About
This is truly a place where knowledge, passion and inspiration lead to new discoveries, and lives are forever changed. Where possibility meets opportunity – for everyone with the talent and desire to succeed.
About Wayne State
Our president
Dr. Kimberly Andrews Espy was unanimously elected the 13th president of Wayne State University in 2023 by the Board of Governors. A leader with more than 25 years of experience in higher education, she is the first woman president in Wayne State’s history.
Learn more about President Espy
Wayne State University is governed by an eight-member Board of Governors elected by Michigan voters. The board is responsible for selecting the university's president, supervising the control and direction of university funds, setting tuition and other fiscal policies, determining compensation for services, and conferring degrees.
Mission and values
Our mission is to create and advance knowledge, prepare a diverse student body to thrive, and positively impact local and global communities. Our guiding values cut across organizational boundaries, bind us culturally, and permeate our strategic and tactical initiatives. They are the defining traits of the WSU community, starting with our leadership. Learn more in our 2022-27 strategic plan.
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Collaboration
When we work together, drawing upon various talents and perspectives, we achieve better results.
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Integrity
We keep our word, live up to our commitments, and are accountable to ourselves and each other.
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Innovation
We are unafraid to try new things and learn by both failure and success.
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Excellence
We strive for the highest quality outcomes in everything we do.
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Diversity and inclusion
We value all people and understand that their unique experiences, talents and perspectives make us a stronger organization and better people.
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Leadership
We are proud of our long history as an anchor institution in Detroit and will continue to serve our community while playing a lead role in the city's resurgence.
Then and now
Wayne State’s history began in 1868, when five physicians who witnessed the crude medical treatment on Civil War battlefields committed themselves to advancing health education and care in Detroit. They founded the Detroit Medical College, which has since transformed into our School of Medicine.
Today, our main, 200-acre campus in Midtown Detroit is home to nearly 24,000 undergraduate and graduate students from across the United States and 70 countries.
Hit the ground career ready
Thanks to career learning opportunities like internships, job shadowing, clinical experiences, service learning and hands-on research, Wayne State students begin preparing for “what’s next” long before they graduate. These "learning by doing" opportunities help deepen a student's educational experience through application in real-world contexts, instilling marketable skills like critical thinking, leadership and communication that build a strong foundation for long-term career success. That’s one more reason Wayne State graduates are in high demand in the marketplace. Below are just a few recent Warrior grads who sat down with us to tell their story.
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Schools and colleges
Our faculty experts come from across the globe to deliver a world-class education with countless research opportunities through our 13 schools and colleges.
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Mike Ilitch School of Business
More than 37,000 business alumni, including top-level executives, have been trained to enhance the economic vitality of the city of Detroit, the state of Michigan and the world.
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College of Education
Home to the only American Art Therapy Association-approved art therapy program in Michigan.
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College of Engineering
Home to the nation’s first electric-drive vehicle engineering program.
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College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts
Alumni include a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and recipients of and nominees for the Grammy, Emmy, Tony, Golden Globe, Obie, Screen Actors Guild and Caldecott awards.
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Graduate School
Offers 240 graduate and certificate programs across the curriculum.
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Irvin D. Reid Honors College
Offers an academically rigorous and culturally engaged program to a community of nearly 2,000 high-achieving WSU students with majors across the curriculum.
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School of Information Sciences
Educates students from more than 40 states, plus Canada, Europe and the Middle East.
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College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
More than 300 labs available for undergraduate research opportunities across multiple disciplines.
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Law School
Named a Best Value Law School by The National Jurist and preLaw magazine nine years in a row.
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School of Medicine
Nearly 40% of Michigan’s practicing physicians received their training here.
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College of Nursing
The neonatal nurse practitioner program is the first of its kind in Michigan.
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Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Home to the only pathologists’ assistant program in Michigan.
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School of Social Work
More than 1,000 students enroll each year to earn a B.S.W., M.S.W., Ph.D. or one of four graduate/postgraduate certificates.
At Wayne State University, passion meets purpose. With endless opportunities to conduct research, accelerate health care and social justice work in our community, and contribute to the city’s culture and growth, Detroit is a place like no other. Our campus is buzzing with energy, offering the ultimate destination for you to grow while connecting with others and experiencing new things.
Every day, our faculty, staff and students participate in the reinvention of a great American city — and we invite you to make your mark here. Learn some facts about Wayne State University.
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We are the only urban research university in Michigan, with annual research expenditures of $244.2 million.
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Wayne State is a partner with Michigan State University and the University of Michigan in the University Research Corridor, one of the nation’s top academic research clusters
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Our main campus is located in Midtown Detroit — the heart of the city
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With over 300,000 alumni worldwide, Warriors make a global impact
