Wayne State College
Wayne, NE 68787
About Wayne State College
Wayne State College is a public research university in Wayne, Nebraska, serving roughly 3,010 students. Wayne State College awards degrees and certificates tracked in federal College Scorecard and IPEDS reporting. Published tuition for full-time study is about $8,216 per year before aid; net price varies by family income. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $47,075 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Wayne State College charges 49% above the national public median tuition ($8,216).
- Versus the Nebraska median, sticker tuition is 17% below.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 52.15%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $47,075.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Wayne State College is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 666% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Finding
Wayne State College awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 57 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne State College | $8,216 | $15,360 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| Nebraska (state median) | $9,903 | $11,632 | 31 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,600 | $14,971 | 1,517 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Wayne State College really?
Key findings
- Wayne State College charges 49% above the national public median tuition ($8,216).
- Versus the Nebraska median, sticker tuition is 17% below.
Wayne State College tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $8,216
Finding Wayne State College charges 49% above the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $8,216. That is 49% above the national public median ($5,512). Versus the Nebraska median ($9,903), sticker tuition is 17% below. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 31% below.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Wayne State College versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Wayne State College versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Wayne State College is $15,360.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $15,360 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $3,728 above the Nebraska median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $389 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Wayne State College, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Wayne State College: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Wayne State College—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$8,216
Avg. net price
$15,360
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $12,844 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $11,698 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $13,851 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $16,841 |
| $110,001+ | $18,905 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $32,864. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Wayne State College is known for
Top program completions
- Business Administration and Management, General207
- Curriculum and Instruction83
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies81
- Elementary Education and Teaching68
- Special Education and Teaching, General50
See earnings & programs for more.
Is Wayne State College a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Wayne State College is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Wayne State College.
Campus
Location
Wayne, NE
City / state
- ZIP
- 68787
- NCES locale
- Town distant
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is 3% above the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Plains
- Carnegie
- Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
Size
Enrollment
3,010
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 4,704
- Graduate
- 764
- Full-time share
- 93%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$19,000
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 25.80%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Wayne State College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Wayne State College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Wayne State College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $5,574 | $9,774 | $11,142 |
| 2014 | $5,604 | $9,804 | $12,043 |
| 2015 | $5,898 | $10,308 | $11,973 |
| 2016 | $6,462 | $11,262 | $12,722 |
| 2017 | $6,848 | $11,986 | $13,400 |
| 2018 | $7,172 | $12,602 | $13,454 |
| 2019 | $7,202 | $12,662 | $13,765 |
| 2020 | $7,428 | $13,008 | $14,141 |
| 2021 | $7,618 | $7,618 | $14,469 |
| 2022 | $7,786 | $7,786 | $14,077 |
| 2023 | $7,970 | $7,970 | $15,108 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Admissions funnel data is not available for this institution.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Wayne State College reported total enrollment of about 3,010 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 43% male and 57% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (76.0%), Hispanic or Latino (10.2%), and Non-Resident Alien (6.0%). About 25.80% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 34.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
93.0% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Wayne State College in 2024 is 3,010 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 4,704 students. Graduate enrollment is about 764 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
72.4%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
35.92% 100% Completion Time
52.15% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 35.92% of students graduating from Wayne State College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 47% male / 53% female
- Curriculum and Instruction: 22% male / 78% female
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies: 31% male / 69% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Wayne State College graduates earn a median of $47,075 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Wayne State College.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $47,075. Median federal loan debt: $19,000. Average net price used in cost models: $15,360.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Wayne State College graduates report median earnings of $47,075 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Wayne State College.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (57 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Wayne State College.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Wayne State College graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Wayne State College—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$30.1M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Nebraska median 1.1× the median ($27.4M)
- Plains median 1.3× the median ($24.1M)
- U.S. median 1.1× the median ($26.4M)
- Nebraska median 0.59× the median ($14,089)
- Plains median 0.55× the median ($15,020)
- U.S. median 0.68× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 49.8%
- Nebraska median 9.9 pp below median (59.7%)
- Plains median 14.9 pp below median (64.7%)
- U.S. median 8.2 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $8,347
- Nebraska median 1.2× the median ($7,042)
- Plains median 1.2× the median ($7,194)
- U.S. median 1.1× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $7,016
- Nebraska median 0.70× the median ($9,991)
- Plains median 0.86× the median ($8,150)
- U.S. median near the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Wayne State College at a glance
Wayne State College
Wayne State College is a public institution in Wayne, NE, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Business Administration and Management, GeneralCurriculum and InstructionCriminal Justice/Safety Studies
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian76.0%Hispanic or Latino10.2%Non-Resident Alien6.0%
Schools near Wayne State College
Other campuses in Wayne, NE when available, plus nearby institutions in Nebraska.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C-) within Nebraska, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Wayne State College located?
Wayne State College is located in Wayne, NE.
What is Wayne State College's tuition?
Wayne State College tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $8,216 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $15,360 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Wayne State College cost?
Reported tuition is $8,216 and average net price is $15,360 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $10,142 annually.
What explains Wayne State College's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($15,360), completion (52.1% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($47,075). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Wayne State College?
Wayne State College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 4,704 students, White (76.0%), Hispanic or Latino (10.2%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Wayne State College?
About 34.2% of students at Wayne State College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Wayne State College earn?
Median earnings are $40,857 six years after entry and $47,075 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Wayne State College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 52.1% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Wayne State College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $19,000.
Is Wayne State College public or private?
Wayne State College is a public institution located in Wayne, NE.
Is Wayne State College an HBCU?
No. Wayne State College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Wayne State College a tribal college?
No. Wayne State College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.