Location: Detroit, MI•In-State Tuition: $14,297•Out-of-State Tuition: $30,419•Admission Rate: 82%•Avg SAT: 1147
Median Earnings (1yr)Reported
$56,804
62nd percentile
60th percentile in Michigan
Median DebtReported
$21,500
8% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.38 ManageableSample: 152 graduates

Based on U.S. Department of Education data (October 2025 release).

Analysis

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.

Where Wayne State University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all finance and financial management services bachelors's programs nationally

Wayne State UniversityOther finance and financial management services programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Wayne State University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Wayne State University earns $57k — 62th percentile among finance and financial management services bachelors programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Wayne State University$56,804$62,197+9%
Michigan State University$68,103$79,866+17%
Oakland University$61,804$78,839+28%
University of Michigan-Dearborn$58,438$71,075+22%
Saginaw Valley State University$46,284$70,100+51%

Compare to Similar Programs in Michigan

Finance and Financial Management Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Michigan (30 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Wayne State UniversityDetroit$14,297$56,804$62,197$21,5000.38
Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing$15,988$68,103$79,866$23,2500.34
Oakland UniversityRochester Hills$14,694$61,804$78,839$23,9440.39
Central Michigan UniversityMount Pleasant$14,190$60,023$65,653$26,6720.44
Albion CollegeAlbion$55,746$59,926—$24,9790.42
Walsh CollegeTroy—$58,735$60,192$14,0120.24
National Median—$53,590—$23,3320.44

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with finance and financial management services graduates

Financial Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Treasurers and Controllers

Direct financial activities, such as planning, procurement, and investments for all or part of an organization.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Investment Fund Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Sustainability Officers

Communicate and coordinate with management, shareholders, customers, and employees to address sustainability issues. Enact or oversee a corporate sustainability strategy.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

General and Operations Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services. Usually manage through subordinate supervisors. Excludes First-Line Supervisors.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Personal Financial Advisors

Advise clients on financial plans using knowledge of tax and investment strategies, securities, insurance, pension plans, and real estate. Duties include assessing clients' assets, liabilities, cash flow, insurance coverage, tax status, and financial objectives. May also buy and sell financial assets for clients.

$102,140/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial and Investment Analysts

Conduct quantitative analyses of information involving investment programs or financial data of public or private institutions, including valuation of businesses.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial Risk Specialists

Analyze and measure exposure to credit and market risk threatening the assets, earning capacity, or economic state of an organization. May make recommendations to limit risk.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Budget Analysts

Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations. Analyze budgeting and accounting reports.

$87,930/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Insurance Underwriters

Review individual applications for insurance to evaluate degree of risk involved and determine acceptance of applications.

$79,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

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About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Wayne State University, approximately 43% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 152 graduates with reported earnings and 150 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.