Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public R1 research university in Detroit, Michigan, serving 24,000+ students across 375+ degree programs and generating revenue from tuition, NIH-funded research, philanthropy, and state appropriations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1868
- HeadquartersDetroit, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Wayne State University does
Wayne State University is a public, non-profit research university founded in 1868 as Detroit Medical College and headquartered at 42 W. Warren Ave. in Midtown Detroit, Michigan, operating under the State of Michigan's Board of Governors. The institution enrolls more than 24,000 students drawn from every U.S. state and multiple countries and offers over 375 degree programs across an explicit college-plus-research-centers model that includes the Mike Ilitch School of Business, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, College of Nursing (whose Doctor of Nursing Practice program ranks No. 41 nationally), College of Engineering, Wayne Law, School of Medicine, and several other colleges and an honors college. Its revenue mechanics rest on tuition and fees, federal and state research grants (notably a renewed $3.2 million NIH R01 grant for first-in-class Ku-DNA binding inhibitors targeting cancer DNA repair), philanthropy (described as a record fundraising year), and State of Michigan appropriations.
The core technology footprint is anchored in R1-class multidisciplinary research spanning biomedical sciences, engineering, pharmacy, health sciences, business, law, and liberal arts, with a flagged novel proprietary feature in the form of Ku70/80 DNA-binding small molecule inhibitors designed to disrupt NHEJ-mediated DNA repair and sensitize tumors to lower-dose radiation. Distribution is primarily through direct student enrollment via the admissions office, supplemented by community-facing programs such as AI training for Detroit nonprofits through the IMPACT Framework at the Mike Ilitch School of Business and a public-radio partnership with WDET 101.9 FM. Wayne State positions itself as the lowest-tuition major research university in Michigan, signaling a deliberate cost-advantage go-to-market posture relative to peer R1 institutions in the state.
Wayne State University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wayne State University
- Legal name
- Wayne State University
- Website
- https://wayne.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1868
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Wayne State University is a public R1 research university in Detroit, Michigan, serving 24,000+ students across 375+ degree programs and generating revenue from tuition, NIH-funded research, philanthropy, and state appropriations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wayne State University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Health Services (8000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- STEM-Focused Public Research Universities (EDAHAAAE)
Keywords
Where Wayne State University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Detroit
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Wayne State University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate student tuition and fees for degree programs across more than 375 programs.
- Research Grants and Funding: Federal research grants primarily from National Institutes of Health (NIH), including $3.2M R01 grant for cancer research, supporting faculty research and scientific advancement.
- Philanthropy and Fundraising: Record fundraising year in university history; includes donor contributions, campaign fundraising, and alumni giving programs supporting scholarships and university priorities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Undergraduate tuition - In-state |
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels11 records
Wayne State University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wayne State University is a public R1 research university that delivers undergraduate and graduate degree programs across more than 375 fields through its colleges and schools (business, pharmacy and health sciences, nursing, engineering, law, medicine, education, liberal arts, and fine arts). It also conducts funded scientific research, notably NIH-supported development of Ku-DNA binding inhibitors for cancer radiotherapy, and runs community-engagement programs such as AI training for Detroit nonprofits.
Product overview
Wayne State University is a public research university offering more than 375 degree programs across multiple colleges and schools. The university's academic portfolio includes the Mike Ilitch School of Business (which offers AI expertise to help Detroit nonprofits), the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (conducting breakthrough cancer research with Ku-DNA binding inhibitors), the College of Nursing (with a Doctor of Nursing Practice program ranked No. 41 nationally), and extensive research divisions. The institution operates on a college-plus-research-centers model where schools function as distinct product lines serving different academic and professional markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Mike Ilitch School of Business: Business school at Wayne State University offering AI expertise and business programs
- Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
- James and Patricia Anderson College of Engineering
- Irvin D. Reid Honors College
- Wayne Law
- School of Medicine
- College of Nursing
- College of Education
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts
Products and services
- Degree Programs (375+) More than 375 undergraduate and graduate degree programs spanning biomedical engineering, nursing, pharmacy, business, law, urban studies, education, and liberal arts, offered across the university's colleges and schools to prospective and current students.
- Mike Ilitch School of Business
Quantifiable outcome
- Renewed $3.2M NIH grant for cancer DNA repair research
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Wayne State University
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Wayne State University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature1 record
Wayne State University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Indiana University School of MedicinecoreMultidisciplinary research collaboration between Wayne State University and Indiana University School of Medicine focused on developing next-generation cancer therapies. Joint research led by Dr. Navnath Gavande (Wayne State) and Dr. John Turchi (Indiana University) targeting cancer DNA repair machinery with Ku-targeted inhibitors for improved radiotherapy outcomes in lung cancer treatment.
- Semiconductor Industry Leader (Silicon Valley)majorFaculty research collaboration creating career pathways in semiconductor industry, with collaboration spanning from Detroit to Silicon Valley supporting research and workforce development.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Wayne State University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- University of Michigan (Ann Arbor): Michigan's flagship R1 public research university and the primary competitor Wayne State benchmarks against for tuition positioning, faculty recruitment, research funding, and national rankings. Both serve similar in-state student segments and compete for federal research grants.
- Michigan State University: Michigan's other major R1 public research university with a broad portfolio including nursing, engineering, pharmacy, and biomedical sciences. Competes directly with Wayne State for in-state students, faculty, and state appropriations.
- Indiana University Indianapolis: Urban R1 public research university with a medical school and health sciences portfolio that closely mirrors Wayne State's structure, and an active research collaboration partner with WSU on the Ku-DBi program. Highly comparable on size, mission, and urban R1 positioning.
- University of Cincinnati: Urban R1 public research university with comparable student body size, medical and pharmacy schools, and a similar mix of research-intensive health sciences programs in a mid-size Rust Belt city.
- University of Louisville: Urban R1 public research university with health sciences emphasis, comparable enrollment size, and similar positioning as a research-intensive institution in a mid-sized U.S. city — directly comparable structural profile.
- University of Toledo: Regional public research university in Ohio with medical, pharmacy, and nursing schools of comparable scale to Wayne State's colleges, competing for similar student segments in the Midwest urban R1 segment.
Regional players
- Oakland University: Michigan public university located in Rochester Hills that competes with Wayne State for in-state undergraduates in the Detroit metropolitan area, particularly for nursing and business programs.
- Eastern Michigan University: Michigan public university with a comparable mix of comprehensive undergraduate and graduate programs that overlaps Wayne State's offerings for in-state students in the Detroit-Ann Arbor corridor.
- University of Detroit Mercy: Detroit-based private university with overlapping programs in engineering, nursing, business, and law that competes directly with Wayne State for Detroit-area students and faculty.
- Cleveland State University: Urban public research university in Cleveland with a similar Rust Belt urban R1 profile to Wayne State, overlapping in nursing, business, engineering, and urban affairs programs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Wayne State University social profiles
Digital presenceWayne State University compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Wayne State University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wayne State University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Wayne State University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wayne State University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Wayne State University
What does Wayne State University do?
Wayne State University is a public R1 research university that delivers undergraduate and graduate degree programs across more than 375 fields through its colleges and schools (business, pharmacy and health sciences, nursing, engineering, law, medicine, education, liberal arts, and fine arts). It also conducts funded scientific research, notably NIH-supported development of Ku-DNA binding inhibitors for cancer radiotherapy, and runs community-engagement programs such as AI training for Detroit nonprofits.
Is Wayne State University a public or private company?
Wayne State University is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Wayne State University founded?
Wayne State University was founded in 1868. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Wayne State University based?
Wayne State University is headquartered in Detroit, United States, in the North America region.
How does Wayne State University make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are research Grants and Funding and philanthropy and Fundraising.
Who are Wayne State University's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), Michigan State University, Indiana University Indianapolis, University of Cincinnati, University of Louisville and University of Toledo. Regional players are Oakland University, Eastern Michigan University, University of Detroit Mercy and Cleveland State University.
Does Wayne State University have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wayne State University.
What industry is Wayne State University in?
Wayne State University's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAAAF, Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools, with a secondary code of EDAHAAAE, STEM-Focused Public Research Universities. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8731.