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Wayne State University

Wayne State University

Detroit, MI · City · 15,587 students
WebsiteCommon AppForbes rankingScorecard
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$12,766
Average net priceYour net price
In-state · 2023-24
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
58%
Graduation rate
Entered fall 2017 & 2018
70% typical
$53,493
Earnings 10 years on
Measured 2020 & 2021
$63,395 typical
81%
Acceptance rate
Applied for fall 2024
73% typical · not scored
Accredited by Higher Learning Commission
About

Wayne State University is a premier public R1 research institution located in the heart of Midtown Detroit, best known for its deep urban integration, commitment to social mobility, and leadership in health sciences. The university boasts highly respected academic offerings, anchored by one of the nation's largest single-campus medical schools alongside standout programs in nursing, law, engineering, and business at the Mike Ilitch School of Business. Students thrive in a diverse, community-focused campus culture that blends dynamic city living with direct professional pipelines into Detroit's healthcare, automotive, and arts sectors. Wayne State uniquely stands out for its direct ties to the adjacent Detroit Medical Center and Midtown cultural institutions, offering undergraduates exceptional access to early clinical experiences, impactful research, and urban community engagement.

Wikipedia:Wayne State University (WSU) is a public research university in Detroit, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1868, Wayne State consists of 13 schools and colleges offering approximately 375 programs. It is Michigan's third-largest university with nearly 24,000 graduate and undergraduate students.

Location
Detroit, MI, 48202 · City campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
DTW · Detroit
18 mi away
Open in Google Maps
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
In-stateOut-of-state
Tuition & fees$15,190$32,037
Housing & food (on campus)$14,252$14,252
Books & supplies$1,360$1,360
Cost of attendance$27,350$52,318
Average net price$12,766Not published
Out-of-state prices
Tuition & fees$32,037
In-state: $15,190
Housing & food (on campus)$14,252
Books & supplies$1,360
Cost of attendance$52,318
In-state: $27,350
Average net priceNot published
In-state: $12,766
Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: wayne.edu
How it’s made up · out-of-state, 2026-27
Wayne State University’s own figures for 2026-27, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.
Tuition$34,214
Books & supplies$1,370
Personal expenses$2,538
Transportation$1,846
Total published by the school$52,318
Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24
$0–30k
$11,090
$30–48k
$10,721
$48–75k
$12,068
$75–110k
$14,828
$110k+
$19,862
Merit aid · 2025-26
Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.
Average award$6,144
Share of first-years who get one26%
Source: Wayne State University's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
58%
Entered 2017–18
Within 4 yrs
36%
Back for yr 2
83%
Transferred
22%
8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students
61% graduated · 24% transferred · 1% still enrolled · 14% left or unknown
Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021
6 yrs after entry$45,207
10 yrs after entry$53,493
Debt
Median at graduation$21,250
Monthly payment$225
Middle 50% owe$6.7k–$30.3k
90th percentile$43,380
Admissions
Getting in · applied for fall 2024
Admit rate
81%
Test policy
Test optional
Checked Sep 2026
SAT average
1156
R 540–640 · M 520–630
ACT midpoint
25
Comp 23–29 · E 21–29 · M 22–27
SAT middle 50%: 1060–1270
40080012001600

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Essay prompts
How much essays count at Wayne State University: Considered (one of four levels: very important · important · considered · not considered)
Source: Wayne State University's Common Data Set for 2025-26 — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).

If Wayne State University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body
Gender
Men 41%Women 59%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
14 : 1
Pell grant
46%
First-gen
38%
Family income
$28,605
Independent
27%
Veterans
0%
Age at entry
23.0
Part-time
19%
Race & ethnicity
White
53%
Hispanic
8%
Black
18%
Asian
14%
Two or more
5%
Non-resident
2%
Varsity sports
NCAA Division II with football · EADA 2024-25
  • Baseball
    Men's
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Cross Country
    Men's
  • Fencing
    Men's · Women's
  • Football
    Men's
  • Golf
    Men's · Women's
  • Softball
    Women's
  • Swimming and Diving (combined)
    Men's · Women's
  • Tennis
    Men's · Women's
  • Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
    Women's
  • Volleyball
    Women's
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021
After 6 yrs
$45,207
After 10 yrs
$53,493
Psychology, General338
Public Health248
Business Administration, Management and Operations203
Human Resources Management and Services192
Marketing183
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing174
Computer and Information Sciences, General157
Finance and Financial Management Services155
Accounting and Related Services141
Criminal Justice and Corrections122
Biology, General117
Management Information Systems and Services102
Social Work98
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods91
Political Science and Government89
Neurobiology and Neurosciences85
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$602M
Full-time faculty
58%
Faculty salary
$12,166/mo
Teaching spend
$14,651
per student
Federal loans
38%
Classification
Carnegie type
Doctoral University
Research activity
R1 — very high research
$292M research spending · 212 research doctorates a year
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, selective admissions

Wondering if Wayne State University is the right fit for you?

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