Wayne State University

www.wayne.edu/

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2021 Undergraduate Tuition

$13,532

3.9% growth from 2020

2021 Average Net Price

$15,710

After Financial Aid

2019 Student Loan

1.59%

Default Rate

2021 Acceptance Rate

63.3%

15,181 Applicants

2021 Enrolled Students

24,919

72.1% Full-Time

2021 Graduation Rate

55.8%

1,293 Graduates

About

Wayne State University is a higher education institution located in Wayne County, MI. In 2021, the most popular Masters Degree concentrations at Wayne State University were General Business Administration & Management (414 degrees awarded), Social Work (326 degrees), and Library & Information Science (142 degrees).

In 2021, 7,239 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Wayne State University. 60.2% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 39.8% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (4,502 degrees), 4.93 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (914 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Wayne State University is $13,532, which is $−15,460 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,992).

Photo by Jeff Dunn

Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2021, the median undergraduate tuition at Wayne State University is $13,532, which is $−15,460 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,992).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $15,710.

In 2021, 79% of undergraduate students attending Wayne State University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 44% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$13,532

2021 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2021, the cost of tuition at Wayne State University was $13,532. The cost of tuition at Wayne State University is $−15,460 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,992).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Wayne State University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$15,710

2021 Value

4.78%

1 Year Growth

In 2021 Wayne State University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $15,710. Between 2020 and 2021, the average net price of Wayne State University grew by 4.78%.

This chart compares the average net price of Wayne State University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$10,849

Room and Board

$1,246

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Wayne State University was of $10,849 in 2021. The cost of room and board increased by 4.5% between 2020 and 2021.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,246. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Wayne State University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

79%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

44%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

79% of undergraduate students at Wayne State University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2021. This represents a growth of 1.28% with respect to 2020, when 78% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Wayne State University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

1.59%

2019 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2019 the default rate for borrower's at Wayne State University was 1.59%, which represents 99 out of the 6220 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

Wayne State University received 15,181 undergraduate applications in 2021, which represents a 11.2% annual growth. Out of those 15,181 applicants, 9,603 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 63.3% acceptance rate.

There were 24,919 students enrolled at Wayne State University in 2021. 48% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Wayne State University has an overall enrollment yield of 28.4%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

63.3%

Acceptance Rate in 2021

9,603

Accepted Out of 15,181

In 2021, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Wayne State University was 63.3% (9,603 admissions from 15,181 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2020, which was 69%. Between 2020 and 2021, the number of applicants grew by 11.2%, while admissions declined by −18.6%..

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Wayne State University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

48%

Submission Percentage (2021)

1,320

Scores Submitted (2021)

48% of enrolled first-time students at Wayne State University in 2021 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

This chart shows the SAT scores for the 25th and 75th percentile of applicants broken out into each section of the test that their are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Wayne State University had a total enrollment of 24,919 students in 2021. The full-time enrollment at Wayne State University is 17,971 students and the part-time enrollment is 6,948. This means that 72.1% of students enrolled at Wayne State University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Wayne State University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 55% White, 14.8% Black or African American, 10.9% Asian, 6.16% Two or More Races, 6% Hispanic or Latino, 0.269% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0482% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Wayne State University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (32.7%), followed by White Male (22.2%) and Black or African American Female (9.54%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (33.4%), followed by White Male (20.6%) and Black or African American Female (6.53%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

72.1%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Wayne State University in 2021, both undergraduate and graduate, is 24,919 students. The full-time enrollment at Wayne State University is 17,971 and the part-time enrollment is 6,948. This means that 72.1% of students enrolled at Wayne State University are enrolled full-time compared with 76.6% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Wayne State University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

81%

2021 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Wayne State University was 81%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (84%), Wayne State University had a retention rate lower than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Wayne State University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
13,710 enrolled students
Black or African American
3,681 enrolled students
Asian
2,711 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Wayne State University is 55% White, 14.8% Black or African American, 10.9% Asian, 6.16% Two or More Races, 6% Hispanic or Latino, 0.269% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0482% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 48.9% White, 15.1% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.56% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 603 students (2.42%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2021, 1,471 more women than men received degrees from Wayne State University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Wayne State University is white (4,502 degrees awarded). There were 4.93 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (914 degrees).

The most common Masters Degree concentration at Wayne State University is General Business Administration & Management (414 degrees awarded), followed by Social Work (326 degrees) and Library & Information Science (142 degrees).

In 2021, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Wayne State University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Library Science (169 degrees awarded), Public Administration and Social Service (494 degrees), and Human Sciences (190 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Software developers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Wayne State University are Software developers (422,661 people), Other managers (368,459 people), Miscellaneous engineers, including nuclear engineers (352,479 people), Civil engineers (264,547 people), and Mechanical engineers (194,780 people).

The most specialized majors at Wayne State University in 2021 are Library Science (169 degrees awarded), Public Administration and Social Service (494 degrees), Human Sciences (190 degrees), Engineering (532 degrees), and Physical Sciences (128 degrees) (as of 2021).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Podiatrists

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Wayne State University are Podiatrists, Surgeons, Physicians, Aircraft pilots & flight engineers, and Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents

The most specialized majors at Wayne State University are Library Science (169 degrees awarded), Public Administration and Social Service (494 degrees), Human Sciences (190 degrees), Engineering (532 degrees), and Physical Sciences (128 degrees) (as of 2021).

Common Industries by Major

Computer Systems Design

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Wayne State University are Computer Systems Design (463,373 people), Architectural, engineering & related services (439,651 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (324,780 people), Construction (279,707 people), and Elementary & secondary schools (269,357 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Wayne State University.

Most Common (2021)

General Psychology
313 degree-majors awarded
General Public Health
264 degree-majors awarded
International Business, Trade, & Commerce
240 degree-majors awarded

In 2021, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Wayne State University was General Psychology with 313 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Wayne State University according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

2,884

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2021

4,355

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2021

In 2021, 2,884 degrees were awarded to men at Wayne State University, which is 0.662 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (4,355).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Wayne State University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2021, 207 degrees were awarded to men at Wayne State University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 0.95 times less than the 218 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2021, 405 degrees were awarded to men at Wayne State University in Social Work, which is 8.44 times more than the 48 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

20%

100% Completion Time

48%

150% Completion Time

In 2021, 20% of students graduating from Wayne State University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 48% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 52% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

Asian Female

Highest Graduation Rate (70.9%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2021 at Wayne State University is Female and Asian (70.9% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (72.9%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 2.86% of graduates (37 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
4,502 degrees awarded
Black or African American
914 degrees awarded
Asian
681 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Wayne State University is white (4,502 degrees awarded). There were 4.93 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (914 degrees).

2.75% of degree recipients (199 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2021)

White Female
2,662 degrees awarded
White Male
1,840 degrees awarded
Black or African American Female
651 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Wayne State University is white female (2,662 degrees awarded). There were 1.45 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (1840 degrees).

Operations

Wayne State University has an endowment valued at nearly $521M, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 30.1M (5.79%) compared to the 10.4% average return (40.5M on 388M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2021, Wayne State University had a total salary expenditure of 867M. Wayne State University employs 297 Associate professors, 270 Professors and 231 Assistant professors. Most academics at Wayne State University are Male Professor (188), Female Associate professor (157), and Male Associate professor (140).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Wayne State University are: Business and Financial Operations, with 486 employees, Management, with 433 employees, and Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services with 261 employees.

Endowment

$521M

2021 Endowment

22.4%

growth from 2020

Wayne State University has an endowment valued at about $521M, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The endowment of Wayne State University grew 22.4% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $133M higher than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Wayne State University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$104M - Federal
$30.1M - State
$1.06M - Local

As of 2021, Wayne State University received $104M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $30.1M from state grants and contracts, and $1.06M from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$447M

2021 Salaries

2.83%

decline from 2020

In 2021, Wayne State University paid a median of $447M in salaries, which represents 51.6% of their overall expenditure ($867M) and a 2.83% decline from the previous year.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 234M (42.8% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$107M

Instructional Salaries

1,003

Number of Employees

In 2021, Wayne State University paid a total of $107M to 1,003 employees working as instructors, which represents 24% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $71M (30.3%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

Associate professor

Most Common Instructor

297 Employees

Business and Financial Operations

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

486 Employees

In 2021, the most common positions for instructional staff at Wayne State University were Associate professor with 297 employees, Professor with 270 employees, and Assistant professor with 231 employees.

In 2021, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Wayne State University were Business and Financial Operations with 486 employees, Management with 433 employees, and Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services with 261 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2021)

Male Professor
Female Associate professor
Male Associate professor

In 2021, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Wayne State University was Male Professor with 188 employees, Female Associate professor with 157 employees, and Male Associate professor with 140 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at Wayne State University.