Wake Forest University announced it will be tuition-free for admitted undergraduate students from North Carolina families that make less than $200,000 annually.
This initiative, called the North Carolina Gateway to Wake Forest University, aims to create more opportunities for high-achieving students in North Carolina to attend Wake Forest, regardless of income.
“The North Carolina Gateway to Wake Forest University demonstrates our deep commitment to students from our home state. It says clearly to students and families who may not have considered Wake Forest because of cost: ‘Wake Forest is within your reach,'” Wake Forest University President Susan R. Wente said. “This initiative is also personal for me. As a Pell grant recipient, private colleges in my home state felt entirely out of reach. I want talented North Carolinians from across the income spectrum to know they can come to Wake Forest and receive a transformational education.”
Additionally for students of families making less than $100,000, financial aid will cover the cost of standard living expenses in addition to the full cost of tuition, the school said.
North Carolina students with an annual family income between $200,000-$300,000 will be eligible for financial aid covering 50% of tuition.
“We want to demonstrate our affordability to North Carolina families,” Vice President for Enrollment Eric Maguire said. “More of our undergraduate students come from North Carolina than from any other state. The program will allow families to see and understand their likely out-of-pocket costs from the beginning. That level of assurance and transparency will help more North Carolina families envision Wake Forest as a possibility.”
This change will begin for the 2026 fall semester.
