WSU: the complete school report for parents
WSU puts the most weight on GPA. It does not consider legacy, demonstrated interest and the interview, so campus visits and emails will not move the decision. With an 83.6% admit rate and 50% of enrolled students at a 3.50 GPA or above, the transcript is the entry ticket and scores are optional but help when they are strong. Major matters more than the name on the diploma here: five years out, Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other graduates earn a median $117,514 against $33,158 for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
WSU is officially Wayne State University. Admissions figures below come from its 2025-2026 Common Data Set (see the source), with the admission-factor grid re-read from that file on 2026-09-20.
What does WSU actually weigh in admissions?
WSU rates 1 of the 18 factors "Very Important": GPA. It does not consider 9 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is WSU's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.
| Factor | How WSU rates it |
|---|---|
| course rigor | Considered |
| GPA | Very Important |
| test scores | Important |
| the essay | Considered |
| extracurricular activities | Considered |
| recommendations | Considered |
| personal qualities | Considered |
| talent | Not Considered |
| class rank | Not Considered |
| demonstrated interest | Not Considered |
| the interview | Not Considered |
| legacy | Not Considered |
| first-generation status | Not Considered |
| geography | Not Considered |
| state residency | Not Considered |
| volunteer work | Considered |
| work experience | Considered |
| religious affiliation | Not Considered |
Does WSU consider how hard my child’s courses were?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does WSU consider GPA?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors.
Does WSU consider SAT or ACT scores?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does WSU consider the application essay?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does WSU consider extracurricular activities?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does WSU consider recommendation letters?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does WSU consider character and personal qualities?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does WSU consider a special talent or ability?
No. WSU does not consider it.
Does WSU consider class rank?
No. WSU does not consider it. A school that does not rank its students is not a disadvantage.
Does WSU consider demonstrated interest?
No. WSU does not consider it. Campus visits, emails and info sessions do not move the decision.
Does WSU consider an interview?
No. WSU does not consider it. There is no interview to prepare for.
Does WSU consider legacy status?
No. WSU does not consider it. A parent or grandparent who attended gives no advantage.
Does WSU consider being first-generation?
No. WSU does not consider it.
Does WSU consider where we live?
No. WSU does not consider it.
Does WSU consider state residency?
No. WSU does not consider it.
Does WSU consider volunteer work?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does WSU consider work experience?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does WSU consider religious affiliation?
No. WSU does not consider it.
What GPA do admitted students actually have?
50% of enrolled students had a 3.50 GPA or above. The average was 3.42 on a 4 scale, reported for 95.47% of the entering class. This is the school’s own distribution, not an estimate from its admit rate.
| High school GPA | Share of enrolled students |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 14.67% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 19.51% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 15.96% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 14.02% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 14.12% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 20.26% |
| 2.00–2.49 | 1.43% |
Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?
WSU admitted 71.2% of 4,064 transfer applicants, against 83.6% of first-year applicants. The two routes are similarly competitive here. The minimum college GPA considered is 2.5.
When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?
WSU offers neither Early Decision nor Early Action, so there is no early round to strategize about and every applicant is read in one pool.
| Regular application deadline | August 1 |
|---|---|
| Decisions released | October 1 |
| Reply / deposit deadline | May 1 |
| Early Decision offered | No |
| Early Action offered | No |
| Application fee | $25 |
| Fee waiver available | Yes |
| Deferred admission offered | No |
What does my child need to take in high school?
WSU sets no fixed course requirements, but recommends 18 academic units. A college-preparatory program is recommended. A GED is accepted.
| Subject | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | Not stated | 4 years |
| Mathematics | Not stated | 4 years |
| Science | Not stated | 3 years |
| Foreign language | Not stated | 2 years |
What will WSU actually cost us?
Families pay an average of $12,766 a year at WSU after grants and scholarships, against a published in-state tuition of $14,188. The published price is not what most families pay. The university reports meeting 62.08% of demonstrated need on average. It also gave 789 merit awards averaging $6,144 to first-years with no demonstrated need.
What families at each income level actually paid:
| Family income | Average net price per year |
|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $11,090 |
| $30,000–$48,000 | $10,721 |
| $48,000–$75,000 | $12,068 |
| $75,000–$110,000 | $14,828 |
| Over $110,000 | $19,862 |
47% of WSU graduates borrow, leaving with an average of $25,616 in debt, which the federal data puts at about $225 a month in repayment. WSU’s net price calculator gives your own figure.
Does a degree from WSU pay off?
Graduates earn a median $53,493 ten years after entering, and $45,207 at six years. 73% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 38% are actively paying down their loans three years in.
Four-year net cost against that earnings premium:
| Family income | Four-year net cost | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $44,360 | 4.7 |
| $30,000–$48,000 | $42,884 | 4.5 |
| $48,000–$75,000 | $48,272 | 5.1 |
| $75,000–$110,000 | $59,312 | 6.2 |
| Over $110,000 | $79,448 | 8.4 |
A scale, not a forecast: it assumes aid and earnings hold steady.
$117,514 to $33,158, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at WSU:
| Major | Median earnings, 5 years | Graduates a year |
|---|---|---|
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | $117,514 | 104 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $107,566 | 65 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $102,611 | 164 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $98,434 | 69 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $86,777 | 136 |
| International Business | $81,434 | 212 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $75,621 | 178 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $73,718 | 131 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $73,338 | 168 |
| Apparel and Textiles | $39,433 | 69 |
| Dance | $34,720 | 28 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $33,158 | 34 |
College Scorecard, by field of study; highest and lowest shown.
Will my child actually graduate?
82% of first-years return for a second year. 38% graduate within four years and 60% within six (2019 cohort). The rate holds up across income: 53.8% of Pell-grant recipients graduate within six years against 65.6% of everyone else, a gap of 11.8 points.
How big are the classes?
31% of class sections have fewer than 20 students, while 4% have 100 or more. The student-faculty ratio is 14:1, and 58% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by Higher Learning Commission.
What is life at WSU like?
16,390 undergraduates, 1.56% of first-years from out of state. 31.68% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 15.18% across all undergraduates. 38% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $61,912.
What this means for your student
- 50% of enrolled students are at a 3.50 GPA or above, averaging 3.42. Below that line the rest of the application has to carry real weight.
- Skip demonstrated-interest tactics here. Visits and emails are not tracked, so save that effort for schools where they count.
- Its highest-earning major returns $117,514 five years out against $33,158 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
- See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.
Common questions about WSU
What GPA do you need for WSU?
50% of enrolled students at WSU 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 do WSU graduates earn?
WSU graduates earn a median $53,493 ten years after entering, and 73% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years.
Other schools families compare with WSU
- WMUAdmissions report · 85.3% admit rate
- Grand Valley|GVSU|Grand Valley State|Admissions report · 92.7% admit rate
- University of Cincinnati-Main CampusAdmissions report · 88.0% admit rate
- UIC|U of I-Chicago|Illinois-Chicago|U of I-Medical Center|University of Illinois-Medical Center|Admissions report · 75.8% admit rate
- Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleAdmissions report · 94.4% admit rate
- Baylor UniversityAdmissions report · 52.2% admit rate
Where these numbers come from
Admissions figures: WSU’s 2025-2026 Common Data Set, published here, factor grid re-read from it on 2026-09-20. Earnings, debt, net price and graduation rates: College Scorecard (2022-2023). Unreported values show as “Not reported”.