Finance and Financial Management Services at Wayne State University

Wayne State's finance program produces graduates earning $56,804 in their first year—roughly $3,000 above the national median for finance degrees. More notably, graduates carry just $21,500 in debt, about $3,700 less than the national median for this major. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38, graduates owe less than five months of their starting salary, which translates to manageable monthly payments even in Detroit's cost structure.

The program sits at the 60th percentile among Michigan finance programs, landing between Central Michigan and Walsh College in earnings outcomes. While it trails Michigan State's $68,000 median by a significant margin, that gap reflects MSU's more selective admissions profile (SAT 1220 vs. 1147). For a university serving 43% Pell-eligible students with an 82% acceptance rate, Wayne State is delivering competitive outcomes. The 10% earnings growth to $62,197 by year four shows steady career progression in Detroit's banking and corporate finance sectors.

The real value here is accessibility combined with solid outcomes. Parents looking at Michigan finance programs will find options with slightly higher starting salaries, but few offer Wayne State's combination of reasonable debt loads and dependable job placement. For students who can commute from metro Detroit and minimize living expenses, this becomes an even stronger proposition—you're getting mid-tier earnings at below-average cost.