Wayne State University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Wayne State University is a public research university in Detroit, Michigan, with about 15,587 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 81.16% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $53,493 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $15,190
- 2024 Average Net Price: $12,766 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 81.16% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 15,587 81.2% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 58.44%
- Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
- First-Generation Students: 37.6%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition decrease of 2.6% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 5.1% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 58.1%
- Average SAT Score: 1156
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 17,985
- Applicants (IPEDS): 15,190
- Room & Board: $14,252 annual estimate
Wayne State University: what the data shows
Common questions about Wayne State University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Wayne State University?
Wayne State University is located in Detroit, MI (ZIP 48202).
NCES locale classification: City.
Is Wayne State University public or private?
Wayne State University is a Public institution.
How much does Wayne State University cost?
Published tuition: $15,190 in-state, $32,037 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $12,766.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $11,090 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $10,721 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $12,068 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $14,828 |
| $110,001+ | $19,862 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $60,760.
How hard is it to get into Wayne State University?
Admission rate: 81.16%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1156 and midpoint ACT 25.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Wayne State University?
Total enrollment: 15,587 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 17,985 students.
Graduate enrollment: 7,791 students.
About 81% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Wayne State University?
150%-time completion rate: 58.44%.
First-year retention: 82.7%.
What do graduates of Wayne State University earn?
Median earnings: $45,207 six years after entry; $53,493 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $21,250.
45.69% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Wayne State University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Psychology, General (399 completions)
- Social Work (340 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (277 completions)
- Medicine (258 completions)
- Public Health, General (250 completions)
- Computer and Information Sciences, General (215 completions)
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General (213 completions)
- Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management (192 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (181 completions)
- Organizational Behavior Studies (179 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Wayne State University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 81.16%; completion rate 58.44%; median earnings $53,493 at 10 years; net price $12,766. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$15,190
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Wayne State University was $15,190.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$12,766
2024 Value
In 2024 Wayne State University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $12,766.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$51,064 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$12,766 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$60,760 4-Year In-State Tuition
$128,148 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$14,252 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,360 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$30,802 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$123,208 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Wayne State University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
45.69% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
37.79% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Wayne State University 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 University 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 | $11,094 | $23,714 | $12,674 |
| 2014 | $11,449 | $24,472 | $12,476 |
| 2015 | $11,814 | $25,254 | $13,258 |
| 2016 | $12,269 | $26,220 | $11,366 |
| 2017 | $12,729 | $27,203 | $12,970 |
| 2018 | $13,097 | $27,991 | $14,226 |
| 2019 | $13,517 | $28,887 | $13,965 |
| 2020 | $13,517 | $28,887 | $13,962 |
| 2021 | $14,043 | $30,013 | $14,728 |
| 2022 | $14,675 | $31,364 | $14,055 |
| 2023 | $14,297 | $30,419 | $14,773 |
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.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
81.16% Acceptance Rate
15,190 Total Applicants
12,461 Students Admitted
2,988 First-Time Students Enrolled
23.98% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1156
ACT Average: 25
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Wayne State University reported total enrollment of about 15,587 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 41% male and 59% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (52.8%), Black or African American (17.9%), and Asian (14.1%). About 45.69% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 37.6% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
81.2% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Wayne State University in 2024 is 15,587 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 17,985 students. Graduate enrollment is about 7,791 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
82.7%
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
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 52.8%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
35.97% 100% Completion Time
58.44% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 35.97% of students graduating from Wayne State University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Psychology, General: 15% male / 85% female
- Social Work: 12% male / 88% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 52% male / 48% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Wayne State University.
Return on Investment
$21,250 Median Student Debt
$53,493 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
39.72% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
947.57% Return on Investment
4.0 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Wayne State University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 161 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Psychology, General: 399 completions
2. Social Work: 340 completions
3. Business Administration and Management, General: 277 completions
4. Medicine: 258 completions
5. Public Health, General: 250 completions
6. Computer and Information Sciences, General: 215 completions
7. Marketing/Marketing Management, General: 213 completions
8. Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management: 192 completions
9. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 181 completions
Most popular programs at Wayne State University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Wayne State University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Wayne State University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 58.1%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $12,166
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $14,651
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Wayne State University is a public institution located in Detroit, MI, classified as Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Psychology, General, Social Work, Business Administration and Management, General. Enrollment is approximately 15,587 students. Student body composition includes White (52.8%), Black or African American (17.9%), Asian (14.1%). The admission rate is 81.16%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1156. The 150%-time completion rate is 58.44%. Approximately 45.69% of students receive Pell Grants. About 37.6% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
Location
Detroit, MI 48202
Region: Great Lakes
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 161 distinct degree programs, Wayne State University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Wayne State University located?
Wayne State University is located in Detroit, MI.
What is Wayne State University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Wayne State University is 81.2% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 15,190 applicants and 12,461 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Wayne State University cost?
Reported tuition is $15,190 and average net price is $12,766 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $14,252 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Wayne State University?
Wayne State University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 17,985 students, White (52.8%), Black or African American (17.9%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Wayne State University?
About 37.6% of students at Wayne State University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Wayne State University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Wayne State University reports midpoint SAT about 1156 and midpoint ACT about 25.
What do graduates of Wayne State University earn?
Median earnings are $45,207 six years after entry and $53,493 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Wayne State University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 58.4% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Wayne State University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $21,250.
Is Wayne State University public or private?
Wayne State University is a public institution located in Detroit, MI.
Is Wayne State University an HBCU?
No. Wayne State University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Wayne State University a tribal college?
No. Wayne State University 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
- Michigan college costs
- Michigan colleges by ROI
- Detroit, Michigan city profile
- Great Lakes regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Michigan
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 for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.