Is your child considering becoming a Wayne State Warrior?
Wayne State University is a premier research university located in the heart of Detroit serving roughly 24,000 undergraduate and graduate students each semester.
From its location in midtown, the university integrates its urban environment into real-world studies. The proximity to major downtown businesses, medical centers and arts programming make it easy for students to engage with the broader community.
Wayne State made the top 100 national public university ranking from U.S. News & World Report this year and ranks fourth out of the colleges in the state.
Quick Info
Wayne State was founded in 1868 as a medical college. The university’s long history of medical studies makes it a strong choice for students considering a future career in the field.
The university is also one of only three universities in the state which classify as a Carnegie R1 Doctoral University with very high research activity, a prestigious designation.
Academic Programs
Wayne State offers more than 375 academic programs in 13 schools and colleges. Those programs include 126 bachelor’s programs, 139 master’s programs, 60 doctoral programs and 30 certificate, specialist and professional programs.
The top 10 undergraduate majors by total enrollment are psychology, computer science, biological sciences, finance, public health, management, marketing, neuroscience, accounting and criminal justice.
Students who want more time to decide what to study are able to pursue an exploratory track, a program designed specifically for first-year students.
Visit Wayne State’s academic programs list for a full list of available study options.
Campus Life
In the past 10 years, Wayne State has made significant additions to its facilities.
Science, business and art students all benefited from new facilities in the last decade. The Integrative Biosciences Center, a $90 million facility, opened just north of campus in 2015, followed by a new building for the Mike Ilitch School of Business in 2018.
Art students and the broader community have benefitted from the new Hilberry Gateway, a state-of-the-art performance space as well as the Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center.
Student life was also impacted by upgrades to campus facilities with new student housing and a fieldhouse.
In 2019, Wayne State added more than 800 beds for students in a housing facility and in 2021 unveiled the Wayne State Fieldhouse, a new home for the school’s basketball team as well as the Detroit Pistons’ G League team.
Admissions and Scholarships
Students can apply to Wayne State by either using a university specific application or the Common App.
Wayne State requires a $25 application fee, though the university is currently offering a fee waiver for first year undergraduate applicants. ACT or SAT scores are optional, but applicants must submit their high school transcripts online or mail them to the office of admissions.
Students interested in earning a scholarship should complete the application process as early as possible. There are multiple awards available, including the President’s Award for National Merit Scholarship Finalists, Warrior Award and Gold Award. Most scholarships are awarded based on GPA and test scores.
Applicants are automatically considered for a merit-based scholarship.
Cost
Tuition is calculated based on a number of factors, including which program students study and whether they are “upper” or “lower” division based on credit hours.
For example, an in-state undergraduate student studying in the business school should expect to pay around $7,291 each semester.
There are also other fees for students to consider besides tuition. Each semester, Wayne State students pay a registration fee of $288.58 and a student service fee of $46.41 per credit hour in addition to some support fees specific to some academic programs.
Key Calendar Dates
Fall 2025 semester:
- Priority registration: March 24-Aug. 17, 2025
- Open registration: Aug. 18-24, 2025
- Classes begin: Aug. 25, 2025
- Classes end: Dec. 8, 2025
- Final exam: Dec. 10-15, 2025
Winter 2026 semester:
- Priority registration: Nov. 3, 2025-Jan. 4, 2026
- Open registration: Jan. 5-11, 2026
- Classes begin: Jan. 12, 2026
- Classes end: April 27, 2026
- Final exam: April 29-May 4, 2026
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