salem since the university moved there in 1956. Wake Forest also maintains other academic campuses or facilities in Charlotte, North Carolina; Washington, D.C.; Venice; Vienna; and London.

Ranking Overview

Ranking Snapshot

Ranked Top 401 worldwide across 4 major ranking systems

THE #401–500 (2026)
US News #497 (2026)

Ranked in 42 subject rankings

QS QS World University Rankings
# 791-800
240
2026
THE Times Higher Education World University Rankings
# 401–500
46.2
2026
ARWU Academic Ranking of World Universities
# 501-600
2025
US News U.S. News Best Global Universities Rankings
# =497
18
52.5
2026

Key Facts

Students
8,289
Student-Staff Ratio
3.4 : 1
Int'l Students
10%
Female : Male
56 : 44
Staff
7,399

Historical Trend

Longitudinal View
QS QS
THE THE
ARWU ARWU
US News US News
1 201 401 601 801 1001 1150 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 Rank
:
Score:

Top Subjects

Best-performing areas
23
Biomedical Engineering
Top 50
101-150
Clinical Medicine
Top 200
151-200
Politics
Top 200
157
Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems
Top 200
162
Cell Biology
Top 200
=164
Neuroscience and Behavior
Top 200
=183
Surgery
Top 200
=197
Endocrinology and Metabolism
Top 200
201-300
201-300
Materials Science
201-300
Biotechnology
201-300
Public Health
201-300
Medical Technology
201-300
Pharmacy & Pharmacology
201-300
Law & Legal Studies

Subject Rankings

Detailed breakdown

ARWU

18 subjects
Subject
Rank
Score
Year
Biomedical Engineering 23 142.2 2025
Clinical Medicine 101-150 - 2025
Politics 151-200 - 2025
Ecology 201-300 - 2017
Materials Science 201-300 - 2022
Biotechnology 201-300 - 2019
Public Health 201-300 - 2025
Medical Technology 201-300 - 2025
Pharmacy & Pharmacology 201-300 - 2022
Law & Legal Studies 201-300 - 2024
Sociology 201-300 - 2025
Communication & Media Studies 201-300 - 2022
Psychology 201-300 - 2025
Biological Sciences 301-400 - 2025
Human Biological Sciences 301-400 - 2025
Education & Training 301-400 - 2025
Business Administration 301-400 - 2022
Management 401-500 - 2025

QS

5 subjects
Subject
Rank
Score
Year
Pharmacy & Pharmacology 201-250 - 2023
Medicine 251-300 - 2026
Life Sciences & Medicine 401-450 - 2026
Biological Sciences 401-450 - 2026
Economics & Econometrics 551-700 - 2026

THE

9 subjects
Subject
Rank
Score
Year
Psychology 251–300 42.8 2026
Clinical & Health 301–400 40.1 2026
Life Sciences 301–400 42.4 2026
Physical Sciences 501–600 37.4 2026
Social Sciences 501–600 31.7 2026
Engineering & Technology 601–800 31.6 2026
Business & Economics 601–800 28.8 2026
Education & Training 601–800 20.1 2026
Arts & Humanities 601–800 16.8 2026

Organization Structure

Related units
University 1
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ranking of Wake Forest University?

Wake Forest University's performance in the latest university rankings: QS Rank 791-800, THE Rank 401–500, ARWU Rank 501-600, US News Rank =497.

When was Wake Forest University founded?

Wake Forest University was founded in 1834.

What are the top subjects at Wake Forest University?

Top subjects at Wake Forest University include: Biomedical Engineering, Clinical Medicine, Politics, Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems, Cell Biology.

Where is Wake Forest University located?

Wake Forest University is located in Winston-Salem, United States.