In its new assessment of national universities for the 2023-24 academic year, U.S. News & World Report changed 17 of the 19 metrics used to calculate the ranking of universities in this category. Wake Forest University is ranked 47th out of 435 universities.
“Wake Forest is committed to providing students with a transformative educational experience,” said Wake Forest President Susan R. Wente. “The hallmarks of the Wake Forest experience are small class sizes, personal attention, and instruction from professors who are leading scholars and experts in their fields. We are disappointed that this year's methodology no longer recognizes some of the elements of the Wake Forest experience we value most.”
Among other changes, the new ranking methodology no longer takes into account small class sizes and instruction by professors with terminal degrees — university priorities that Wake Forest students, faculty, and alumni have long held dear. The positive impact of these efforts is fully reflected in the fact that 98% of Wake Forest graduates are employed or enrolled in their graduate school of choice within six months of receiving their bachelor's degree(1).
“Wake Forest University has long been committed to supporting social mobility and Pell Grant-eligible and first-generation students through programs such as Magnolia Scholars and First in the Forest,” said Eric Maguire, vice president for enrollment. “U.S. News' new metrics do not recognize our efforts, as enrollment figures appear to disproportionately favor larger institutions. Wake Forest University is very committed to access and affordability for all students, and especially to reducing barriers to access for low-income students.”
Wake Forest University recently announced an early action pathway for first-time college students. President Wente also launched the For Humanity Scholarship Program in March 2022, which has raised $50 million to date and has a goal of raising an additional $25 million this year.
U.S. News' new rating methodology has elevated large, research-intensive public flagship schools to greater prominence. Of the 29 universities in the top 50 that moved up, 21 are public schools. Of the 18 universities in the top 50 that fell this year, 17 are some of the nation's highest-ranked private schools, including the University of Chicago, Dartmouth College, New York University, Tufts University, Washington University in St. Louis and Vanderbilt University.
Dean Michelle Gillespie commented on the rankings' new emphasis on faculty research: “Some of the most accomplished scholars in the country have chosen Wake Forest University to make their academic home. Wake Forest will continue to value teaching as much as research, but the university's new strategic framework further emphasizes the importance of research, scholarship, and creative inquiry to the university and to society.”
U.S. News also ranks Wake Forest University in the following categories:
#31 in undergraduate teaching, #25 in accounting, #14 in undergraduate engineering, #38 in undergraduate business programs, #34 in undergraduate psychology programs
“Wake Forest has never made decisions or driven our university strategy by chasing rankings such as U.S. News, and we do not intend to start now,” Wente said. “We remain steadfast in our promise, goals and vision for the university and will continue to strive to provide the best educational opportunities possible. We are committed to providing real data and success metrics to demonstrate the value of a Wake Forest education and the impact it has on our students' lives and careers.”
(1) Extracted from graduate school enrollment outcome survey data with a response rate of 87%.
