WSU vs. Duquesne University

Should I go to Wayne State University or Duquesne University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if WSU or Duquesne University 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.

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Wayne State University vs. Duquesne University comparison
Wayne State University Duquesne University College 3 College 4
Wayne State University Duquesne University
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Overview

WSU Duquesne University
Location Detroit, MI Pittsburgh, PA
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 23,630 8,107
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #582 #212
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wayne.edu duq.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

WSU Duquesne University
Tuition (In State) $12,933 $45,376
Tuition (Out of State) $29,622 $45,376
Room & Board $11,321 $14,744
Avg Net Price $15,347 $33,919
Avg Grant Aid $10,605 $26,800
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 95%

Admission

WSU Duquesne University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,002 12,376
Admitted 10,547 10,828
Acceptance Rate 75.3% 87.5%
Enrolled % 24.4% 13.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.8
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28 25/31
SAT Range 1040/1260 1160/1330
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, 2025 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

WSU Duquesne University
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Business (31%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

WSU Duquesne University
Graduation Rate 26% 73%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,000 $65,100
Making Student Loan Payments 38% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,258 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $230 $279

Diversity

WSU Duquesne University
% Men 40% 36%
% Women 60% 64%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 57% 81%
% Black 19% 5%
% Hispanic 5% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 5% 1%

Students

WSU Duquesne University
% In-State 93% 74%
% Out-of-State 3% 24%

Campus

WSU Duquesne University
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 Duquesne University based on total student enrollment (23,630 students vs. 8,107 students)

WSU vs. Duquesne University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WSU or Duquesne University?

  • Duquesne University is 250.9% more expensive to attend than WSU for in-state tuition ($45,376.00 vs. $12,933.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 53.2% higher at Duquesne University than Wayne State University ($45,376.00 vs. $29,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wayne State University than Duquesne University ($15,347 vs. $33,919)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wayne State University are 30.2% lower than costs at Duquesne University ($11,321 vs. $14,744)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Wayne State University than Duquesne University (96% vs. 95%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Duquesne University students is 152.7% larger than aid received Wayne State University ($26,800 vs. $10,605)

WSU vs. Duquesne University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Duquesne University (1138) is 68 points higher than at WSU (1070)
  • Incoming Duquesne University students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at WSU (23)
  • Accepted freshman Duquesne University students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at WSU (3.42)
  • Duquesne University has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than WSU (75.3%)

WSU vs. Duquesne University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, WSU or Duquesne University? 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 Duquesne University and WSU.

  • The graduation rate at Duquesne University is higher than Wayne State University (73% vs. 26%)
  • Graduates from Duquesne University earn on average $14,100 more per year than WSU graduates after ten years. ($65,100 vs. $51,000)
  • Wayne State University students graduate with a $4,742 lower median federal student loan debt than Duquesne University graduates. ($22,258 vs. $27,000)
  • WSU graduates are paying $49 less per month on federal student loans than Duquesne University graduates. ($230 vs. $279)
  • More Duquesne University 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/