WSU vs. Ship

Comparable Facts

Compare Wayne State University in Detroit, MI with Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania in Shippensburg, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Wayne State University is larger than Ship based on total student enrollment (23,803 students vs. 5,161 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Wayne State University is located in Detroit, MI (Large City setting); Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is in Shippensburg, PA (Distant Town setting).
• Wayne State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Wayne State University 14:1; Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 18:1.

WSU vs. Ship Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WSU or Ship? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wayne State University than Ship ($14,416 vs. $23,772).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania are 6.4% lower than at Wayne State University ($13,340 vs. $14,252).
• Wayne State University is 10.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ship (about $1,470 more per year; $15,190.00 vs. $13,720.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 100.6% higher at WSU than at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (about $16,063 more per year; $32,037.00 vs. $15,974.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wayne State University than at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (98% vs. 90%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wayne State University students is 91.7% larger than aid received by Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania students ($12,953 vs. $6,756).

WSU vs. Ship Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WSU or Ship? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Ship and WSU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wayne State University (1170) is 70 points higher than at Ship (1100).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wayne State University 1060/1270; Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 990/1210.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wayne State University 23/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WSU - Test optional; Ship - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: WSU Aug 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman WSU students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Ship (3.23).
• Ship has a higher acceptance rate (86.5%) than WSU (81.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.4% at WSU vs. 17.5% at Ship.

WSU vs. Ship Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WSU and Ship? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania's six-year graduation rate (60%) is higher than Wayne State University's (26%).
• Graduates from Wayne State University earn a median of about $3,800 more per year than Ship graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,000 vs. $47,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wayne State University graduates have a $2,742 lower median loan debt than Ship graduates ($22,258 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, WSU graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ship graduates ($230 vs. $258).
• More Ship graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 38%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.