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Detroit , MI
Wayne State University, located in Detroit, Michigan, is a renowned public research university. Established in 1868, Wayne State has a rich history and a strong commitment to providing accessible higher education to students. The university offers more than 350 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs, spanning various disciplines including business, engineering, medicine, education, and the arts.
Wayne State is recognized as a top-tier research institution, with its faculty and students actively engaged in groundbreaking research and innovation. The university is particularly renowned for its programs in engineering, health sciences, and social sciences. It operates numerous research centers and institutes, attracting grants and funding to support cutting-edge research initiatives. Wayne State also prides itself on its close relationship with the city of Detroit, offering unique opportunities for students to engage in community service and contribute to the revitalization efforts of the city.
In addition to its academic excellence, Wayne State University provides a vibrant campus life to its students. The university offers more than 400 registered student organizations, ranging from cultural and academic clubs to sports, performing arts, and student government. The campus boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including modern classrooms, research labs, and libraries. Wayne State's location in Detroit provides students with a dynamic urban environment, offering cultural events, professional opportunities, and a diverse mix of people and lifestyles.
Overall, Wayne State University stands as a prestigious institution known for its research contributions, diverse academic programs, and strong commitment to community engagement. It continues to foster a supportive and stimulating environment for students, empowering them to excel academically and personally while making a positive impact on society.
Located in Detroit, MI and set in an urban environment, Wayne State University is a public university. This school follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 77%. The freshman retention rate at Wayne State University is 82.62% and the six-year graduation rate is 58%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is August 1. The transfer application deadline is July 15.
Here are some important information on important things to consider about Wayne State University.
Quick Facts
16,173
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
16:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
58%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to discover as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the institution in order to increase your chances of being accepted. Discover some relevant info about admission policy and requirements at Wayne State University.
According to the newest data, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 13,781 in 2025. Wayne State University has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores if the applicant decides to submit them. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
Out of the number of applicants who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 40.19% and ACT scores 2.5%. 6.05% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 35.24% between 1,200 and 1,399, 47.01% between 1,000 and 1,199, 10.97% of the students between 800 and 999, and 0.73% between 600 and 799. The percent of incoming freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 24.68, 48.05 between 24-29, 27.27 in the range between 18-23, 6 between 12-17, and 1 between 6-11.
The average ACT score for all the enrolled students in 2025 was 24 while the average GPA was 3.4. That means you'll most likely need an above-average GPA to get accepted as well as an above-average ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 565 for the accepted students, while the average SAT Math score was 560.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by August 1. If you are applying for a transfer, the application deadline is July 15.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. When creating your list of possible schools to attend, you should consider the freshman retention rate, among other things.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Wayne State University was 82.62%, indicative of the exceptional educational experience and supportive environment at this school.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 58%.
Student Body
Making the decision of which school is the optimal match for you is not simple. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by learning more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Wayne State University in 2025 was 23,964.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 1.62% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 16,173, 347 of which were foreign students. The school reported to have a total of 1,360 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 7,010 male and 10,186 female full-time students in 2025, which is indicative of the importance this institution places on gender equality. There were 2,031 full-time graduate male and 3,040 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to focusing on the diversity of its student population and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 2,330, while the number of Black American students was 2,786. 1,212 students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 703 identified with more than one race. The school also had 5 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 34 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 98 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before submitting an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into consideration. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at Wayne State University that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Wayne State University? Here is what you need to know.
According to the reports from public county and municipal institutions, tuition fees were $14,274.25 for area residents. For students who don't live in the state in which the university is located, the tuition was $32,764.83 in 2025. For the students coming from abroad, tuition at this school was $32,764.83, as well. Fees per academic year required of full-time students amounted to $1,884.6 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $32,765 | $1,885 | $34,649 |
| In-State | $14,274 | $1,885 | $16,158 |
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to think about the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,360.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
In 2025, room and board cost at Wayne State University amounted to $12,696 a year. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 was $7,792 for one academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 14,274 |
| Room and Board | $ 12,696 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,360 |
| Total Expense | $ 28,330 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all different types of financial support available to students. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based aid available at Wayne State University.
According to the most recent data, 2,252 freshmen were awarded financial aid. Students of this school received an average of $16,717.59 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
There were 7,921 students who obtained need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Wayne State University is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was found to be 8,903. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution came to $51,259,265, and state $22,481,871.
$5,592
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
6,943 students, including freshmen, got institutional non-need-based financial aid at this school in 2025. 2,205 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $51,259,265 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $65,376. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $49,912,184. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $2,286,010 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
16:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
In 2025, this ratio at Wayne State University was 16:1. That means that there were 16 times more students than teachers at this school. The faculty of this school consists of 1,627 members, according to the most recent data reported. This number included 760 male and 867 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Wayne State University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Wayne State University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some info about social life at Wayne State University.
Its campus is 195 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 548. This number includes sororities and fraternities. If you are interested in music, you can join the Wayne State University band or chorus. In case you're interested in acting, there is a drama club you can consider joining. For students looking to explore media and communication, Wayne State University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Wayne State University, there are many amenities required for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol that operates 24 hours a day. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services and Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of Wayne State University.
All in all, campus life at Wayne State University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Wayne State University.
Career Counselling
At Wayne State University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a job bank and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Wayne State University is located in Detroit, MI.
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Wayne State University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Wayne State University is 77%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Wayne State University is 82.62%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
