Elmhurst College vs. WSU

Should I go to Elmhurst College or Wayne State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Elmhurst College or WSU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Elmhurst College vs. Wayne State University comparison
Elmhurst College Wayne State University College 3 College 4
Elmhurst College Wayne State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Elmhurst College WSU
Location Elmhurst, IL Detroit, MI
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 3,906 23,553
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #386 #580
Religious Affiliation United Church of Christ - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website elmhurst.edu wayne.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Elmhurst College WSU
Tuition (In State) $41,258 $12,493
Tuition (Out of State) $41,258 $28,615
Room & Board $11,858 $11,762
Avg Net Price $22,760 $16,021
Avg Grant Aid $29,445 $10,862
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 95%

Admission

Elmhurst College WSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,254 15,190
Admitted 4,737 12,461
Acceptance Rate 75.7% 82%
Enrolled % 12.8% 24%
Avg High School GPA 3.59 3.42
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/28 21/28
SAT Range 960/1210 1040/1260
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2026

Academics

Elmhurst College WSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

Elmhurst College WSU
Graduation Rate 70% 26%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,200 $51,000
Making Student Loan Payments 72% 38%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $22,258
Median Loan Payment $222 $230

Diversity

Elmhurst College WSU
% Men 7% 12%
% Women 12% 19%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 67% 57%
% Black 5% 19%
% Hispanic 17% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 0% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 5%

Students

Elmhurst College WSU
% In-State 78% 95%
% Out-of-State 13% 2%

Campus

Elmhurst College WSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Wayne State University is larger than than Elmhurst College based on total student enrollment (23,553 students vs. 3,906 students)

Elmhurst College vs. WSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elmhurst College or WSU?

  • Elmhurst College is 230.2% more expensive to attend than WSU for in-state tuition ($41,258.00 vs. $12,493.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 44.2% higher at Elmhurst College than Wayne State University ($41,258.00 vs. $28,615.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wayne State University than Elmhurst College ($16,021 vs. $22,760)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wayne State University are 0.8% lower than costs at Elmhurst College ($11,762 vs. $11,858)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Elmhurst College than Wayne State University (99% vs. 95%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Elmhurst College students is 171.1% larger than aid received Wayne State University ($29,445 vs. $10,862)

Elmhurst College vs. WSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Elmhurst College or WSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WSU or Elmhurst College .

  • The average SAT score at Elmhurst College (1090) is 20 points higher than at WSU (1070)
  • Incoming Elmhurst College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at WSU (23)
  • Accepted freshman Elmhurst College students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at WSU (3.42)
  • WSU has a higher acceptance rate (82%) than Elmhurst College (75.7%)

Elmhurst College vs. WSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Elmhurst College or WSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between WSU and Elmhurst College.

  • The graduation rate at Elmhurst College is higher than Wayne State University (70% vs. 26%)
  • Graduates from Wayne State University earn on average $800 more per year than Elmhurst College graduates after ten years. ($51,000 vs. $50,200)
  • Elmhurst College students graduate with a $758 lower median federal student loan debt than WSU graduates. ($21,500 vs. $22,258)
  • Elmhurst College graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than WSU graduates. ($222 vs. $230)
  • More Elmhurst College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 38%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/