Wayne State: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially Wayne State University · Detroit, Michigan · Public · Open access · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-optional
- 17,263
- Applicants
- 14,430
- Admitted84%
- 3,071
- Enrolled
- 21%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Open access84% admittedRanked #186 (tie) in National Universities; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #128 (tie), Business Programs #199 (tie), Computer Science #141 (tie), Nursing #75 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Wayne State University (see the source), read on 2026-09-20. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.
Is Wayne State a reach, target or safety for your student?
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Wayne State is a public university in Detroit, Michigan that admits about 84% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $12,766 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Psychology, General, Public Health and International Business, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 60% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 3.7 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Wayne State is a public institution located in Detroit, Michigan. For the most recent reporting cycle, Wayne State admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 84%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1180 and an ACT composite around 25. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $12,766 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Wayne State?
50% of enrolled students at Wayne State had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.42, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
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What does Wayne State weight in admissions?
Wayne State reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
1- Academic GPA
Important
1- Standardized test scores
Considered
7- Rigor of secondary school record
- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurricular activities
- Character/personal qualities
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
Not Considered
9- Class rank
- Interview
- Talent/ability
- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores Wayne State typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 520–630, with an EBRW midpoint near 575. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 23–29. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | 1060 |
| 50th percentile | 1180 |
| 75th percentile | 1290 |
| % submitting SAT | 35.88% |
| 25th percentile | 23 |
| 50th percentile | 25 |
| 75th percentile | 28 |
| % submitting ACT | 2.64% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Test-optional pathway: applicants without scores answer short essay questions; no effect on merit scholarships.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Wayne State's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
How much does Wayne State actually cost?
Published tuition is $15,190 for in-state students and $32,037 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $14,252 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $12,766 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 46% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $14,188 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $32,498 |
| Required fees | $2,298 |
| Room and board | $12,844 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $12,766 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 62% |
| Average need-based grant | $15,186 |
| Average merit award, no financial need789 first-year students received one | $6,144 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 47% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $25,616 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $25 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Wayne State
| Regular deadline | 8/1 |
| Notification date | 10/1 |
| Reply deadline | 5/1 |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
Will my child graduate from Wayne State?
These predict outcomes at Wayne State better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Wayne State
The most popular undergraduate programs at Wayne State, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Psychology, General, Public Health and International Business. Across all programs, Wayne State confers roughly 1,706 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Psychology, General program report a median income of about $53,572 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology, General | 331 | $53,572 |
| Public Health | 258 | n/a |
| International Business | 212 | $81,434 |
| Marketing | 209 | $58,487 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 186 | $67,393 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 178 | $75,621 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 168 | $73,338 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 164 | $102,611 |
Is Wayne State safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Wayne State disclosed 57 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 3.7 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 12 violent offenses and 11 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Wayne State?
About 15% of undergraduates at Wayne State live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
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Colleges that admit at a similar rate
Next steps for Wayne State
Common questions parents ask about Wayne State
What GPA do I need for Wayne State?
50% of enrolled students at Wayne State had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.42, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Wayne State typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 520–630, with an EBRW midpoint near 575. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 23–29.
How much does Wayne State actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Wayne State after grants and scholarships is $12,766 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $15,190 and $32,037 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is Wayne State realistic for my child?
Wayne State admits 84% of applicants, so 520–630 SAT Math is target range and below 520 is a reach. Then check the $12,766 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Wayne State?
Wayne State accepts about 84% of applicants out of roughly 17,263 who apply each year. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is Wayne State test-optional?
Yes. Wayne State is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at Wayne State?
About 60% of students at Wayne State graduate within six years, and 38% finish in four years. 82% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does Wayne State look for in applicants?
Wayne State rates GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Wayne State a public or private school, and where is it located?
Wayne State is a public institution located in Detroit, Michigan.
What are the most popular majors at Wayne State?
The largest undergraduate majors at Wayne State by annual graduates are Psychology, General, Public Health and International Business. The school awards about 1,706 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Wayne State safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Wayne State reported 57 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 3.7 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Wayne State?
At Wayne State, 15% of undergraduates live on campus, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Wayne State University, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers