Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Wayne State University #79 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $68,551, placing Wayne State University in the 72.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Wayne State University #80 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Wayne State University sits in the 93.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, meaning graduates consistently outpace what similar students earn at comparable institutions. Azimuth's composite ranking captures how Wayne State University balances strong graduate earnings, meaningful mobility outcomes, and Detroit-market access — a combination that places it among the higher-performing public universities in the Azimuth coverage set.
Azimuth ranks Wayne State University #79 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Detroit, MI, Wayne State University enrolls roughly 15,587 undergraduates. Retention stands at 82.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 58.4%, figures that reflect a university converting enrollment into degree completion at rates consistent with large urban research institutions. What anchors Wayne State University in the composite is mobility. The university sits in the 94.6 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, driven by a student body where 45.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 37.6% are first-generation college students — a broad-access profile that pairs with earnings outcomes strong enough to generate real upward movement. Wayne State University admits about 81.2% of applicants, reinforcing that access posture. The dominant program family is Business, and graduates earn about $16,233 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Wayne State University in the 93.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Return on investment is the lower-ranked pillar in the composite. Azimuth ranks Wayne State University #244 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 83.5 percentile. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $68,551, which sits below the $65,228 median at comparable institutions and places the institution in the 72.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those earnings figures reflect MI's regional labor market and a student population whose post-graduation outcomes represent meaningful returns relative to the no-degree-equivalent baseline of $30,928, even where they fall below selective-peer averages. Affordability sits in the 80.5 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, and access in the 91.6 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Wayne State University's published cost of attendance is $27,350, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $11,090 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $12,068, and higher-income families pay approximately $19,862. Azimuth ranks Wayne State University #279 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 University participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and need-based aid covers a meaningful share of cost for qualifying students. The gap between sticker price and what families actually pay is most pronounced for low-income students, where institutional and federal grant aid — including Pell Grants — can substantially reduce out-of-pocket costs. Families seeking to understand the full picture of net price versus published cost will find that the income-band figures above are the more reliable planning anchors than the headline sticker. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $16,378; 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 $68,551, median federal debt of $21,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $240 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Wayne State University is a strong fit for students drawn to business, health, and applied professional fields who want a public research university rooted in Detroit, MI — particularly those seeking meaningful post-graduation earnings without the cost of higher-priced private institutions. Graduates earn about $16,233 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Wayne State University in the 93.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates also earn median 4-year earnings of $68,551, placing Wayne State University in the 72.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Wayne State University enrolls a large share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 45.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 37.6% are first-generation — and Wayne State University sits in the 85.2 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions, a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. For students from lower-income backgrounds, the combination of broad access and above-average outcomes makes Wayne State University a compelling option. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Business and adjacent applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, and the Detroit labor market shapes many of the most direct career pathways for graduates who plan to stay in the region.
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
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Wayne State University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Louisiana State University And Agricultural & Mechanical College Similar quality tier (#4186 ranked) | LA | 73% | $61,251 | #4186 | Compare |
University Of Virginia-Main Campus Similar quality tier (#4184 ranked) | VA | 17% | $86,863 | #4184 | Compare |
University Of Houston-Downtown Similar quality tier (#4183 ranked) | TX | 90% | $53,551 | #4183 | Compare |
University Of Wisconsin-Madison Similar quality tier in Midwest (#4188 ranked) | WI | 45% | $73,792 | #4188 | Compare |
Texas Tech University Similar quality tier (#4190 ranked) | TX | 73% | $62,454 | #4190 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Wayne State University's published cost of attendance is $27,350, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $11,090 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $12,068, and higher-income families pay approximately $19,862.
Azimuth ranks Wayne State University #279 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 University participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and need-based aid covers a meaningful share of cost for qualifying students. The gap between sticker price and what families actually pay is most pronounced for low-income students, where institutional and federal grant aid — including Pell Grants — can substantially reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Families seeking to understand the full picture of [net price versus published cost](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) will find that the income-band figures above are the more reliable planning anchors than the headline sticker. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $16,378; 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 $68,551, median federal debt of $21,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $240 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 University earn median earnings of $47,200 four years after enrollment, placing Wayne State University in the 67th percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits below the $51,000 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn below expectations, placing the institution in the 33rd percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures still represent lifetime returns relative to Michigan's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $35,000, the state median earnings of working adults aged 25 to 34 with only a high school credential.
While institution-level earnings track Michigan's regional labor market, specific programs deliver materially stronger outcomes. Azimuth ranks Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, and Administration 9th nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning median earnings of $125,000 four years after enrollment — 1.7x the national benchmark for the field.
Health Professions and Related Programs is the dominant program family, representing 32% of degree output, followed by Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services at 19% and Engineering at 9%. Among the largest programs, Nursing graduates 1,200 students annually with median earnings of $68,000, and Azimuth ranks it 123rd nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The Business Administration and Management program graduates 600 students with median earnings of $49,000, while The Mechanical Engineering program graduates 300 students earning median earnings of $66,000 — Azimuth ranks Mechanical Engineering 124th nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
18 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
164 graduates
Industrial Engineering
16 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
65 graduates
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
17 graduates
Wayne State University's program mix is anchored in Business, with additional strength in health professions, engineering, and social sciences. Business accounts for 25% of graduates, Engineering represents 5%, and Education makes up 5% — a distribution that reflects the university's applied-professional orientation in Detroit's diversified labor market.
Across 67 programs serving roughly 4,116 students annually, 51 meet Azimuth's [ranking threshold](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Psychology, General combines large cohort scale with strong earnings, making it the program that contributes most to Wayne State University's overall financial profile.
Among the largest programs, Psychology, General program graduates 331 students annually with median earnings of $52,435 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #98 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions. The Public Health program graduates 258 students with median earnings of $55,302, while The International Business program graduates 212 students with median earnings of $79,882.
Artificial Intelligence leads in earnings with median 4-year earnings of $104,630 from a cohort of 164 graduates, and Azimuth ranks it #47 among nonprofit four-year institutions. Nursing follows at $84,405 with 178 graduates, and Management Information Systems and Services posts median earnings of $80,630 from 136 graduates.
Several of Wayne State University's highest-earning programs — particularly in engineering and health fields — feed directly into high-demand sectors in southeastern Michigan and nationally. Programs like Digital Marketing and Human Resources Management and Services, with 209 and 186 graduates respectively, serve students who may pursue graduate or professional pathways.
The [supply-demand map](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides broader context for how these program families align with national labor-market trends.
