Wayne State College
#3 Best Education Colleges in Nebraska- Graduation Rate
- 54% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $47,075 B-
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $15,360 C+
- Close to the national average
- Enrollment
- 3,010
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 18.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $18.1 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Best Education Colleges in Nebraska.
Every $1 spent returns $18.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,052,047.
What The Data Says
-
A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Every $1 invested returns $18.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.3%
- Top 61%
- Patents
- 47
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 82
- Downstream influence
Why Wayne State College Matters
Wayne State College is a public university in Wayne, NE and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 3,010
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Education, Business & Marketing, Criminal Justice, Psychology
Why students choose Wayne State College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $15,360 a year after grants and scholarships — 10% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $47,075 ten years after enrolling — 15% above the typical college, against $19,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 77% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.67 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of about 3,010 students, Wayne State College in Nebraska caters to those who are looking for a tight-knit community and hands-on learning. It’s particularly appealing for students interested in Education, Business & Marketing, Criminal Justice, Psychology, and Computer Science & IT. The focus here is on practical skills and preparing for the workforce, making it a great fit for those who want to dive straight into their chosen fields.
Life after graduation shows promise, with a 10-year earning average of $47,075. This indicates that graduates can find solid career paths, especially in the programs offered. While the graduation rate stands at 54%, it’s important to note that a degree from Wayne State can lead to upward mobility in various sectors, especially for those who engage with their studies and seek out internship opportunities.
Looking at the financial side, the net price after aid is around $15,360, which is quite manageable. Median debt sits at $19,000, suggesting that most students are able to graduate without overwhelming financial burdens. This affordability, combined with a supportive environment, tends to help students who are committed to their education and willing to seek assistance when needed.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Wayne State College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Wayne State College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Wayne, Nebraska, Wayne State College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 54%.
- Retention Rate
- 72%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 50%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,347
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 22:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.41
- First-Gen Students
- 34%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Wayne State College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Wayne State College is $8,216, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $15,360. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,844 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $8,216
- Out-of-State
- $8,216
- Avg Net Price
- $15,360
- Median Debt
- $19,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 26%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 32%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $12,844
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $11,698
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $13,851
- Family Income $110K+
- $18,905
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Wayne State College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Wayne State College earn a median of $47,075, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $40,857
- 8 Years
- $43,712
- 10 Years
- $47,075
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.4x
- Earning > $25K
- 66%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (219)
- 32%
- 100% (219)
- 32%
- 100% (219)
- 32%
- 100% (219)
- 32%
How Wayne Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Wayne State College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Wayne State College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $15,360/year ($61,440 total). Graduates earn $47,075 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,113,487 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,052,047 (18.1× your investment). The median debt is $19,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 54% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $61,440
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,113,487
- Net Return
- $1,052,047
- ROI Multiple
- 18.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $15,360
- Median Debt
- $19,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 54%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Wayne State College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Wayne State College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.99%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 8.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 11.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $67,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.99%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 11.8%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 8.4%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $67,800
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Wayne State College produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 47 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.34%
- Top 61% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 47
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 82
- Downstream influence
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 0.16%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $744,616
- Investment Income
- $516,224
Top Programs
The fields Wayne State College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Education 24%
- Business & Marketing 20%
- Criminal Justice 11%
- Psychology 7%
- Computer Science & IT 5%
- Biology & Biomedical 5%
- Visual & Performing Arts 4%
- Communications 3%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Wayne State College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Wayne State College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Wayne, Nebraska, Wayne State College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 54%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Wayne State College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Wayne State College is $8,216, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $15,360. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,844 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,000 in federal student loans.
Is Wayne State College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Wayne State College earn a median of $47,075, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Wayne State College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Wayne State College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.99%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 8.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 11.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $67,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Wayne State College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Wayne State College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.67, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Wayne State College.
- Minnesota State University MoorheadMoorhead, MN · Close peer56% grad $50,527 earn 59% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Davenport UniversityGrand Rapids, MI · Close peer53% grad $45,099 earn 98% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Winthrop UniversityRock Hill, SC · Close peer59% grad $47,185 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Brigham Young University-HawaiiLaie, HI · Close peer54% grad $52,064 earn 47% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Fort Lewis CollegeDurango, CO · Close peer39% grad $46,349 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- Emporia State UniversityEmporia, KS · Close peer55% grad $47,601 earn 98% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Wayne State College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Wayne State College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.67, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note