Wayne State University

School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

Detroit, MI

$13,024

Avg in-state tuition

$29,894

Avg out-of-state tuition

BestColleges.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Discover programs by subject area to find the best college for your future.

Search All Programs

Work here? Claim your school's profile

About Wayne State University

School Type: Public

Status: Non-profit

Accreditation: Regional

Religious Affiliation: N/A While the student experience is largely unaffected at most schools with religious affiliations, some schools place more of an emphasis on religion. Learn how religious affiliations may impact students' experience.

Military Friendly: YesMilitary-friendly schools are Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges, offer the Yellow Ribbon Program, and have a dedicated point of contact to support veterans, military service members, and their families. Explore our college guide for service members and veterans to learn more.

Wayne State University is a large public university located on an urban campus in Detroit, Michigan. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 17,503, and admissions are selective, with an acceptance rate of 69%. The university offers 103 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 52%, and a student-faculty ratio of 15:1. Tuition and fees for in-state students are $13,024, while tuition and fees for out-of-state students are $29,894.

BestColleges.com

Rankings

Learn more about how this school compares to other schools with rankings by BestColleges.

Admissions Breakdown

Acceptance Rate Insight

This school has a high acceptance rate.

This school accepts students at a higher rate than other schools. High acceptance schools welcome 51-100% of all applicants.

69% of students were accepted during the 2020-2021 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

Retention Rate Insight

82% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2019 and returned in Fall 2020.

Graduation Rate Insight

52% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2014. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scores Required

High school transcript Required

High school rank Not required or recommended

Letter of recommendation Not required or recommended

High school GPA Required

Open admission No

Completion of college prep program Recommended

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL) Required

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollment Yes

Credit for qualified life experience* Yes

Advance placement (AP) credits Yes

*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.

SAT & ACT

ACT 25th-75th Percentile 20-27

SAT 25th-75th Percentile 1000-1200

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

This school has a student body of more than 15,000 students.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

26k

Students enrolled

92%

Online student enrollment

15:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

Online Check Bold
On-campus Check Bold
Hybrid The program is a combination of on-campus and online learning and varies per program. Check Bold
International Online classes are available for students around the world. Check Bold

Demographics

White

55%

Black

15%

Asian

10%

Two or more races

7%

Hispanic

6%

Non-U.S. Citizen

4%

Unknown

3%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%

Female student population

59%

Socio-economic diversity

47% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

Explore Similar Schools

University of Michigan-Dearborn

Dearborn, MI · Public · Non-profit

#1 Ranked in Best Reading Teacher Education Programs

View School

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, MI · Public · Non-profit

#3 Ranked in Best Applied Behavior Analysis Programs

View School

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, MI · Public · Non-profit

View School

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, MI · Public · Non-profit

#5 Ranked in Best Online Nutrition Programs of 2022

View School

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, MI · Public · Non-profit

#1 Ranked in Best Online Doctorate in Healthcare Management Programs

View School

Saginaw Valley State University

University Center, MI · Public · Non-profit

View School

Michigan Technological University

Houghton, MI · Public · Non-profit

#6 Ranked in Online Master's in Engineering Programs

View School

University of Michigan-Flint

Flint, MI · Public · Non-profit

View School

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, MI · Public · Non-profit

View School

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · Public · Non-profit

#2 Ranked in Best Veterinary Technician Programs

View School

Online Programs

Offers Online Programs

Yes

Online Programs

14

Total Online Enrollment

24,018

Student Location Breakout

Percent of Programs Online

97% On-campus

3% Online

Types of Online Programs Offered

Certificates X Bold Not offered

Associate X Bold Not offered

Bachelor's Check Bold 2% online

Graduate Certificate Check Bold 5% online

Master's Check Bold 6% online

Doctorate X Bold Not offered

Student Charges

Tuition and Required Fees

Student Level In-state Out-of-state
Undergraduate $13,024 $29,894
Graduate $16,285 $35,274

Cost of Undergraduate Attendance

Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2020–2021 academic year.

Costs to Consider Price
Books and supplies $1,246
On-campus room and board $10,694
On-campus other expenses $4,068
Off-campus (not with family) room and board $11,004
Off-campus (not with family) other expenses $5,400
Off-campus (with family) other expenses $4,942

Total Undergraduate Cost

Total cost by category In-state Out-of-state
On-campus $29,032 $45,902
Off-campus without family $30,674 $47,544
Off-campus with family $19,212 $36,082

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

57%

State Grant Aid

8%

Institution Grant Aid

94%

Pell Grant

47%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid $5,475
State Grant Aid $1,016
Institution Grant Aid $6,735
Pell Grant Aid $5,068

Financial Outlook

$22k

Average student debt after graduation

$38k

Average salary 6 years after starting school

Varsity Athletic Teams

NCAA Division II with football

of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.

Participation

Men Women
  • Basketball
  • Fencing
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Softball
  • Swimming Diving
  • Tennis
  • Track Field Xcountry
  • Volleyball
  • All Track Combined
  • Baseball

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2020-2021 academic year.

1

Architecture And Related Services

BA

MA

DOC

2

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies

BA

MA

DOC

3

Biological And Biomedical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

4

Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

5

Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs

BA

MA

DOC

6

Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

7

Education

BA

MA

DOC

8

Engineering Technologies/Technicians

BA

MA

DOC

9

Engineering

BA

MA

DOC

10

English Language And Literature/Letters

BA

MA

DOC

11

Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

12

Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics

BA

MA

DOC

13

Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

14

History

BA

MA

DOC

15

Legal Professions And Studies

BA

MA

DOC

16

Library Science

BA

MA

DOC