Getting in
For Fall 2025, 17,263 first-year students applied to Wayne State, 14,430 were admitted and 3,071 enrolled: an acceptance rate of 83.6%.
Source: Wayne State Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1. Read Oct 1, 2026.
By residency, first-year applicants, Fall 2025
| Applicants | Applied | Admitted | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state (Michigan) | 15,236 | 12,973 | 85.1% |
| Out-of-state | 1,363 | 1,051 | 77.1% |
| International | 664 | 406 | 61.1% |
Source: Wayne State Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1, residency table. Read Oct 1, 2026.
By school or major. Wayne State's Common Data Set reports one first-year acceptance rate for the whole university, with no rate by college or major.
Source: Wayne State Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Early plans. Wayne State has no early decision or early action plan. Its December 1 date is a priority date for merit scholarships, not an early round.
Source: Wayne State Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), sections C21 and C22. Read Oct 1, 2026.
Programs with extra requirements
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
You apply to Wayne State as a first-year student. Two things can change your path:
- Music, theatre and dance. You also schedule an audition or interview through the department.
- Michigan Assured Admission Pact. Wayne State admits every Michigan high school graduate with a cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 or above (on a 4.0 scale). You still complete the application and the FAFSA.
Source: Wayne State Admissions, Michigan Assured Admission Pact (MAAP) (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Source: Wayne State Admissions, First-year steps to apply (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Majors
114 majors across 8 schools. Every bachelor's degree major in Wayne State's official 2026-2027 Undergraduate Bulletin, grouped by the college or school that offers it, with the degree it leads to. Minors, certificates, co-majors and graduate programs are left out.
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences47
- Actuarial Mathematics (B.A.)
- African American Studies (B.A.)
- Anthropology (B.A.)
- Astronomy (B.A.)
- Astronomy (B.S.)
- Biochemistry and Chemical Biology (B.S.)
- Biological Sciences (B.A.)
- Biological Sciences (B.S.)
- Biomedical Physics (B.S.)
- Chemistry (B.A.)
- Chemistry (B.S.)
- Communication Sciences and Disorders (B.A.)
- Computer Science (B.A.)
- Criminal Justice (B.S.)
- Economics (B.A.)
- Employment and Labor Relations (B.A.)
- English (B.A.)
- Environmental Science (B.S.)
- Film Studies (B.A.)
- Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies (B.A.)
- General Studies (B.G.S.)
- Geology (B.A.)
- Geology (B.S.)
- Global Studies (B.A.)
- History (B.A.)
- Law (B.A.)
- Linguistics (B.A.)
- Mathematical Economics (B.A.)
- Mathematics (B.A.)
- Mathematics (B.S.)
- Neuroscience (B.S.)
- Nutrition and Food Science (B.A.)
- Nutrition and Food Science (B.S.)
- Philosophy (B.A.)
- Physics (B.A.)
- Physics (B.S.)
- Political Science (B.A.)
- Professional Biomedical Sciences (B.S.)
- Psychology (B.A.)
- Psychology (B.S.)
- Public Affairs (B.P.A.)
- Public Health (B.S.)
- Public History (B.A.)
- Sociology (B.A.)
- Statistics (B.S.)
- Urban Studies and Planning (B.A.)
- World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (B.A.)
Source: Wayne State 2026-2027 Undergraduate Bulletin, Programs A-Z (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Mike Ilitch School of Business14
- Accounting (B.A.)
- Accounting (B.S.)
- Business Administration (B.A.)
- Business Administration (B.S.)
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation (B.A.)
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation (B.S.)
- Finance (B.A.)
- Finance (B.S.)
- Global Supply Chain Management (B.A.)
- Global Supply Chain Management (B.S.)
- Management (B.A.)
- Marketing (B.A.)
- Technology, Information Systems and Analytics (B.A.)
- Technology, Information Systems and Analytics (B.S.)
Source: Wayne State 2026-2027 Undergraduate Bulletin, Programs A-Z (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
College of Education11
- Community Health (B.S.)
- Early Childhood Education (B.S.Ed.)
- Educational Studies (B.S.Ed.)
- Elementary Education (B.S.Ed.)
- Exercise and Sport Science (B.S.)
- Health and Physical Education Teaching (B.S.)
- Middle Childhood Education (B.S.Ed.)
- Multi-Age Education (B.S.Ed.)
- Secondary Education (B.S.)
- Special Education (B.S.)
- Sport Management (B.S.)
Source: Wayne State 2026-2027 Undergraduate Bulletin, Programs A-Z (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
James and Patricia Anderson College of Engineering15
- Biomedical Engineering (B.S.)
- Chemical Engineering (B.S.)
- Civil Engineering (B.S.)
- Computer Science (B.S.)
- Computer Technology (B.S.)
- Construction Management (B.S.)
- Electrical and Computer Engineering (B.S.)
- Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technology (B.S.)
- Electromechanical Engineering Technology (B.S.)
- General Engineering (B.S.)
- Industrial Engineering (B.S.)
- Information Technology (B.S.)
- Mechanical Engineering (B.S.)
- Mechanical Engineering Technology (B.S.)
- Welding and Metallurgical Engineering Technology (B.S.)
Source: Wayne State 2026-2027 Undergraduate Bulletin, Programs A-Z (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts18
- Art (B.A.)
- Art (B.F.A.)
- Art History (B.A.)
- Communication and Media Studies (B.A.)
- Dance (B.F.A.)
- Dance (B.S.)
- Design (B.F.A.)
- Design and Merchandising (B.A.)
- Design and Merchandising (B.S.)
- Film (B.A.)
- Journalism and Media (B.A.)
- Media Arts and Studies (B.A.)
- Music (B.A.)
- Music (B.Mus.)
- Music Industry and Society (B.A.)
- Public Relations and Strategic Communication (B.A.)
- Theatre (B.A.)
- Theatre (B.F.A.)
Source: Wayne State 2026-2027 Undergraduate Bulletin, Programs A-Z (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
College of Nursing1
- Nursing (B.S.N.)
Source: Wayne State 2026-2027 Undergraduate Bulletin, Programs A-Z (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences7
- Applied Health Sciences (B.S.)
- Laboratory Science Concentration (B.H.S.)
- Medical Laboratory Science (B.S.)
- Mortuary Science (B.S.)
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Concentration (B.H.S.)
- Physical Therapy Concentration (B.H.S.)
- Radiation Therapy Technology (B.S.)
Source: Wayne State 2026-2027 Undergraduate Bulletin, Programs A-Z (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
School of Social Work1
- Social Work (B.S.W.)
Source: Wayne State 2026-2027 Undergraduate Bulletin, Programs A-Z (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Deadlines for Fall 2027
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
| Plan | Apply by | Decision | Binding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merit scholarship priority | December 1 | not published | No |
| Fall closing date | August 1 | not published | No |
The fall 2027 application is open now, on Wayne State's own application or the Common App. A complete application by December 1 gets priority consideration for merit scholarships, with no separate scholarship application. Decisions usually arrive after October 1; if you apply after October 1, expect one within two to three weeks of sending everything. The admissions pages give no closing date; August 1 is the fall closing date in Wayne State's Common Data Set (section C14). The fee is $25, and fall 2027 applicants can waive it with the code WSU2027.
Source: Wayne State Admissions, First-year steps to apply (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Testing
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
SAT or ACT scores are optional. If you have not taken a test, or do not want scores considered, choose the test-optional pathway: answer one of two short essay prompts and send a full list of your leadership, extracurricular, community and work activities (a recommendation from an academic reference is optional). Common App materials may cover these. Going test-optional does not affect merit scholarship eligibility.
Source: Wayne State Admissions, First-year steps to apply (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
The Common Data Set marks the SAT or ACT as "Required for some" applicants for fall 2027, with scores due by August 1.
Source: Wayne State Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C8. Read Oct 1, 2026.
Applying next year?
For students applying in fall 2027, entering fall 2028
Not announced yet. When we checked Wayne State's admission pages on October 1, 2026, we found no announced changes for fall 2028 entry. The deadlines and rules above are for fall 2027 entry.
Source: Wayne State, Apply (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Cost, and what families paid after aid
The published cost of a year at Wayne State, 2026-2027:
| Item | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition and fees (15 semester hours a term) | $16,080 | $34,214 |
| Food and housing (on campus, Ghafari Hall) | $12,268 | $12,268 |
| Books, supplies, materials and equipment | $1,370 | $1,370 |
| Transportation | $1,846 | $1,846 |
| Miscellaneous | $2,538 | $2,538 |
| Estimated loan fee | $82 | $82 |
| Total | $34,184 | $52,318 |
Estimates for a first-year undergraduate in a double room in Ghafari Hall, fall and winter semesters, at the lowest division tuition rates. The out-of-state column is Wayne State's non-resident estimate. Wayne State says this is not a bill, and your own figures are in the Financial Aid Portal.
Source: Wayne State Financial Aid, Cost of attendance (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Average net price per year, by family income, 2023-24:
| Family income | Paid after grants |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $11,090 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $10,721 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $12,068 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $14,828 |
| Over $110,000 | $19,862 |
| All incomes | $12,766 |
What first-year, full-time, in-state students who received federal aid paid after grants and scholarships, by family income, in 2023-24, the latest year the Department of Education publishes. Your own price comes from Wayne State's aid offer.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Similar schools
Chosen for how close each is to Wayne State University on acceptance rate, public or private, location and majors offered.
Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI · Public83.2% admitted$19,680 average net price
Western Michigan UniversityKalamazoo, MI · Public85.3% admitted$15,273 average net price
Michigan Technological UniversityHoughton, MI · Public85.5% admitted$14,182 average net price
Illinois State UniversityNormal, IL · Public85.5% admitted$19,398 average net price
Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN · Public86.2% admitted$14,940 average net price
Admitted: each school's latest first-year acceptance rate, so the year can differ from school to school; each school's page names its year and source. Average net price: what federal aid recipients paid per year after grants, 2023-24, and the in-state figure for a public university.