Part-Time MBA at Wayne State University
Public university ยท Detroit, Michigan
- AACSB accredited
- MBA
- Part-Time MBA
Wayne State University is a public university with graduate business programs in Detroit, Michigan. Those programs run through the Ilitch School of Business. The institution is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The business school holds AACSB accreditation. It is the longest-established of the three business-school accreditors recognized in the United States, and it covers the school as a whole rather than any one program - a floor, not a ranking. More on accreditation.
Federal reporting puts graduate enrollment at 7,791 students, alongside 15,587 undergraduates. Total enrollment is not MBA cohort size - ask the admissions office how many students are in the specific program you're considering, which is usually a far smaller number and the one that shapes your experience.
Based on MBA Lab's directory data, the school offers a graduate MBA path and a part-time or evening MBA format for students who keep working. That puts it among the 4 of 10 schools in MBA Lab's Michigan directory listing a part-time MBA. Format availability changes; confirm the current lineup with the school before planning around it.
It is the only school in Detroit in this directory - the other 3 part-time MBA options in Michigan are elsewhere in the state, so weigh travel time against fit before ruling them out.
What to ask Wayne State University
These questions are picked from what MBA Lab's data already says about this school, so they're the ones most likely to surface a real difference between it and the next school on your list.
- Residency and tuition tier. As a public institution, Wayne State University may price in-state and out-of-state students differently, and some programs charge a flat rate regardless. Ask which tier you'd fall into and whether it changes after a year of residency.
- Pace flexibility. Ask how long students typically take, whether you can drop to one class during a heavy work quarter without penalty, and how late evening sections actually run against your commute from work.
- Where the degree is administered. Programs run through the Ilitch School of Business may have their own admissions timeline, aid pool, and career office, separate from the university's central graduate school. Confirm which office owns your application.
- Ask for the school's own outcome numbers. The federal figures on this page cover business master's graduates who took federal aid, pooled across several years. The school's employment report will be narrower and more current - ask for it by program and by graduating class, not a blended average.
At a glance
| Institution | Wayne State University |
|---|---|
| Business school | Ilitch School of Business |
| Control | public |
| Location | Detroit, Michigan |
| Campus setting | Large city |
| Carnegie class | Doctoral university, very high research activity (R1) |
| MBA formats listed | MBA Part-Time MBA |
| Graduate enrollment | 7,791 |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 15,587 |
| Business accreditation | AACSB — view listing |
| Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission |
| Official site | Visit website |
| Net price calculator | Estimate your cost |
| Federal data | College Scorecard profile |
School names, locations, and program formats are curated by MBA Lab and reviewed periodically (last data update: July 2026). Enrollment, accreditation, links, and any outcome figures come from U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (June 2026 release). Always verify formats, deadlines, and costs on the school's official admissions pages. How this data works.
Reported outcomes
Among the 3 schools in MBA Lab's Michigan part-time MBA programs directory that report a figure, Wayne State University ranks 2nd by one-year earnings. Schools that report nothing are left out of that count rather than counted as zero.
What these numbers are. Figures cover graduates of master's-level programs in Business Administration, Management and Operations (CIP 52.02) who received federal financial aid. At some institutions that group includes business master's degrees other than the MBA, and it never includes graduates who took no federal aid - so these are a directional signal about a school's business master's programs, not an MBA salary report. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, June 2026 release. Check Wayne State University's Scorecard profile. Full methodology.
Compare with other schools in Michigan
| School | City | AACSB | Formats listed | Earnings, 1 yr out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne State University This page | Detroit | Yes | MBA, Part-Time MBA | $93,398 |
| University of Michigan | Ann Arbor | Yes | MBA, Online MBA, Executive MBA, Part-Time MBA | $160,286 |
| Grand Valley State University | Grand Rapids | Yes | MBA, Executive MBA, Part-Time MBA | Not reported |
| Oakland University | Rochester | Yes | MBA, Part-Time MBA | $91,379 |
"Not reported" means College Scorecard publishes no figure for that school - usually too few federally-aided graduates to release without identifying them. It is not a low number, and these schools are excluded from every average on this page rather than counted as zero. A dash under AACSB means the school isn't on AACSB's accredited list; it may hold ACBSP or IACBE accreditation instead, which this directory doesn't track.
This school in other directories
Frequently asked questions
What MBA formats does Wayne State University offer?
MBA Lab's directory lists a part-time MBA at Wayne State University, alongside the core MBA. Formats change - confirm the current lineup on the school's official site.
What do graduates of Wayne State University's business master's programs earn?
College Scorecard reports median earnings of $93,398 one year after completion for graduates of master's-level Business Administration programs at Wayne State University who received federal financial aid. Four years out the reported median is $116,326. That group can include business master's degrees other than the MBA, and excludes graduates who took no federal aid, so treat it as a directional signal rather than an MBA salary figure.
How much debt do students take on at Wayne State University?
The reported median federal graduate debt is $36,424 for business master's graduates at Wayne State University. Against the reported one-year earnings median, that is about 0.39x a year of earnings. Federal loans are only part of the cost picture - it excludes private loans, employer sponsorship, and savings.
Is Wayne State University's business school AACSB-accredited?
Yes - Wayne State University appears on AACSB's list of accredited institutions. AACSB, founded in 1916, is the longest-established of the three business-school accreditors recognized in the United States (the others are ACBSP and IACBE). Accreditation covers the school, not any individual program, so treat it as a quality floor rather than a ranking.
Is Wayne State University a public or private institution?
Wayne State University is a public university, and MBA Lab lists its graduate business programs in Detroit, Michigan. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How do I compare Wayne State University with other schools in Michigan?
MBA Lab lists 4 schools in its Michigan part-time MBA programs directory. Use a consistent rubric across them: curriculum, recruiting outcomes, format fit, cost after aid, and location constraints.
Where should I verify program details?
Always confirm formats, deadlines, and costs on the school's official admissions pages. MBA Lab is a planning directory, not an admissions authority, and does not endorse specific schools.
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