Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan · Public, a large city · 15,587 undergraduates
Counsellors: add notes to this page for a student
Is it hard to get into Wayne State?
The middle half of admitted students scored in these ranges: a quarter scored lower, a quarter higher. Fall 2024 admissions, from the College Scorecard.
Acceptance rate
81.2%
15,190 applied
SAT, middle half
1060 to 1270
Reading plus math, out of 1600
ACT, middle half
23 to 29
Composite, out of 36
Test scores this year
Optional: considered if sent
24% of admitted students enrolled
- What they look at
- High school GPARequired
- Courses takenRequired
- College-prep programConsidered
- RecommendationsConsidered
- EssayConsidered
How much does Wayne State cost?
Sticker prices and what students actually paid after grants, by family income. A year means tuition, fees, room, board, books and other costs.
Tuition and fees, Michigan residents
$15,862
Tuition and fees, out of state
$33,467
A full year, sticker price
$26,709
Living on campus
Average price after grants
$11,212
Students who got federal aid
What a year cost, by family income
| Family income | Average paid after grants |
|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $9,694 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $9,087 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $9,680 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $12,492 |
| Over $110,000 | $18,584 |
- Room and board on campus
- $14,394 a year
- Books and supplies
- $1,360 a year
- The school's own grants
- 90% of full-time first-years get one, averaging $7,481
Tuition over the years
Tuition and fees for a year, as reported to the federal government.
How much do Wayne State students borrow?
Federal student loans only, for students who borrowed.
Typical debt at graduation
$19,500
About $222 a month over ten years
Students who borrow
37%
Get a Pell Grant
51.4%
Federal grant for lower-income families
Over 25 when they start
15.2%
What do Wayne State graduates earn?
Typical yearly pay of everyone who started here with federal aid, whatever they studied and whether or not they finished.
Six years after starting
$52,005
Ten years after starting
$59,525
Middle half: $36,661 to $86,614
Best-paid program, five years out
$112,120
Computer and Information Sciences, General
Lowest-paid program, five years out
$44,032
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Do Wayne State students finish?
Of the students who started full time, first time.
Back for second year
82.7%
Graduate in six years
59.7%
The four-year figure is for a later, smaller group, so it is not shown
After eight years
61% graduated
22% transferred, 1% still enrolled
Who goes to Wayne State?
Women
58.8%
First in their family at college
37.6%
Part-time
18.8%
Students per teacher
14
- Background
- White 53%, Hispanic 8%, Black 18%, Asian 14%, Two or more 5%, International 2%
- Housing
- Campus housing, 3,216 beds
What do Wayne State graduates earn, by program?
Every bachelor's program the school awards, with what its graduates earn and owe. The government hides pay for small programs, so some rows have no figure.
Computer science
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 316 | $80,896 | $112,120 | $21,500 |
| Information Science/Studies | 29 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
Engineering
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 61 | Hidden | $91,708 | $22,584 |
| Chemical Engineering | 48 | $83,065 | $96,613 | $30,500 |
| Civil Engineering | 67 | $71,462 | $81,581 | $23,799 |
| Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 16 | $71,221 | Hidden | Hidden |
| Construction Engineering Technology/Technician | 47 | $67,234 | Hidden | Hidden |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 163 | $87,651 | $112,030 | $20,613 |
| Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 23 | $68,259 | $97,096 | Hidden |
| Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians | 4 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Engineering, General | 0 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Industrial Engineering | 24 | $74,081 | Hidden | Hidden |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | 5 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Mechanical Engineering | 133 | $77,971 | $105,700 | $22,238 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | 32 | $70,466 | Hidden | Hidden |
Business and commerce
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | 263 | $55,730 | $75,841 | $17,750 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 391 | Hidden | Hidden | $15,250 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 320 | $57,162 | $82,205 | $16,573 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 381 | $53,207 | $61,264 | $19,173 |
| International Business | 0 | $61,129 | $84,091 | $14,958 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | 242 | $65,168 | $97,839 | $18,594 |
| Marketing | 396 | $50,303 | $70,685 | $17,892 |
Nursing
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 355 | $81,683 | $83,047 | $23,750 |
Health sciences and kinesiology
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 49 | $68,573 | $63,591 | $21,937 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | 36 | $68,244 | $69,891 | $19,750 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 75 | $38,468 | $61,941 | $15,337 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | 7 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | 126 | Hidden | $95,703 | $16,278 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | 0 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Public Health | 458 | $35,005 | $57,288 | $18,750 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 199 | $41,640 | Hidden | $18,750 |
Life sciences
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | 0 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Biology, General | 240 | $24,517 | $61,691 | $17,447 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 46 | $43,390 | $64,259 | $15,000 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 175 | $26,232 | Hidden | $15,343 |
Math and physical sciences
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Mathematics | 14 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics | 3 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Chemistry | 87 | $36,755 | $70,337 | $22,000 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 27 | Hidden | $65,147 | Hidden |
| Mathematics | 30 | $50,301 | $83,827 | Hidden |
| Physical Sciences, Other | 13 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Physics | 17 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Statistics | 12 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
Arts and humanities
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 3 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| English Language and Literature, General | 88 | $36,031 | $48,583 | $19,342 |
| Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other | 42 | $31,116 | Hidden | $26,127 |
| Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 13 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| History | 40 | $40,218 | $50,316 | $21,990 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 32 | Hidden | $60,454 | $21,456 |
| Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 9 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Philosophy | 28 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 1 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
Education (teaching)
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | 2 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Special Education and Teaching | 31 | $51,283 | $62,057 | $28,016 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 206 | $48,339 | $52,509 | $25,958 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 90 | $37,746 | $59,650 | $24,500 |
Fine and performing arts
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dance | 29 | $30,857 | Hidden | Hidden |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 45 | $31,724 | $44,032 | $20,500 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 45 | $31,158 | Hidden | $21,797 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 103 | $27,828 | $46,202 | $23,962 |
| Music | 66 | $40,637 | $46,578 | $18,095 |
General arts and science (major chosen later)
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 19 | $41,124 | $62,547 | $17,496 |
| Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution | 0 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
Other programs
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funeral Service and Mortuary Science | 60 | $56,637 | $76,377 | $14,500 |
Compare Wayne State with other universities
Side by side: acceptance rates, scores, costs and pay.
Where these numbers come from
College Scorecard release 10152026, Most Recent Cohorts files, fetched 2026-10-20. Test policy: the school's page (opens in a new tab). Tuition history, housing and the school's own grants: the federal IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) survey.
How every figure in this part of the site is sourced, and the check of every link.
Careerhelp is not affiliated with Wayne State University. Figures describe past students; check the school's own pages before you apply.
Social sciences