February 24, 2025

Eight ways Wayne State University helps students cut the costs of college

Each year, across Michigan and the rest of the nation, aspiring college students and their families confront serious questions — not to mention anxiety — about how to cover the cost of tuition, books and other expenses related to higher education.

Wayne State University has some encouraging answers. As a major research institution and a national leader in social mobility, WSU has 157 years of experience in educating students from a wide variety of social, economic and cultural backgrounds. In that time, WSU has developed numerous innovative and effective initiatives to help drastically reduce — and sometimes even eliminate — the biggest costs of pursuing a college degree. In fact, Wayne State been so successful that about 60% of first-year undergraduate students attend the university tuition free. All told, in 2023-24, Wayne State students received more than $183.9 million in gift aid from federal and state aid programs, institutional funds, annual and endowed funds, and other gifts.

Why is WSU so determined to help students earn their degrees? Because someone with a bachelor’s stands to earn more than $1 million more in his/her lifetime than a someone without a degree, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Because 90% of college graduates earn more than their parents did, according to Pew Charitable Trusts. Because, according to the Federal Reserve, a college grad accumulates roughly four times the median net worth of a non-college graduate.

But you’ve got to earn that sheepskin first — so, to that end, here are eight ways that WSU helps students cut the cost of college:

1. The Wayne State Guarantee – Thanks to the state’s Michigan Achievement Scholarship, Wayne State has been able to expand its WSU Guarantee, which covers full tuition and mandatory fees for eligible Michigan students with a family income of $80,000 or less (recently increased from $70,000) and assets below $50,000.

Students celebrate the announcement of the Heart of Detroit Tuition Pledge program in 2019.

2. Heart of Detroit Tuition Pledge – Rolled out in 2019, the Heart of Detroit program provides free tuition for eligible high school graduates who live in Detroit or who graduate from a Detroit high school or earn a GED in the city. So far, 217 Heart of Detroit students have graduated from WSU, and another 152 have applied for graduation for the winter 2025 semester.

3. Scholarships – WSU awards numerous merit-based and need-based scholarships, including the President’s Award, which goes to National Merit Scholarship finalists based on the requirements of the National Merit Scholarship Program; Anthony Wayne Scholarships, which are awarded to out-of-state applicants with exceptional academic credentials; and the Detroit Promise, which covers up to the full cost of tuition and standard fees (minus federal, state and other university merit or need-based aid) and is renewable for up to four years of consecutive study.

4. Work-study and on-campus jobs – A federal work-study award is offered to students with financial need who may contribute toward their educational expenses by working part time. Assistance is provided in matching student interests to jobs. Some positions are opportunities available in the local community.

The Office of Student Financial Aid sponsors several online and in-person events to assist students and families with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

5. FAFSA events – The WSU Office of Student Financial Aid sponsors several online and in-person events designed to assist students and families with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Completing the FAFSA now will help the university determine student aid eligibility for fall 2025, winter 2026, and spring/summer 2026. Check out the upcoming schedule of FAFSA events.

6. Warrior Way Back – The Warrior Way Back program offers debt forgiveness to returning students with an outstanding balance of $4,000 or less due to WSU. Debt is forgiven over the course of four semesters or when the student graduates (whichever happens first).

The Warrior Way Back program offers debt forgiveness to students with an outstanding balance of $4,000 or less due to the university.

7. Grants — Grants are awarded based on financial need and do not require repayment. The FAFSA must be completed to receive grants. WSU helps students with federal grants such as the Pell Grant; state grants like the Children of Veterans Tuition Grant and the Police Officer’s and Fire Fighter’s Survivor Tuition Grant; and the WSU Out-of-State Grant, which assists incoming first-year undergraduates who are paying nonresident tuition and fees.

8. AmeriCorps — Full-time AmeriCorps members who complete their service earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. This award pays for college or graduate school, or pays back qualified student loans. Members who serve part time receive a partial award.

For more information on the above opportunities, visit https://wayne.edu/financial-aid.