Wayne State University GPA (3.42) & Acceptance Rate (81%)

Q: How hard is it to get into Wayne State University?

Not very selective: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. Wayne State University admitted 81% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.

Q: What percent of applicants does Wayne State University accept?

Wayne State University's acceptance rate was 81% for fall 2024: it admitted 13,781 of 16,981 first-year applicants, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education.

Q: Do I have a chance at Wayne State University with a 3.0 GPA?

It would be on the low side there: 21.7% of Wayne State University's first-year students who submitted a GPA had one below 3.0, as the college reported in its 2025–26 Common Data Set, and it admitted 81% of applicants for fall 2024. Colleges calculate GPA in different ways, so compare on the same scale and look at your courses and test scores too.

Q: What SAT and ACT scores do Wayne State University students have?

The middle 50% of Wayne State University's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 540–640 in reading and writing and 520–630 in math; ACT composite 23–29, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.

Q: What GPA do most Wayne State University students have?

50.1% of Wayne State University's first-year students who submitted a high school GPA had 3.50 or higher, and the largest group (20.3%) had 2.50–2.99, as the college reported in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether these GPAs are weighted or unweighted.

Q: What GPA do you need to get into Wayne State University?

Wayne State University doesn't set a minimum GPA we could verify. Its first-year students averaged 3.42, as reported by the college in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether that average is weighted or unweighted.

Q: Is Wayne State University test optional?

Check Wayne State University's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. Wayne State University was test optional: it considered SAT or ACT scores if you sent them, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024). Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 40% sent SAT scores and 3% sent ACT scores.

Q: How important is GPA for getting into Wayne State University?

A lot: Wayne State University requires high school GPA and high school record. It considers college preparatory program, recommendations, essay or personal statement, test scores and work experience if you send them. It doesn't consider high school class rank, other tests, demonstration of competencies and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.

Q: What do students pay at Wayne State University after grants?

First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $16,021 a year at Wayne State University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.

Q: Does Wayne State University give credit for AP exams?

Yes. Wayne State University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.

Acceptance rate: 81% for fall 2024

Average high school GPA: 3.42, as reported by the college for 2025–26

SAT, middle 50%: 540–640 reading and writing, 520–630 math

ACT, middle 50%: 23–29 composite

Average net price: $16,021 a year (2022–23)

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Type your GPA to compare it with what Wayne State University reported: an average GPA of 3.42 (2025–26), an acceptance rate of 81% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 23–29.

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A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Wayne State University reviews each application.

Wayne State University average GPA

Wayne State University reported an average high school GPA of 3.42 for its first-year students who submitted one (95% did), in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether it's weighted or unweighted.

How their high school GPAs were spread:

High school GPA	Share of first-year students
4.0	14.7%
3.75–3.99	19.5%
3.50–3.74	16%
3.25–3.49	14%
3.00–3.24	14.1%
2.50–2.99	20.3%
2.00–2.49	1.4%
1.00–1.99	<0.1%

First-year students who submitted a high school GPA, as Wayne State University reported in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether these GPAs are weighted or unweighted.

An average, not a cutoffColleges calculate GPA in different ways, so these figures can't be compared directly with your own GPA.

Wayne State University acceptance rate

Wayne State University admitted 13,781 of 16,981 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 81%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Wayne State University is a public 4-year university in Detroit, Michigan, with 16,012 undergraduates.

SAT and ACT scores

Scores of the first-year students who entered Wayne State University in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:

Test	25th percentile	Median	75th percentile
SAT Reading and Writing	540	590	640
SAT Math	520	560	630
ACT Composite	23	26	29
ACT English	21	25	29
ACT Math	22	25	27

40% submitted SAT scores and 3% submitted ACT scores, as Wayne State University reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1156 for admitted students.

Admission requirements

What Wayne State University looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:

Admission factor	Status
High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average.	Required
High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned.	Required
College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school.	Considered if submitted
RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors.	Considered if submitted
Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application.	Considered if submitted
Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores.	Considered if submitted
Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work.	Considered if submitted
High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class.	Not considered
Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III.	Not considered
Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations.	Not considered
Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college.	Not considered

Requirements can differ by program and applicant type, so check with Wayne State University's admissions office before you apply.

AP credit

Wayne State University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.

It also awards credit for life experience, such as work or military service.

Average net price

First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $16,021 a year at Wayne State University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.

Frequently asked questions

How hard is it to get into Wayne State University?

Not very selective: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. Wayne State University admitted 81% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.

What percent of applicants does Wayne State University accept?

Wayne State University's acceptance rate was 81% for fall 2024: it admitted 13,781 of 16,981 first-year applicants, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education.

Do I have a chance at Wayne State University with a 3.0 GPA?

It would be on the low side there: 21.7% of Wayne State University's first-year students who submitted a GPA had one below 3.0, as the college reported in its 2025–26 Common Data Set, and it admitted 81% of applicants for fall 2024. Colleges calculate GPA in different ways, so compare on the same scale and look at your courses and test scores too.

What SAT and ACT scores do Wayne State University students have?

The middle 50% of Wayne State University's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 540–640 in reading and writing and 520–630 in math; ACT composite 23–29, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.

What GPA do most Wayne State University students have?

50.1% of Wayne State University's first-year students who submitted a high school GPA had 3.50 or higher, and the largest group (20.3%) had 2.50–2.99, as the college reported in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether these GPAs are weighted or unweighted.

What GPA do you need to get into Wayne State University?

Wayne State University doesn't set a minimum GPA we could verify. Its first-year students averaged 3.42, as reported by the college in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether that average is weighted or unweighted.

Is Wayne State University test optional?

Check Wayne State University's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. Wayne State University was test optional: it considered SAT or ACT scores if you sent them, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024). Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 40% sent SAT scores and 3% sent ACT scores.

How important is GPA for getting into Wayne State University?

A lot: Wayne State University requires high school GPA and high school record. It considers college preparatory program, recommendations, essay or personal statement, test scores and work experience if you send them. It doesn't consider high school class rank, other tests, demonstration of competencies and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.

What do students pay at Wayne State University after grants?

First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $16,021 a year at Wayne State University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.

Does Wayne State University give credit for AP exams?

Yes. Wayne State University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.

Before you apply, check Wayne State University's official website: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.

Sources

College Navigator: Wayne State UniversityU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
Wayne State University Common Data Set 2025–26Wayne State University: average high school GPA of first-year students and how their GPAs were spread.
College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).

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