Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Wayne State University is a public national university located in Detroit, Michigan. Wayne State University is moderately inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Wayne State University is in the top 50% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $46,679 10 years after enrolling, 26th in Michigan, and in the bottom 50% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Wayne State University bachelor students earn 0% less than the national average. Wayne State University is ranked 13th in Michigan.
Wayne State University’s median net annual cost of $13,962 and average years to graduate of 5 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Wayne State University sorted by number of graduates - Psychology, International Business, Biology, Registered Nursing, Marketing, HR Management - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$13,962
Average years to graduate
5
Mechanical Engineering
Rank: #26
Economic score: 1.04
Computer and Information Sciences
Rank: #46
Economic score: 1.13
Accounting
Rank: #106
Economic score: 1.79
Finance
Rank: #93
Economic score: 2.18
Criminal Justice
Rank: #87
Economic score: 3.31
Education (subject specific)
Rank: #85
Economic score: 4.08
Education
Rank: #29
Economic score: 4.53
Apparel and Textiles
Rank: #22
Economic score: 5.05
Food & Nutrition
Rank: #18
Economic score: 6.05
Social Work
Rank: #150
Economic score: 6.31
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at Wayne State University - Business Administration, Social Work, Library Science, Registered Nursing, Clinical / Counseling Psych, Education - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Industrial Engineering
Rank: #8
Economic score: 0.48
Therapeutic professions
Rank: #47
Economic score: 0.66
Diagnostic, Intervention & Treatment
Rank: #32
Economic score: 0.67
Educational media design
Rank: #48
Economic score: 0.71
Health & Fitness
Rank: #92
Economic score: 0.72
Communication disorder sciences
Rank: #111
Economic score: 0.76
Educ. Administration
Rank: #336
Economic score: 0.81
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
Rank: #27
Economic score: 0.95
Student Counseling
Rank: #289
Economic score: 1.87
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other
Rank: #5
Economic score: 2.1
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 5 years. 53% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Wayne State University is 8% lower than the state average, and 15% below the average for all national universities in the country.
At Wayne State University, Pell Grant recipients represent 43% of the measured graduating class, 8% higher than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Wayne State University graduates within 5 years.
Wayne State University is in the top 50% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Wayne State University’s economic mobility score of 24.3 is calculated by adjusting the 3.23 economic score of lower-income students by the 43% pell grant recipients within the student body. Wayne State University’s EMS of 24.3 ranks in the top 25% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 25%
The average Title IV recipient at Wayne State University pays $13,962 a year, $15,563 less than the $29,525 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $13,962
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Wayne State University, 98% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $13,962 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 38% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $5,526. This is 16% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$4,807
Pell grants
$5,181
State grants
$1,057
Institutional grants
$6,698
Wayne State University offers 2 online bachelor programs, both of which are in hybrid format At the master’s level Wayne State University offers 8 programs, all of which are hybrid format. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
10
Hybrid programs
10
Percentage of programs online
5%
Wayne State University's moderately inclusive admissions are indicated by their 63% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 15,181 applicants, of which 9,603 were admitted and 2,732 enrolled. Wayne State University has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
Full time
75%
83%
Female
60%
59%
First time
45%
59%
In-state
97%
68%
1st generation
38%
35%
White
55%
52%
Black
16%
14%
Hispanic
6%
15%
Asian
12%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
11%
12%