High school students around the nation now have an opportunity to attend Michigan’s premier urban research university — without having to pay out-of-state tuition. Wayne State University’s new Discover Detroit Scholarship eliminates nonresident charges valued at approximately $60,000 for four years of undergraduate education for qualified students.
With a proud history of providing both educational opportunity and academic excellence on Michigan’s most culturally diverse campus, Wayne State is seeking to ease the financial burden of a college education for another generation of students.
In addition to the Discover Detroit Scholarship, students will also be considered for other merit and need-based awards, decreasing their out-of-pocket costs. Wayne State even waives its application fee for low-income and first-generation students who apply as incoming freshmen.
“In today’s global society, we believe that students deserve access to an internationally recognized education without prohibitive out-of-state fees,” said Dawn Medley, associate vice president for enrollment management. “Now students who have may have wanted to attend Wayne State but didn’t think it was possible because of cost can take advantage of this great opportunity. It’s also a way for the university to market itself and recruit out of state in an increasingly competitive environment.”
To qualify for the Discover Detroit Scholarship, entering freshmen must have at least a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale, plus an ACT score of at least 24 or an SAT score of 1160 or higher earned after March 2016.
Transfer students can also qualify with at least a 3.0 or higher overall cumulative GPA and at least 24 transferable hours from a qualified community college. Transfer students with fewer than 24 hours must meet the requirements for both entering freshmen and transfer students.
Wayne State, one of the nation’s 50 largest public universities, is classified as a “doctoral university: highest research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation. It offers nearly 350 degree and certificate programs in 13 schools and colleges.
Wayne State’s institutionally funded financial aid this year totals $74.2 million — an increase of more than 150 percent since 2007. More than 900 freshmen, or 34 percent of the 2017 incoming class, have their tuition and fees fully funded through the Wayne Access award, which provides free or nearly free tuition to eligible students after a combination of federal, state and other institutional aid.
In addition to the academic requirements, Discover Detroit award recipients must be U.S. citizens or legal residents. Students must also complete an application for admission, submit test scores and high school transcripts, and file their FAFSA. Students are encouraged to complete the application and financial aid process as soon as possible to ensure maximum scholarship and aid consideration.