Back to Colleges
Wayne State University
Detroit, MI 15,676 Undergrads 54.9% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$26,794
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$14,773
After Aid
Median Earnings
$53,493
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$14,773
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$53,493
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate54.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients44.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time79.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS69.7%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
82.0%
SAT Avg
1,147
SAT Reading
25th: 53057575th: 640
SAT Math
25th: 51057075th: 620
ACT Composite
25th: 212575th: 28
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$465k
+$69k
-$19k
Median Cost$15k/yr
+$412k
+$16k
-$72k
Full Cost$27k/yr
+$369k
-$27k
-$115k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$15k/yr
Never
-136%
Full Cost$27k/yr
Never
-120%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return-115%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-81%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$19,735
Earnings (5yr)
$73,718
Lifetime Value Added
+$94k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$23,695
Earnings (5yr)
$64,752
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$25,486
Earnings (5yr)
$48,665
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Apparel and Textiles
BachCIP: 1909
Median Debt
$22,441
Earnings (5yr)
$39,433
Lifetime Value Added
-$180k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,384
Earnings (5yr)
$63,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (5yr)
$100,634
Lifetime Value Added
+$295k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$21,054
Earnings (5yr)
$59,768
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$27,500
Earnings (5yr)
$80,725
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5110
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$73,379
Lifetime Value Added
+$91k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$46,281
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$56,144
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (5yr)
$102,611
Lifetime Value Added
+$310k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (5yr)
$60,667
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
$24,750
Earnings (5yr)
$34,720
Lifetime Value Added
-$221k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$21,853
Earnings (5yr)
$33,158
Lifetime Value Added
-$234k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$19,374
Earnings (5yr)
$65,866
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1503
Median Debt
$23,167
Earnings (5yr)
$106,090
Lifetime Value Added
+$336k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$23,182
Earnings (5yr)
$107,566
Lifetime Value Added
+$347k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$24,113
Earnings (5yr)
$36,703
Lifetime Value Added
-$204k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$21,400
Earnings (5yr)
$42,599
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$18,507
Earnings (5yr)
$73,338
Lifetime Value Added
+$91k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$29,617
Earnings (5yr)
$40,450
Lifetime Value Added
-$172k
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1905
Median Debt
$20,568
Earnings (5yr)
$54,859
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,696
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 5199
Median Debt
$13,750
Earnings (5yr)
$117,514
Lifetime Value Added
+$421k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$52,040
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$20,375
Earnings (5yr)
$67,393
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
Industrial Engineering
BachCIP: 1435
Median Debt
$21,126
Earnings (2yr)
$77,401
Lifetime Value Added
+$157k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (5yr)
$81,434
Lifetime Value Added
+$151k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$27,725
Earnings (5yr)
$51,442
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$18,028
Earnings (5yr)
$63,192
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
$20,195
Earnings (5yr)
$43,788
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$21,542
Earnings (5yr)
$86,777
Lifetime Value Added
+$191k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$20,125
Earnings (5yr)
$58,487
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,851
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$98,434
Lifetime Value Added
+$279k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$22,452
Earnings (5yr)
$46,187
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (5yr)
$69,454
Lifetime Value Added
+$62k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$53,572
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Public Administration
BachCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$23,086
Earnings (2yr)
$30,173
Lifetime Value Added
-$244k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$24,055
Earnings (5yr)
$58,814
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
$30,500
Earnings (5yr)
$46,365
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$24,468
Earnings (5yr)
$75,621
Lifetime Value Added
+$108k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$49,933
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$26,811
Earnings (5yr)
$48,799
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$35,750
Earnings (5yr)
$51,383
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$30,953
Earnings (5yr)
$49,982
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (5yr)
$50,327
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Urban Studies/Affairs
BachCIP: 4512
Median Debt
$25,205
Earnings (5yr)
$60,709
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (5yr)
$80,947
Lifetime Value Added
+$249k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
MastCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$70,614
Earnings (5yr)
$122,128
Lifetime Value Added
+$601k
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education
MastCIP: 1302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,433
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other
MastCIP: 2699
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$64,250
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
MastCIP: 1405
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$101,187
Lifetime Value Added
+$422k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$36,424
Earnings (5yr)
$118,670
Lifetime Value Added
+$572k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$90,939
Lifetime Value Added
+$334k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$40,245
Earnings (5yr)
$79,452
Lifetime Value Added
+$236k
Communication and Media Studies
MastCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$33,381
Earnings (5yr)
$67,681
Lifetime Value Added
+$134k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$46,173
Earnings (5yr)
$64,898
Lifetime Value Added
+$110k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$32,746
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
MastCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$161k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$75,095
Lifetime Value Added
+$198k
Educational/Instructional Media Design
MastCIP: 1305
Median Debt
$40,500
Earnings (5yr)
$71,420
Lifetime Value Added
+$167k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (5yr)
$54,370
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Industrial Engineering
MastCIP: 1435
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$84,653
Lifetime Value Added
+$325k
Information Science/Studies
MastCIP: 1104
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$178k
Library Science and Administration
MastCIP: 2501
Median Debt
$38,546
Earnings (5yr)
$55,030
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Mechanical Engineering
MastCIP: 1419
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$97,071
Lifetime Value Added
+$438k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$79,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$236k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (2yr)
$50,439
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$50,500
Earnings (5yr)
$128,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$658k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$35,500
Earnings (5yr)
$62,876
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$39,500
Earnings (5yr)
$59,639
Lifetime Value Added
+$62k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,890
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$80,955
Earnings (5yr)
$62,834
Lifetime Value Added
+$91k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$41,009
Earnings (5yr)
$58,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$37,604
Earnings (5yr)
$59,734
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Graduate Certificates
Educational Administration and Supervision
Gr-CertCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$47,671
Earnings (5yr)
$87,245
Lifetime Value Added
+$387k
Library Science and Administration
Gr-CertCIP: 2501
Median Debt
$44,655
Earnings (5yr)
$57,658
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
Doctoral Degrees
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
DocCIP: 5102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$76,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$105k
Curriculum and Instruction
DocCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$72,899
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
DocCIP: 5120
Median Debt
$117,691
Earnings (5yr)
$137,150
Lifetime Value Added
+$512k
Psychology, General
DocCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$102,289
Lifetime Value Added
+$260k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$63,837
Earnings (2yr)
$119,061
Lifetime Value Added
+$434k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
DocCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$87,014
Earnings (5yr)
$82,331
Lifetime Value Added
+$114k
Professional Degrees
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$61,466
Earnings (5yr)
$102,400
Lifetime Value Added
+$260k
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$165,514
Earnings (5yr)
$176,598
Lifetime Value Added
+$796k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.