Quad

Wayne State University

Detroit, MIQuad's selectivityAccessible
Known forTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyFinancial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 10, 2026

  • Fall 2025: 17,263 applied (fall 2024: 16,981)Wayne State University (Fall 2025)
  • Fall 2025: 14,430 admits (fall 2024: 13,781)Wayne State University (Fall 2025)
  • Fall 2025: 84% admitted (fall 2024: 81%)Wayne State University (Fall 2025)
  • Fall 2025: middle 50% SAT Reading & Writing 550–650 (fall 2024: 540–640)Wayne State University Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Fall 2025: middle 50% SAT Math 510–640 (fall 2024: 520–630)Wayne State University Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Fall 2025: middle 50% ACT composite 23–28 (fall 2024: 23–29)Wayne State University Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Fall 2027 applicants: Required for some applicants (fall 2024: Test-optional)Wayne State University Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Entered fall 2024: 82% returned for a second year (entered fall 2023: 83%)Wayne State University Common Data Set 2025–26

Sources:Wayne State University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Wayne State University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Wayne State University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2025

8 in 10 applicants admitted

Wayne State admits about 8 in 10 applicants (84%). That puts it in the "Accessible" tier, more selective than 37% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

84%

84%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityAccessible

Applied

17,263

Admitted

14,430

Yield

21%

of admits enroll

Avg. GPA

3.42

SAT middle 50%

1060–1290

10001600
ACT middle 50%

23–28

1836
Applications +39% since fall 2014 · admit rate 77% → 81%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A large campus of 15,587 undergrads, where 46% receive Pell Grants, a high share compared to other colleges.

15.6K

undergrads · larger than 93% of colleges

Diversity index

0.66

Pell Grant

46%

above the median

First generation

38%

above the median

Large cityNCAA D-II · Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
Steady · index 0.64 → 0.66 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Psychology, General (9% of graduates). 14 students for every faculty member, more than at 58% of colleges. 58% of faculty are full-time. Spends $14,651 a year on instruction per student.

14 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 58% of colleges

Most popular major

Psychology, General

9% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Biomedical/Medical Engineering

$106K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

58%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$14.7K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $19,549 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $4.7K less than the national median. The 98% who received grants paid $14,416 on average; the other 2% paid the full sticker price of $31,785 in-state / $47,907 out-of-state.

39%

$19.5K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $4.7K below the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price, in-state
$31,785 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Little need-based aid above $110K
aid thins out for families above that income
Merit aid
avg $6K
the college reports merit aid to students without need
Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 39% of full price

Federal loans

38%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost falling · −11% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $53,493 ten years after enrolling, more than at 49% of colleges; 59% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.5 years of that salary.

59%

59%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$53.5K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$21.3K

≈ $225/month for 10 years

Retention

82%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 34% → 58% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 2% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 11%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 39% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 77% to 81%.

  • Cost

    Falling

    −11% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +39%

  • Selectivity

    Less selective

    admit rate 77% → 81% (to fall 2024)

  • Diversity

    Steady

    index 0.64 → 0.66

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

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University of Louisiana at Lafayette

87% admit · SAT 1180 · 12.4K undergrads

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Stockton University

89% admit · SAT 1130 · 7.5K undergrads

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California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

75% admit · 25K undergrads

Similar sizeAlso public
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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    Wayne State University Common Data Set 2025–26

    Wayne State University · Fall 2025; Fall 2027 applicants; Entered fall 2024; 2025–26 (estimated); 2025–26; Fall 2026 entrants; Entered fall 2019; Fall 2026 cycle; 2026–27; Class of 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-10

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

IPEDS unit ID 172644 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything