Announcing the North Carolina Gateway to Wake Forest

I have enjoyed seeing so many of you on campus this month, and I look forward to the beauty that the fall season brings here in North Carolina. 

Last month, I wrote to you about our commitment to investing for strategic impact. I shared that we would direct our resources toward the things we care about most, and one of those priorities is student financial aid. 

Our goal, simply put, is to ensure that more talented students, regardless of their financial means, can experience the transformative education we offer. I’m incredibly proud to share more details with this community about where we are and what’s next. 

We are seeing tangible progress in our commitment to supporting students from all socioeconomic backgrounds. This year, about 14% of the undergraduate Class of 2029 is Pell-eligible, a 10-year high and a notable increase from recent years. This is a powerful sign that we are extending the reach of a Wake Forest education.

Our momentum is strong, and we are just getting started. During my inauguration address, I called on Wake Forest to be a “catalyst for opportunity.” In that call, I pledged my commitment to ensuring even greater access to the transformational education Wake Forest provides for well-qualified students. The For Humanity scholarship initiative, launched at my inauguration in March 2022, has already raised more than $150 million for student financial aid. Though this is incredible, we know we can and must do more to support our students – starting with those from our home state.

This is why I am thrilled to announce the launch of our North Carolina Gateway to Wake Forest. This initiative is a significant step forward in our mission to make a Wake Forest education more affordable for more families in North Carolina and to ensure the next generation of emerging leaders across our state can see themselves here. 

Beginning with North Carolina undergraduate students admitted for the fall of 2026, the Gateway initiative means:

• Admitted students from North Carolina with an annual family income of $100,000 or less will receive financial aid covering tuition and standard living expenses.
• Admitted students from North Carolina with an annual family income between $100,000 and $200,000 will receive financial aid covering tuition — only paying standard living expenses and applicable fees.
• Admitted students from North Carolina with an annual family income between $200,000 and $300,000 will receive financial aid covering 50% of tuition. 

This commitment will be supported by further fundraising and modest enrollment increases. It is a new chapter in our history, built on the foundation of our shared values and our firm belief that Wake Forest’s future lies in developing leaders of intellect and character who use their talents in the service of humanity. 

I know from firsthand experience how the choice of where to go to college can be shaped by a myriad of factors and just how influential the cost of attendance can be in that decision. The only paths I saw forward in my education were the ones I could afford. For me, access to higher education changed everything. I believe this program will do the same for thousands of North Carolina families.