Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Michigan State UM-Dearborn UMBC Oakland Maryland Salisbury Detroit Mercy- UDM- U of D- University of Detroit Eastern Michigan University CMU Michigan GVSU WMU| Towson University | Wayne State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
TU | WSU | ||
| Location | Towson, MD | Detroit, MI | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 19,527 | 23,553 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #375 | #580 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | towson.edu | wayne.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
TU | WSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,382 | $12,493 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $24,402 | $28,615 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,644 | $11,762 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,064 | $16,021 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,565 | $10,862 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 62% | 95% |
Admission |
TU | WSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 18,948 | 15,190 | ||
| Admitted | 15,689 | 12,461 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 82.8% | 82% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19.2% | 24% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.69 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/28 | 21/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1050/1270 | 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 | Apr 1, 2026 | Aug 1, 2026 |
Academics |
TU | WSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 13:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
TU | WSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 64% | 26% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $53,500 | $51,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 69% | 38% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $17,750 | $22,258 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $183 | $230 |
Diversity |
TU | WSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 12% | ||
| % Women | 12% | 19% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 61% | 57% | ||
| % Black | 18% | 19% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 5% |
Students |
TU | WSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 90% | 95% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 9% | 2% | ||
Campus |
TU | WSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Wayne State University is larger than than TU based on total student enrollment (23,553 students vs. 19,527 students)
TU vs. WSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, TU or WSU?
- Wayne State University is 69.2% more expensive to attend than TU for in-state tuition ($12,493.00 vs. $7,382.00)
- Out of state tuition is 17.3% higher at WSU than Towson University ($28,615.00 vs. $24,402.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Towson University than WSU ($15,064 vs. $16,021)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wayne State University are 33% lower than costs at Towson University ($11,762 vs. $15,644)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Wayne State University than Towson University (95% vs. 62%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Towson University students is 6.5% larger than aid received Wayne State University ($11,565 vs. $10,862)
TU vs. WSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, TU or WSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WSU or TU .
- The average SAT score at Towson University (1081) is 11 points higher than at WSU (1070)
- Incoming TU students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at WSU (23)
- Accepted freshman TU students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at WSU (3.42)
- TU has a higher acceptance rate (82.8%) than WSU (82%)
TU vs. WSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, TU 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 TU.
- The graduation rate at TU is higher than Wayne State University (64% vs. 26%)
- Graduates from Towson University earn on average $2,500 more per year than WSU graduates after ten years. ($53,500 vs. $51,000)
- Towson University students graduate with a $4,508 lower median federal student loan debt than WSU graduates. ($17,750 vs. $22,258)
- TU graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than WSU graduates. ($183 vs. $230)
- More TU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 38%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/