At a glance
Average net price
$12,766
In-state, after aid
6-year graduation rate
58.4%
Admission rate
81%
Undergrad size
15,587
In-state tuition
$15,190
Out-of-state tuition
$32,037
Cost of attendance
$27,350
Median earnings (10y)
$53,493
Admissions
- SAT average
- 1,156
- ACT midpoint
- 25
- Retention
- 82.7%
- Locale
- City
Programs breakdown
26 program areas reported · Academic mix is led by social sciences (26%), business (23%), stem (22%).
- STEM22%
- Health14%
- Business23%
- Humanities & arts9%
- Social sciences26%
- Trades & services7%
- Business22.5%~3,507 students/yr · BusinessCompare schools
- Health professions13.6%~2,112 students/yr · HealthCompare schools
- Psychology9.6%~1,493 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Engineering6.9%~1,076 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~854 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Computer science4.8%~745 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Education4.3%~664 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Social sciences4.3%~664 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~599 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~546 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~494 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- ~489 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Communication3.0%~469 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~461 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- Engineering tech1.9%~291 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~287 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~154 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- English0.9%~142 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Mathematics0.7%~114 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~104 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~97 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- History0.5%~76 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~73 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~48 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Liberal arts0.1%~20 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Legal0.1%~8 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
Share of all degrees and certificates awarded in each broad CIP-2 program area (U.S. Department of Education, latest reporting year). Estimated students/yr = share × undergrad size.
Specific majors offered
40 specific majors with reported completions. Earnings shown are median annual earnings 1 year after graduation; debt is median student-loan debt at graduation.
| Major | Credential | Grads | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master's | 696 | $80,257 | — |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor's | 669 | $27,699 | $26,087 |
| Medicine. | First professional | 575 | $55,813 | — |
| Public Health. | Bachelor's | 506 | — | $20,500 |
| Social Work. | Master's | 435 | $43,196 | — |
| Marketing. | Bachelor's | 392 | $43,746 | $24,382 |
| Human Resources Management and Services. | Bachelor's | 378 | $43,409 | $24,213 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor's | 352 | $63,013 | $30,165 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | Bachelor's | 323 | $52,667 | $21,500 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor's | 321 | $73,198 | $20,672 |
| Biology, General. | Bachelor's | 274 | $23,098 | $21,788 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Bachelor's | 272 | $49,303 | $21,504 |
| Library Science and Administration. | Master's | 246 | $43,205 | — |
| Management Information Systems and Services. | Bachelor's | 238 | $55,142 | $23,250 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Bachelor's | 233 | $34,519 | $28,604 |
| Law. | First professional | 222 | $63,872 | — |
| International Business. | Bachelor's | 212 | $53,860 | $23,472 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor's | 203 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Bachelor's | 198 | $36,314 | $31,000 |
| Social Work. | Bachelor's | 194 | $26,984 | $28,012 |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. | First professional | 193 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government. | Bachelor's | 185 | $32,349 | $23,812 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other. | Bachelor's | 177 | — | $18,599 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. | Bachelor's | 154 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | Bachelor's | 148 | $32,028 | $26,000 |
| Apparel and Textiles. | Bachelor's | 141 | $22,351 | $27,000 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering. | Bachelor's | 135 | $76,864 | $25,350 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology. | Master's | 133 | $51,309 | — |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Bachelor's | 130 | $71,849 | $24,140 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences. | Bachelor's | 129 | — | — |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services. | Bachelor's | 113 | $26,542 | $22,750 |
| Fine and Studio Arts. | Bachelor's | 113 | $27,658 | $31,000 |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services. | Master's | 108 | $42,944 | — |
| Public Health. | Master's | 106 | — | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Master's | 104 | $99,273 | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. | Master's | 102 | $43,056 | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Master's | 99 | $111,568 | — |
| Communication and Media Studies. | Bachelor's | 97 | $40,710 | $30,500 |
| Chemistry. | Bachelor's | 94 | $28,106 | $21,590 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Master's | 87 | $45,073 | — |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study. Earnings cover graduates who received federal financial aid and are working / not enrolled. Cells marked "—" are not reported or were suppressed for privacy.
About Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a very large institution located in Detroit, Michigan, primarily awarding the bachelor's degree. It enrolls roughly 15,587 undergraduate students in a city setting. The most popular fields of study include Business, Health professions, Psychology.
Cost & tuition
The average net price at Wayne State University — what a typical student actually pays after grants and scholarships — is $12,766 per year, which is moderately priced compared to other U.S. institutions. Sticker tuition runs $15,190 for in-state students and $32,037 for out-of-state students before aid. Total cost of attendance, including housing, books, and living expenses, comes to about $27,350 annually.
Graduation & earnings outcomes
The 6-year graduation rate is 58.4%, a above-average completion outcome. 82.7% of first-time students return for a second year, a useful proxy for student satisfaction and academic fit. Ten years after enrolling, the median graduate earns $53,493 per year according to U.S. Department of Education earnings tracking.
Programs & majors
Wayne State University confers degrees and certificates across 26 broad program areas, with the largest concentrations of completions in Business, Health professions, Psychology. Grouped into wider academic categories, the mix is led by social sciences (26% of credentials), business (23% of credentials), stem (22% of credentials), which gives a quick read on the school's overall academic profile. Use the programs breakdown below to see every reported area, an estimated number of students per program per year, and links to compare other U.S. colleges in the same field.
Admissions
Wayne State University accepts 81% of applicants, making it open or near-open admission. Admitted students have an average SAT score around 1,156. The ACT midpoint for admitted students is roughly 25.
Location & campus
Set in Detroit, Michigan (city), Wayne State University draws students from across Michigan and beyond. Prospective students often weigh proximity, cost of living, and local industry demand when choosing between schools in this area.
Frequently asked questions about Wayne State University
Q.How much does Wayne State University cost?
The average net price at Wayne State University is $12,766 per year after grants and scholarships, with total cost of attendance around $27,350.
Q.What is the graduation rate at Wayne State University?
Wayne State University has a 6-year graduation rate of 58.4% according to the latest U.S. Department of Education data.
Q.How hard is it to get into Wayne State University?
Wayne State University admits 81% of applicants, which is considered open or near-open admission.
Q.How much do Wayne State University graduates earn?
Ten years after enrolling, the median Wayne State University graduate earns $53,493 per year.
Q.What is tuition at Wayne State University?
Published tuition is $15,190 in-state and $32,037 out-of-state. Most students pay less than the sticker price after financial aid.
Q.Where is Wayne State University located?
Wayne State University is located in Detroit, Michigan (ZIP 48202).
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS, the federal sources colleges are required to report to. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with Wayne State University at their official website.