St. Mary's College vs. WSU

Comparable Facts

Compare Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, IN with Wayne State University in Detroit, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Wayne State University is larger than St. Mary's College based on total student enrollment (23,803 students vs. 1,601 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Saint Mary's College is located in Notre Dame, IN (Rural Fringe setting); Wayne State University is in Detroit, MI (Large City setting).
• Saint Mary's College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Wayne State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Saint Mary's College 9:1; Wayne State University 14:1.

St. Mary's College vs. WSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, St. Mary's College or WSU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wayne State University than St. Mary's College ($14,416 vs. $27,865).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wayne State University are 0.1% lower than at Saint Mary's College ($14,252 vs. $14,260).
• Saint Mary's College is 250.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than WSU (about $38,040 more per year; $53,230.00 vs. $15,190.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 66.2% higher at St. Mary's College than at Wayne State University (about $21,193 more per year; $53,230.00 vs. $32,037.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's College than at Wayne State University (100% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's College students is 199.1% larger than aid received by Wayne State University students ($38,748 vs. $12,953).

St. Mary's College vs. WSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, St. Mary's College or WSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between WSU and St. Mary's College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Saint Mary's College (1230) is 60 points higher than at WSU (1170).
• Incoming St. Mary's College students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 26 at WSU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Mary's College 1130/1325; Wayne State University 1060/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Mary's College 26/30; Wayne State University 23/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: St. Mary's College - Test optional; WSU - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: WSU Aug 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman St. Mary's College students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at WSU (3.42).
• WSU has a higher acceptance rate (81.2%) than St. Mary's College (76%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.1% at St. Mary's College vs. 22.4% at WSU.

St. Mary's College vs. WSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for St. Mary's College and WSU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Saint Mary's College's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than Wayne State University's (26%).
• Graduates from Saint Mary's College earn a median of about $100 more per year than WSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $51,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wayne State University graduates have a $4,742 lower median loan debt than St. Mary's College graduates ($22,258 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, WSU graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than St. Mary's College graduates ($230 vs. $279).
• More St. Mary's College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 38%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.