Wayne State University is a public research university in the centre of Detroit, Michigan. It is best known for medicine, engineering, business, pharmacy and social work, with one of the largest medical schools in the US and the automotive industry as a research partner. Choose it for an urban research degree at moderate cost in a city rebuilding around mobility and tech.
Detroit, United States
Official website: wayne.edu
#791
R1 — very high research activity
One of the largest single-campus medical schools in the US
Midtown Detroit, beside the Detroit Institute of Arts
$28,000 – $32,000
International students, non-resident undergraduate and master's rates
$14,000 – $18,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on wayne.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Data Science and Business Analytics
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Electrical Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Mechanical Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MBA (Mike Ilitch School of Business)
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
Automotive engineering — research partnerships with Ford, GM and Stellantis, all based nearby.
School of Medicine — among the largest in the US, with the Detroit Medical Center as its hospital.
Mike Ilitch School of Business — a new downtown building opened in 2018.
Midtown Detroit — the campus anchors the city's museum and cultural district.
Graduates join Ford, General Motors, Stellantis, Rocket Mortgage, Henry Ford Health and Detroit's tech startups.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Engineering alumni work in electric vehicle and autonomous driving programmes across Michigan.
Business analytics graduates move into Detroit's finance and mobility firms.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The 200-acre campus fills Midtown Detroit, with the medical school, engineering college and residence halls within walking distance of the Detroit Institute of Arts and the QLine streetcar.
Detroit is an affordable city rebuilding around mobility tech, sport and music, with rent well below other big US cities. Winters are cold, and Canada is across the river.
Form I-20 issued by Wayne State
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Undergraduate admission is rolling, with international applicants advised to apply by 1 May 2027 for fall 2027 and 1 October 2026 for spring 2027 to leave time for the visa. Graduate deadlines are set by each programme, with most engineering and computer science master's closing between January and May.
Undergraduates can start in fall (August), spring (January) or summer (May). Most master's programmes, including computer science, data science, engineering and the Ilitch MBA, admit for both fall and spring. Check your programme's admissions page to confirm.
You need an F-1 student visa. The Office of International Students and Scholars issues your Form I-20 after you accept the offer and submit proof of funding. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and book an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, data science and business analytics, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and the MBA attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0, TOEFL 79 or IELTS 6.5, and the GRE or GMAT for some programmes. Undergraduate admission is based mainly on grades.
Yes. International undergraduates are automatically considered for merit scholarships based on their grades when they apply; need-based aid is not available. Graduate students can apply for teaching and research assistantships and graduate research fellowships, which are common in engineering and the sciences.
