Wayne State University awarded the largest number of Detroit Promise scholarships for the second consecutive year, ahead of all other Michigan universities. This scholarship offers debt-free education for eligible Detroit Public School graduates and city residents at participating colleges for trade, two-year and four-year credentials.

Funding from the Detroit Promise – which is administered by the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce and funded by the Michigan Excellence in Education Foundation – in partnership with Wayne State covers the total cost of tuition and other fees included in registering, including enrollment, registration and student service fees. The award is noncompetitive; every student who meets the requirements and applies for the Detroit Promise receives funding.

Wayne State enrolled 107 first-year students and 18 transfer Detroit Promise students for fall 2022, positively impacting admissions.

"The Detroit recruitment team works very closely with the Detroit Public Schools Community District and Detroit charter and private schools to inform students and school counselors about the unlimited number of Detroit Promise scholarships,” said LaJoyce Brown, senior associate director of undergraduate admissions at Wayne State.

The recruitment team attends the Detroit Promise College Fair and other events to engage with prospective students about WSU’s academic programs, vibrant campus life and career services opportunities. Brown communicates with the Detroit Promise Office weekly about student interest in Wayne State and their status in the application process. 

Requirements specific to Wayne State include filing the FAFSA application and maintaining at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA. Students must also maintain full-time enrollment and pass a minimum of 12 credits each semester. Detroit Promise students can renew the award for four consecutive years.

Since 2013, more than 5,000 students have benefited from the Detroit Promise across 26 Michigan universities.