After Wayne State University: graduation, pay and debt
Detroit, Michigan · Public · 15,587 undergrads
57% of Wayne State University students finish within six years, the typical student earns $59,525 ten years after starting and graduates leave with $19,500 in federal loans at the median.
The short answers
$59.5k
median pay 10 years after starting college.
57%
finish within six years.
33%
finish in four years.
83%
of first-years come back for year two.
$19.5k
median federal debt at graduation.
38%
of borrowers were paying down their loans three years after leaving.
All the federal numbers
Finishing
Finished in four yearsIPEDS, fall 2023
33%
Finished within six yearsIPEDS, fall 2023
57%
First-years who came back for year twoCollege Scorecard, fall 2024
83%
Men who finished within six yearsIPEDS, students who started in 2017
53%
Women who finished within six yearsIPEDS, students who started in 2017
59%
Students in that six-year groupIPEDS, students who started in 2017
2,566
Earned a degree or certificate here within eight yearsIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
59%
Still enrolled here after eight yearsIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
25%
Students in that eight-year groupIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
2,350
Transferred to another collegeCollege Scorecard, earlier release
23%
Pay after college
Median pay 6 years after starting collegeCollege Scorecard
$52,005
Median pay 10 years after starting collegeCollege Scorecard, 2022-23
$59,525
Earning more than $25,000 six years after startingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
61%
Debt and paying it back
Median federal debt, students who graduatedCollege Scorecard, 2024-25
$19,500
Median federal debt, everyone who borrowed (finished or not)College Scorecard, earlier release
$16,597
Median federal debt, students with a Pell GrantCollege Scorecard, earlier release
$18,500
Median federal debt, students without a Pell GrantCollege Scorecard, earlier release
$13,000
Paying down their loans 3 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, 2024-25
38%
Paying down their loans 5 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
45%
Paying down their loans 7 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
50%
Defaulted on their loans within 3 yearsCollege Scorecard, earlier release
0.1%
Where these numbers come from
- Admit rate and applicants: Common Data Set, fall 2025 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
- GPA, early rounds and wait list: Common Data Set, fall 2025 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
- Cost, pay and debt: College Scorecard, 2024-25 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
Updated Oct 31, 2026Spot a mistake?How we get our numbers