Wayne State University Acceptance Rate
Detroit, Michigan · Public · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 15,190
- Admitted
- 12,461
- Yield
- 24%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Wayne State University's acceptance rate has risen from 77.3% in 2014–15 to 82% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 12,199 to 15,190 (+25%) over that period.
Its 82% rate makes Wayne State University more selective than about 38% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 40 tracked Michigan schools, it is more selective than about 35%.
Wayne State University has been test-optional since 2022–23. Of admitted students, 24% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 12,199 | 9,433 | 77.3% | 2,195 |
| 2015–16 | 10,009 | 7,994 | 79.9% | 2,562 |
| 2016–17 | 11,093 | 9,036 | 81.5% | 2,588 |
| 2017–18 | 15,331 | 10,334 | 67.4% | 2,653 |
| 2018–19 | 16,210 | 11,533 | 71.1% | 3,038 |
| 2019–20 | 15,716 | 11,495 | 73.1% | 2,968 |
| 2020–21 | 17,093 | 11,796 | 69% | 3,120 |
| 2021–22 | 15,181 | 9,603 | 63.3% | 2,732 |
| 2022–23 | 14,002 | 10,547 | 75.3% | 2,577 |
| 2023–24 | 15,190 | 12,461 | 82% | 2,988 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 8,555 | 7,122 | 83.2% |
| Men | 5,494 | 4,457 | 81.1% |
| Unknown | 1,141 | 882 | 77.3% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 530–640 | 44% |
| SAT Math | 510–620 | |
| ACT Composite | 21–28 | 4% |
How Wayne State University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Wayne State University's acceptance rate?
Wayne State University's acceptance rate is 82% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (12,461 admitted of 15,190 applicants).
Is Wayne State University test optional?
Wayne State University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Wayne State University?
Wayne State University received 15,190 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 12,461.
What SAT score do you need for Wayne State University?
Admitted students at Wayne State University typically scored 530–640 on SAT Reading/Writing and 510–620 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Wayne State University getting harder to get into?
Wayne State University has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 77.3% in 2014–15 to 82% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: https://wayne.edu/.