St. Mary's vs. WSU

Comparable Facts

Compare St. Mary's College of Maryland in St. Mary's City, MD 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 based on total student enrollment (23,803 students vs. 1,630 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• St. Mary's College of Maryland is located in St. Mary's City, MD (Distant Rural setting); Wayne State University is in Detroit, MI (Large City setting).
• St. Mary's College of Maryland is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Wayne State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: St. Mary's College of Maryland 10:1; Wayne State University 14:1.

St. Mary's vs. WSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, St. Mary's 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 ($14,416 vs. $21,071).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wayne State University are 11.4% lower than at St. Mary's College of Maryland ($14,252 vs. $16,079).
• St. Mary's College of Maryland is 0.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than WSU (about $108 more per year; $15,298.00 vs. $15,190.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.1% higher at WSU than at St. Mary's College of Maryland (about $663 more per year; $32,037.00 vs. $31,374.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at St. Mary's College of Maryland as at Wayne State University (98% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wayne State University students is 13.6% larger than aid received by St. Mary's College of Maryland students ($12,953 vs. $11,398).

St. Mary's vs. WSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, St. Mary's 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.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at St. Mary's College of Maryland (1240) is 70 points higher than at WSU (1170).
• Incoming St. Mary's 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: St. Mary's College of Maryland 1143/1340; Wayne State University 1060/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: St. Mary's College of Maryland 26/31; Wayne State University 23/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: St. Mary's - Test optional; WSU - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: St. Mary's Jan 15, 2027; WSU Aug 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman St. Mary's students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at WSU (3.42).
• WSU has a higher acceptance rate (81.2%) than St. Mary's (68.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.3% at St. Mary's vs. 22.4% at WSU.

St. Mary's vs. WSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for St. Mary's 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).

• St. Mary's College of Maryland's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than Wayne State University's (26%).
• Graduates from St. Mary's College of Maryland earn a median of about $500 more per year than WSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,500 vs. $51,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, St. Mary's College of Maryland graduates have a $1,888 lower median loan debt than WSU graduates ($20,370 vs. $22,258).
• Among borrowers, St. Mary's graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WSU graduates ($210 vs. $230).
• More St. Mary's graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.