Wayne State University

Detroit, MI · Public · offers Graduate degrees

Large city

81%Acceptance rate
$12,766Average net price / year
58%Graduation rate
$53,493Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$21,250Median debt at graduation
15,587Undergraduates

Cost

In-state tuition & fees
$15,190
Out-of-state tuition
$32,037
Total cost of attendance
$27,350
Room & board
$14,252
Books & supplies
$1,360
Average net price
$12,766

Net price by family income

$0–30k
$11,090
$30–48k
$10,721
$48–75k
$12,068
$75–110k
$14,828
$110k+
$19,862

Official net price calculator

Admissions

Acceptance rate
81.2%
Average SAT
1156
SAT reading (25–75%)
540–640
SAT math (25–75%)
520–630
ACT composite (25–75%)
23–29

Outcomes

Graduation rate
58%
First-year retention
83%
Median earnings (6 yrs)
$45,207
Median earnings (10 yrs)
$53,493
Median debt (graduates)
$21,250
3-year loan default rate
0.0%
Students with Pell grants
46%
Students with federal loans
38%

Programs: what graduates earn

103 of 284 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).

Bachelor's degree

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians10$82,524$23,167
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering70$78,738$23,182
Industrial Engineering11$77,815$21,126
Computer and Information Sciences, General157$77,371$18,750
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing174$74,793$24,468
Mechanical Engineering61$74,457$22,500
Civil Engineering29$73,488$27,500
Chemical Engineering26$71,373$26,500
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions19$70,611$25,000
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions25$63,970$23,695
Management Information Systems and Services102$59,352$21,542
International Business—$59,350$18,750
Finance and Financial Management Services155$56,804$18,507
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician17$53,310—
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science22$52,829$15,011
Accounting and Related Services141$52,668$19,735
Economics28$50,648$19,374
Human Resources Management and Services192$48,324$20,375
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods91$47,939$30,953
Marketing183$47,929$20,125
Special Education and Teaching11$44,157$35,750
Urban Studies/Affairs11$43,811$25,205
History20$41,874$25,000
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication29$41,306$24,055
Social Work98$39,774$23,000
Criminal Justice and Corrections122$39,132$25,500
Public Administration7$38,767$23,086
Communication and Media Studies39$36,595$25,000
Chemistry44$35,813$21,054
English Language and Literature, General52$35,549$24,113
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas62$34,590$21,250
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services49$34,303$20,568
Music39$32,911$22,452
Public Health248$32,584$18,750
Sociology40$31,381$26,811
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences19$30,723—
Political Science and Government89$30,345$22,250
Psychology, General338$29,255$23,250
Anthropology22$26,858$25,486
Journalism17$26,591$27,725
Apparel and Textiles72$26,490$22,441
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities14$25,046$18,028
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services37$24,474$20,500
Dance13$23,626$24,750
Biology, General117$21,716$19,384
Fine and Studio Arts60$20,948$29,617
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services18$20,939$20,195
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication22$20,526$30,500
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft21$18,750$21,853
Natural Resources Conservation and Research22—$25,750
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies13—$37,152
Biomedical/Medical Engineering32$106,048$19,395
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians17$97,257—
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other29—$23,074
Mathematics17$64,547$27,000
Philosophy14—$23,922
Film/Video and Photographic Arts20$35,157$21,400
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services—$99,777—
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other73$92,707$13,750

Master's degree

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Engineering-Related Fields16$128,271—
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing39$128,146$50,500
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions49$110,923$70,614
Mechanical Engineering26$95,823—
Business Administration, Management and Operations328$93,398$36,424
Civil Engineering7$79,208—
Accounting and Related Services22$69,628$25,500
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions17$69,328—
Biomedical/Medical Engineering19$66,723—
City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning18$64,788$51,250
Public Health47$63,666$37,639
Public Administration12$62,310$41,000
Special Education and Teaching2$59,676—
Educational Administration and Supervision25$59,602$41,000
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology71$58,918$40,245
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions30$58,625$35,500
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services38$57,770$46,173
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods36$57,232$41,009
Educational/Instructional Media Design13$56,855$40,500
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas15$56,759$37,604
Communication and Media Studies20$56,521$33,381
Criminal Justice and Corrections9$54,708$32,746
Social Work182$50,133$39,500
Student Counseling and Personnel Services61$47,990$80,955
Library Science and Administration124$45,679$38,546
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness44$45,568$30,750
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft24$30,387—
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other33$20,733$41,000
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education—$47,095—
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering18$115,160—
Industrial Engineering24$112,213—
English Language and Literature, General11$76,201—

Doctoral degree

First professional degree

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Law104$70,500$61,466
Medicine268$63,587$165,514

Graduate certificate

Students

Undergraduates
15,587
Graduate students
8,875
Part-time
19%
Women / men
59% / 41%
White
53%
Hispanic
8%
Black
18%
Asian
14%
International
2%

Faculty & school

Student–faculty ratio
14:1
Avg faculty salary
$109,494 / year
Full-time faculty
58%
Accreditor
Higher Learning Commission
Website
wayne.edu
Also known as
WSU

Most popular fields

  • Computer & Information Sciences – 6% of degrees
  • Education – 4% of degrees
  • Engineering – 6% of degrees
  • Family & Consumer Sciences – 3% of degrees
  • Biological Sciences – 5% of degrees
  • Parks, Recreation & Fitness – 4% of degrees

Frequently asked questions

What is the acceptance rate at Wayne State University?

81.2% of applicants were admitted, and admitted students averaged 1156 on the SAT.

How much does Wayne State University cost?

The average net price after grants is $12,766 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $15,190 and the full cost of attendance is $27,350.

How much do Wayne State University graduates earn?

Students who enrolled earn a median of $53,493 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.

What is the graduation rate?

58% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.

Other colleges in Detroit

CollegeNet priceAcceptanceGraduationEarnings
Wayne County Community College District
Detroit, MI · Public · 7,423 students
$7,656—22%$29,079
University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit, MI · Private nonprofit · 2,438 students
$15,23275%67%$71,030
College for Creative Studies
Detroit, MI · Private nonprofit · 1,230 students
$34,61792%71%$44,860
Dorsey College-Dearborn
Detroit, MI · Private for-profit · 430 students
$25,615—35%$29,392
Sacred Heart Major Seminary
Detroit, MI · Private nonprofit · 178 students
$11,916100%67%$49,295
DSDT
Detroit, MI · Private for-profit · 132 students
——41%—
Detroit Business Institute-Downriver
Detroit, MI · Private for-profit · 124 students
$17,687100%100%$26,702
P&A Scholars Beauty School
Detroit, MI · Private for-profit · 90 students
$10,068—65%$20,249
Metro Detroit Barber College
Detroit, MI · Private nonprofit · 59 students
$18,217—100%—
Dymond Designs Beauty School
Detroit, MI · Private for-profit · 28 students
$16,563———

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.