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Wayne State University

Wayne State University is a public campus in Detroit proper — federal locale codes class it as urban.

What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$12,337

family income
under $30k

$12,560

$30–48k

$14,864

$48–75k

$19,189

$75–110k

$21,543

over $110k

Average net price

$12,7662023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at Wayne State University rose from $10,686 (2008) to $12,766 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$10,686
2009	$9,558
2010	$10,344
2011	$12,603
2012	$12,674
2013	$12,476
2014	$13,258
2015	$11,366
2016	$12,970
2017	$14,226
2018	$13,965
2019	$13,962
2020	$14,728
2021	$14,055
2022	$14,773
2023	$12,766

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$27,3502024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at Wayne State University rose from $16,228 (2009) to $27,350 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$16,228
2010	$16,949
2011	$17,388
2012	$19,411
2013	$20,199
2014	$21,021
2015	$21,588
2016	$22,276
2017	$22,771
2018	$23,848
2019	$24,231
2020	$24,541
2021	$25,657
2022	$25,942
2023	$26,794
2024	$27,350

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition (in-state vs out-of-state)

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition — data
Year	In-state	Out-of-state
2000	$3,971	$8,579
2001	$4,330	$9,352
2002	$3,875	$8,257
2003	$4,258	$9,075
2004	$4,435	$9,370
2005	$5,208	$11,074
2006	$5,509	$11,715
2007	$7,844	$16,595
2008	$8,109	$17,379
2013	$11,094	$23,714
2014	$11,449	$24,472
2015	$11,814	$25,254
2016	$12,269	$26,220
2017	$12,729	$27,203
2018	$13,097	$27,991
2019	$13,517	$28,887
2020	$13,517	$28,887
2021	$14,043	$30,013
2022	$14,675	$31,364
2023	$14,297	$30,419

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Wayne State University reports published tuition by residency: $15,190 in-state versus $32,037 out-of-state — a $16,847 gap that makes state lines part of the decision. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

Wayne State University reports 15,587 undergraduates. This total does not establish class sizes for a particular subject.

58.4% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at Wayne State University within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

58.4%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at Wayne State University rose from 33.7% (entered 1996) to 58.4% (entered 2018).

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1996 cohort	33.7%
1997 cohort	31%
1998 cohort	31.7%
1999 cohort	33.1%
2000 cohort	36%
2001 cohort	32.4%
2002 cohort	33.6%
2003 cohort	31.7%
2004 cohort	30.9%
2005 cohort	26.4%
2006 cohort	28.1%
2007 cohort	32.4%
2008 cohort	34.3%
2009 cohort	34.6%
2010 cohort	39.2%
2011 cohort	46.6%
2012 cohort	47%
2013 cohort	47.6%
2014 cohort	51.9%
2015 cohort	55.8%
2016 cohort	60.3%
2017 cohort	56.5%
2018 cohort	58.4%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1996–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$8,000	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$8,479	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$9,251	$3,857
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$9,184	$3,835
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$8,983	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$8,920	$4,101
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$10,500	$5,000
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$11,000	$5,093
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$11,000	$5,250
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$11,000	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$11,625	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$12,928	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$14,000	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$15,000	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$17,000	$8,250
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$18,672	$8,250
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$18,890	$8,389
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$20,139	$8,991
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$22,000	$9,800
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$22,899	$11,250
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$22,500	$11,000
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$22,250	$10,734
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$21,500	$10,500
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$21,250	$10,866

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$45,207

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$50,384

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$53,493

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

Wayne State University admitted 13,781 of 16,981 applicants in Fall 2024. The 81.2% rate describes that application pool.

81.2%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $14,297 in-state tuition · 2023–24 15,587 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 1060–12701600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

Wayne State University reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For Wayne State University’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 540–640 and Math was 520–630 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 1060–1270 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	540	590	640
SAT Math	520	560	630
ACT Composite	23	26	29

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

In the Fall 2024 cycle, Wayne State University received 16,981 applications and admitted 13,781 (81.2%), with 3,085 enrolling.

Acceptance rate

81.2%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	77.6%
Fall 2002	70.1%
Fall 2003	70.1%
Fall 2004	67.6%
Fall 2005	62.8%
Fall 2006	86.2%
Fall 2007	86.6%
Fall 2008	78.9%
Fall 2009	78.9%
Fall 2010	86.4%
Fall 2011	75.5%
Fall 2012	80.5%
Fall 2013	76.2%
Fall 2014	77.3%
Fall 2015	79.9%
Fall 2016	81.5%
Fall 2017	67.4%
Fall 2018	71.2%
Fall 2019	73.1%
Fall 2020	69%
Fall 2021	63.3%
Fall 2022	75.3%
Fall 2023	82%
Fall 2024	81.2%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1060–1270Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2016	983	1260
Fall 2017	1000	1210
Fall 2018	1010	1210
Fall 2019	1010	1230
Fall 2020	1000	1200
Fall 2021	1030	1260
Fall 2022	1040	1260
Fall 2023	1040	1260
Fall 2024	1060	1270

IPEDS Fall 2016–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

23–29Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	17	24
Fall 2002	16	23
Fall 2003	17	24
Fall 2004	16	24
Fall 2005	16	24
Fall 2006	17	23
Fall 2007	17	24
Fall 2008	17	23
Fall 2009	17	23
Fall 2010	17	24
Fall 2011	18	25
Fall 2012	18	26
Fall 2013	19	26
Fall 2014	20	26
Fall 2015	20	26
Fall 2016	20	27
Fall 2017	21	28
Fall 2018	21	27
Fall 2019	21	27
Fall 2020	20	27
Fall 2021	22	28
Fall 2022	21	28
Fall 2023	21	28
Fall 2024	23	29

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

15,587Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at Wayne State University fell from 17,532 (Fall 2002) to 15,587 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	17,532
Fall 2003	18,574
Fall 2004	19,113
Fall 2005	19,505
Fall 2006	19,707
Fall 2007	19,964
Fall 2008	19,006
Fall 2009	19,650
Fall 2010	19,797
Fall 2011	19,558
Fall 2012	18,531
Fall 2013	17,789
Fall 2014	17,242
Fall 2015	16,728
Fall 2016	16,671
Fall 2017	16,768
Fall 2018	17,114
Fall 2019	17,219
Fall 2020	17,164
Fall 2021	16,530
Fall 2022	15,669
Fall 2023	15,676
Fall 2024	15,587

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

83%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at Wayne State University rose from 74% (Fall 2003) to 83% (Fall 2023).

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2003 cohort	74%
Fall 2004 cohort	71%
Fall 2005 cohort	69%
Fall 2006 cohort	69%
Fall 2007 cohort	70%
Fall 2008 cohort	76%
Fall 2009 cohort	77%
Fall 2010 cohort	77%
Fall 2011 cohort	75%
Fall 2012 cohort	77%
Fall 2013 cohort	76%
Fall 2014 cohort	77%
Fall 2015 cohort	82%
Fall 2016 cohort	81%
Fall 2017 cohort	79%
Fall 2018 cohort	79%
Fall 2019 cohort	82%
Fall 2020 cohort	81%
Fall 2021 cohort	84%
Fall 2022 cohort	82%
Fall 2023 cohort	83%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2003–2023

More about Wayne State University

Faculty pay at Wayne State University averages $145,992 a year, annualized from reported monthly pay. Carnegie classes Wayne State University as a primarily nonresidential campus — most of its 15,587 undergraduates live off campus, and 82.7% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

Wayne State University's SAT section-percentile sums are 1060–1270 — their midpoint is above the MI four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on Wayne State University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How Wayne State University compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

Wayne State University81.2%

Michigan median79.2%

National median76.8%

Tuition (in-state)

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

Wayne State University$15,190

Michigan median$24,944

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

Wayne State University's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

Wayne State University$53,493

Michigan median$54,739

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

Wayne State University, Michigan and national reference values
Metric & basis	Wayne State University	Michigan median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	81.2%	79.2%	76.8%
Tuition (in-state)Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$15,190	$24,944	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$53,493	$54,739	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For Wayne State University, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

Wayne State University federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 54 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Biomedical/Medical Engineering	$106,048
Computer and Information Sciences, General	$104,630
Industrial Engineering	$101,990
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering	$100,944
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services	$99,777
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians	$97,257
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians	$96,821
Mechanical Engineering	$94,869
Chemical Engineering	$93,047
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other	$92,707
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician	$84,695
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	$84,405
Civil Engineering	$84,157
Management Information Systems and Services	$80,630
International Business	$79,882
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions	$78,391
Finance and Financial Management Services	$74,703
Accounting and Related Services	$73,940
Marketing	$67,504
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions	$67,284
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities	$66,426
Public Administration	$66,396
Mathematics	$64,547
Economics	$63,972
Chemistry	$63,079
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science	$62,954
Political Science and Government	$61,466
Human Resources Management and Services	$61,121
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication	$59,025
Urban Studies/Affairs	$58,915
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services	$58,871
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas	$58,743
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services	$58,291
Special Education and Teaching	$58,182
Communication and Media Studies	$57,335
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences	$57,203
Criminal Justice and Corrections	$56,423
Social Work	$56,152
Sociology	$55,499
Public Health	$55,302
Journalism	$54,188
Psychology, General	$52,435
Biology, General	$50,811
Music	$50,340
History	$50,251
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods	$48,506
Anthropology	$48,230
Apparel and Textiles	$46,737
English Language and Literature, General	$42,585
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication	$42,551
Fine and Studio Arts	$39,271
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services	$38,926
Film/Video and Photographic Arts	$35,157
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft	$32,525

These 54 fields listed for Wayne State University measure earnings after completion. The $53,493 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 30 additional Wayne State University fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does Wayne State University report?

Wayne State University's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 1060–1270 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is Wayne State University's acceptance rate?

81.2% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 13,781 admitted from 16,981 applicants.

How much does Wayne State University cost?

In-state tuition is $15,190; out-of-state students pay $32,037. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.

What earnings data does Wayne State University report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $53,493. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in Michigan

Western Michigan University — 84.6% admitted
Siena Heights University — 68.9% admitted
Saginaw Valley State University — 72.1% admitted
Kuyper College — 69.1% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.