Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Wayne State College #629 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $52,406, placing Wayne State College in the 12.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Wayne State College #677 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Wayne State College is a public master's university in Wayne, Nebraska, enrolling roughly 3,010 undergraduates. Azimuth ranks Wayne State College #629 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 57.3 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution maintains a 72.4% freshman retention rate and a 52.1% six-year graduation rate, reflecting solid student persistence through degree completion. Wayne State College delivers meaningful value through a combination of affordability and access. 25.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants, and 34.2% are first-generation college students, positioning the institution as a broad-access option for students from lower-income and first-generation backgrounds. Azimuth ranks Wayne State College 82.9 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting a cost structure aligned with public master's university pricing. The institution's strength in Education — the dominant program family — connects directly to stable, in-demand career pathways that support long-term financial outcomes for graduates. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $52,406, placing Wayne State College in the 12.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Wayne State College #920 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 37.9 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. For students seeking a regionally rooted institution with clear pathways into teaching, education administration, and related professions, Wayne State College offers predictable affordability paired with outcomes that reflect the stable earnings associated with education-sector careers.
Wayne State College's published cost of attendance is $22,565. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $12,844, middle-income families pay around $13,851, and higher-income families pay approximately $18,905. Azimuth ranks Wayne State College #244 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Wayne State College participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans. The institution's aid structure is designed to make attendance affordable for students across the income spectrum, particularly for families in rural Nebraska and the broader region the college serves. Families apply for aid using the FAFSA, and the college works with students to construct aid packages that combine grants, scholarships, and loans. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $10,888; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $52,406, median federal debt of $19,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $215 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Wayne State College is a strong fit for students seeking a public university experience in NE with a focus on education and related fields. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $52,406, placing Wayne State College in the 12.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $2,421 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 68.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 25.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 34.2% are first-generation. Published cost of attendance is $18,905, and low-income families pay a net price of approximately $12,844 after need-based aid. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix favors education and related fields — Education represents 22% of degrees — and the regional labor market in NE shapes earnings outcomes. Students whose interests align with these areas and who are comfortable with the regional context will find Wayne State College delivers meaningful returns relative to the state's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $34,059.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Wayne State College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Wayne State College's published cost of attendance is $22,565. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $12,844, middle-income families pay around $13,851, and higher-income families pay approximately $18,905.
Azimuth ranks Wayne State College #244 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Wayne State College participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans. The institution's aid structure is designed to make attendance affordable for students across the income spectrum, particularly for families in rural Nebraska and the broader region the college serves.
Families apply for aid using the FAFSA, and the college works with students to construct aid packages that combine grants, scholarships, and loans. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $10,888; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $52,406, median federal debt of $19,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $215 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Wayne State College earn median 4-year earnings of $52,406, placing Wayne State College in the 12.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,421 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Wayne State College in the 68.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Wayne State College #920 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes reflect Wayne State's focus on education and teaching-track programs, which lead to stable, in-demand careers with steady long-term earnings growth.
The earnings pattern centers on education and human services fields. Business Administration is the largest program with 142 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $57,178, performing at 0.8× the national benchmark for the field.
The Subject-Specific Teacher Education program graduates 68 students earning $48,581, and the The Criminal Justice program graduates 63 students earning $55,485. These programs reflect Wayne State College's dominant concentration in Education, which accounts for a substantial share of degrees and aligns with Nebraska's regional labor-market demand for educators and school administrators.
Graduates from these fields typically see steady salary progression as they advance into leadership roles within school districts and educational organizations.
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
40 graduates
Information Science/Studies
20 graduates
Biology, General
27 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
142 graduates
Criminal Justice and Corrections
63 graduates
Wayne State College's program mix is anchored in education and teacher preparation, reflecting the institution's regional mission as a comprehensive public university serving Nebraska. Across its programs, education represents the dominant concentration in the degree portfolio.
The earnings pattern reflects the institution's education-centered identity. Several programs represent pathways where graduates enter stable, in-demand regional labor markets in K-12 education and school administration.
The program portfolio emphasizes workforce readiness in high-need sectors. Teacher-preparation and education-administration programs align with sustained regional demand for educators across Nebraska and the Great Plains, supporting graduates into positions with predictable career trajectories and job security.
The supply and demand for college graduates provides context for how Wayne State College's dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market conditions.
