Wayne State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Detroit, Michigan. It enrolls 15,587 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
79/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes61
Value86
Affordability81
Selectivity47
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 81.2%, Wayne State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
81.2%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1060 – 1270
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
23 – 29
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Wayne State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
8.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Wayne State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $12,766 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$12,766
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
46%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
38%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$15,190
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$32,037
Room & Board (on-campus)
$14,252
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,252
Books & Supplies
$1,360
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,314
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,314
Total Cost of Attendance
$27,350
Application fee: $25 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$11,090
$30,001 – $48,000
$10,721
$48,001 – $75,000
$12,068
$75,001 – $110,000
$14,828
Over $110,000
$19,862
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$6,66825%percentile
$21,250Medianpercentile
$30,25075%percentile
$43,38090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $18,500
↓ $2,750
No Pell $13,000
↓ $8,250
Dependent students $15,000
↓ $6,250
Independent students $21,916
↑ $666
Female students $17,000
↓ $4,250
Male students $16,207
↓ $5,043
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $10,866, less than completers ($21,250), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
46% of full-time students who enrolled at Wayne State University graduate within six years, and 82% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
46%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
82%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Wayne State University earn a median of $53,493 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$53,493
Earning > $25K
75%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$46,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$61,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$55,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$48,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$50,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $14,300, about 23% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
21.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 73% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Wayne State University is home to 15,587 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 38% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
15,587
Part-Time
19%
First-Generation
38%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 52.8%8,224
Black 17.9%2,785
Asian 14.2%2,206
Hispanic 7.8%1,213
Other 4.8%740
International 2.2%348
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Wayne State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityDetroit, Michigan
Housing
Partly residential3,216 beds available
Adult Learners
15%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Wayne State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
226 distinct programs across
29 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Wayne State University is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$20,430
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$509M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$104,932
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
1,472 instructional faculty across 6 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
487
33%
$140,726
Associate Professors
476
32%
$96,952
Assistant Professors
480
33%
$83,934
Instructors
18
1%
$83,247
Lecturers
2
0%
$68,744
No Rank
9
1%
$74,613
Pros & Cons of Wayne State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Wayne State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Solid post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Below-average completion rate
Best for:
Based on the data, Wayne State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Wayne State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Wayne State University.
Is Wayne State University hard to get into?
Wayne State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 81.2%.
What is the acceptance rate at Wayne State University?
Wayne State University has an acceptance rate of 81.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Wayne State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Wayne State University scored between 1060 and 1270 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Wayne State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Wayne State University scored between 23 and 29 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Wayne State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Wayne State University is $12,766 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Wayne State University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $53,493 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $12,766 per year. That's roughly 4.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Wayne State University known for?
Wayne State University is best known for its programs in Psychology, Business Administration, Medicine. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Wayne State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Wayne State University are $53,493, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Wayne State University accredited?
Yes. Wayne State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Wayne State University?
Wayne State University enrolls 15,587 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Wayne State University?
Wayne State University graduates 46% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Wayne State University a public or private college?
Wayne State University is a Public institution.
Where is Wayne State University located?
Wayne State University is located in Detroit, Michigan.
What programs does Wayne State University offer?
Wayne State University offers 226 distinct programs. The most popular include Psychology, Business Administration, Medicine.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Wayne State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Wayne State University is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Michigan
Other colleges in Michigan share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Business Administration
Psychology
Communication & Media
Related Guides
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Rankings That Feature Wayne State University
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$4,195 Lowest Net
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93 UCD Score
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