Admission: Undergraduate

Service Hours: The Office of Undergraduate Admissions assists students by telephone and on a walk-in basis during posted service hours.

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions has the primary function of recruiting, admitting, and enrolling new undergraduate students to the University. This office also helps to coordinate the recruitment activities of individual departments, alumni groups, and students. The office organizes visits and programs at local high schools and community colleges in the State of Michigan and selected regions outside of the state.

Also included in functions of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions are administration of the Presidential and Wayne State merit-based scholarships.

Application for Undergraduate Admission

An official application for Undergraduate Admission should be completed online. There is a $25.00 application fee.

Guidelines for Freshmen Admission

Admission to Wayne State is selective. In order to qualify for admission an applicant must submit an official high school transcript indicating college preparation, standardized test scores (ACT or SAT), and ability to undertake a college degree program. Admission decisions will be based on a full evaluation of each student's academic record. Students still in high school may apply after completion of their junior year.

Guidelines for International Applicants

A student from another country desiring admission who is not a permanent resident or citizen of the U.S. should complete the International Admissions Application. A student from a country in which English is not the native language must take an English Language Proficiency Examination prior to admission or have a minimum Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 550 (213 on computerized version).

Guidelines for Canadian Applicants

The Office of Admissions website includes information specific to Canadian students applying to Wayne State University.

Special Undergraduate Programs for Admission

The Center for Latino and Latin American Studies (CLLAS) and Academic Pathways for Excellence (APEX) both offer special undergraduate programs with additional admission standards. See the following sections form more information: Center for Latino/a and Latin American Studies and Academic Pathways for Excellence (APEX).

Recommended High School Preparation

  1. English(fouryearsrecommended): Effective use of the English language is central to one’s ability to succeed at the University and in the professions and occupations for which our students are preparing. Students entering the University should be able to:
    1. comprehend the main and subordinate ideas in written works, lectures, and discussions; and
    2. conceive ideas about a topic and be able to organize them for presentation in both verbal and written forms.
    1. understand ratios, proportions, percentages, roots and powers; and
    2. perform the mathematical operations of algebra and geometry.
    1. concepts of matter, energy, motion and force and the natural laws and processes of the physical sciences in general;
    2. the science of life and living matter with special reference to growth, reproduction and structure; and
    3. laboratory methods.

    Special Requirements and Professional Admission

    The following Schools, Colleges and programs have requirements beyond those of regular undergraduate admission:

    Transfer Admission

    Transfer students are considered for admission if they meet the following minimum requirements:

    A transfer applicant may be admitted, without consideration of high school work, upon completion of at least twenty-four semester credits of transferable college-level coursework from an accredited college or university with an overall grade point average of 2.5 and with no courses below a C grade for transferable credit. If the applicant has fewer than twenty-four semester credits of transferable college-level coursework, the applicant may be admitted provided freshmen admissions guidelines are met, subject to a holistic evaluation of each student's record. Students who have attended unaccredited institutions should consult with an admission counselor to determine admissibility.

    Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA)

    One main area of focus for transfer students is General Education Requirements. These are classes in addition to courses within your major that are required to ensure fundamental skills and a well-rounded education. The Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA) was designed to facilitate the transfer of general education requirements from one institution to another. Students may complete the MTA as part of an associate's degree or as a stand-alone package at a Michigan community college.

    MTA Requirements

    Students must successfully complete at least 30 credits at a Michigan community college in six defined areas with at least a grade of 2.0 (or C) in each course in order to be MTA satisfied. These areas are:

    Prior to Fall 2018: WSU requires students to take either a second course in English Composition or one course in Communications beyond the MTA requirements. This additional course can be taken at a Michigan community college or at WSU.

    Starting Fall 2018: The additional course stated above is no longer required. Students transferring to WSU with MTA in fall 2018 and beyond will have satisfied all of Wayne State General Education requirements.

    All college, program, major and minor requirements must also be completed (at least 120 credits) for students who fulfill the MTA requirements.

    Your community college will provide detailed information, including approved courses, for completing the MTA. We recommend that you review our transfer plans and consult your community college advisor about fulfilling MTA requirements and request your community college to review your record to add the MTA endorsement to your transcript.

    Non-Matriculated Status

    Non-matriculated status enables students to take undergraduate courses for which the prerequisites are met. Courses, credits and grades will be posted to the University's transcript. However, these will be used toward fulfillment of a degree only after formal admissions is granted through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Students are encouraged to meet with an academic advisor prior to registering for courses. The non-matriculated application should be completed online. There is a $25.00 non-refundable application fee. The holder of non-matriculated status is ineligible for any type of loan, grant or scholarship that is administered by Wayne State University.

    Post-Bachelor Admission

    Post-bachelor admission is an optimal choice for students who have already completed a bachelor's degree and are interested in either earning college credit without intending to use it toward another degree, and those students needing to complete prerequisite course work to gain admission to a graduate program.

    Undergraduate Guest Admission

    Students currently attending an accredited institution of higher education who are interested in taking undergraduate courses at Wayne State for one semester, or who wish to register for courses concurrently, are eligible to apply for Guest Admission. Requirements include the completion of twelve semester credits at the home institution and a minimum cumulative 'C' grade point average (equivalent to a 2.0 grade point average at Wayne State).

    Re-Entry Following an Interruption in Attendance

    Undergraduate students who were previously admitted and registered at Wayne State University and whose attendance has been interrupted need not reapply at the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. It is expected that students who left in good standing report to the College of their choice for any special instructions regarding their return to classes.

    Phoenix Program (Second Start)

    The Phoenix Program provides undergraduate students who left Wayne State University on Probation or Dismissal with the opportunity to petition for return under a second-start policy. To be eligible for such admission, the student must not have enrolled at Wayne State University for at least three consecutive years, immediately prior to petition for the Phoenix Program. Petitions for re-entry are decided by the Dean of the School or College in which the student is matriculated or seeks to enter. With the approval of the Dean, the student and an academic advisor develop an academic contract, and the advisor closely monitors the student through the first twelve credits of course work.

    To return to regular status, students must complete twelve semester credits with a grade of C or better within two years under the Phoenix Program (NOTE: a grade of C-minus is considered to be lower than a C). Students will be expected to complete both the general education and degree requirements in effect at the time of their return to the University. In addition to earn a Wayne State degree, the student must have thirty graded credits of which five courses or fifteen credits must be in the major and/or core. The thirty credits may include credits taken prior to admission to the Phoenix Program in consultation with the academic advisor. Should students earn any grade below C in their first twelve credits in the Phoenix Program, they will be excluded from the University. To maintain the integrity of students’ academic records, previous course work will remain on the transcripts; however, the credits and grade point average (g.p.a.) will be adjusted to reflect the grade point average earned since the start of the Phoenix Program.

    For information about the Phoenix Program, students should contact the Dean’s office of the School or College in which they have matriculated or wish to enter.