Committed to Affordability
Wayne State College is one of the most affordable four-year institutions around. We are committed to keeping college affordable and accessible for students. We work hard to pair you with great scholarships, grants, and other opportunities, and even to earn money while you attend. And, in some cases, it allows students to not borrow at all. Our tuition guarantee also promises free tuition for Pell-qualified students.
2025-26 Estimated Cost of Attendance
undergraduate cost per credit hour
Tuition:$6,057
Fees:$2,351
Food plan:$4,830
Housing:$4,870
Most Affordable 4-Year College
Wayne State College was recognized as "The Most Affordable College in Nebraska" for 2024-25 (College Affordability Guide, 2024). When stacked up to other Nebraska colleges and universities, it's clear to see how WSC earned the title. What's more, the average remaining cost of attendance was $2,628* for undergraduate students after financial aid and scholarships.
| College | Nebraska Resident | Non-Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Wayne State College | $17,590 | $17,590 |
| University of Nebraska-Kearney | $20,473 | $20,473 |
| University of Nebraska-Omaha | $19,980 | $23,248 - $33,968 |
| Bellevue University | $23,306 | $23,306 |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln | $24,554 | $42,704 |
| College of St. Mary | $33,594 | $33,594 |
| Hastings College | $49,820 | $49,820 |
| Concordia University | $51,350 | $51,350 |
| Midland University | $53,394 | $53,394 |
| Doane University | $54,163 | $54,163 |
| Nebraska Wesleyan | $55,954 | $55,954 |
| Creighton University | $62,508 | $62,508 |
Costs comparisons above for 2024-25 include tuition (30 credit hours), fees, room, board, and average books and supplies for one year calculated from information available on college websites.
*Institutional data
Iowa residents receive in-state tuition at Wayne State College. In fact, when stacked up to other Iowa colleges and universities, Wayne State College is still more affordable for Iowa residents. What's more, the average remaining cost of attendance was $3,381* for undergraduate students after financial aid and scholarships.
| College | Iowa Resident | Non-Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Wayne State College | $16,803 | $16,803 |
| University of Northern Iowa | $19,376 | $30,920 |
| Iowa State University | $20,223 | $39,249 |
| University of Iowa | $23,580 | $45,543 |
| Drake University | $37,786 | $37,786 |
| Morningside University | $49,394 | $49,394 |
| Briar Cliff University | $45,922 | $45,922 |
| St. Ambrose University | $47,946 | $47,946 |
| Clarke University | $51,120 | $51,120 |
| Buena Vista University | $53,128 | $53,128 |
| Northwestern College | $59,394 | $59,394 |
| Grinnell College | $84,948 | $84,948 |
Costs comparisons above for 2023-24 include tuition (30 credit hours), fees, room, board, and average books and supplies for one year calculated from information available on college websites.
South Dakota residents receive in-state tuition at Wayne State College. When stacked up to other South Dakota colleges and universities, Wayne State College is still more affordable for South Dakota residents than most other colleges or universities. What's more, the average remaining cost of attendance was $3,381* for undergraduate students after financial aid and scholarships.
| College | SD Resident/SD Advantage* | Non-Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Wayne State College | $16,803 | $16,803 |
| Northern State University | $17,863 | $20,965 |
| Dakota State University | $17,913 | $21,015 |
| University of South Dakota | $18,088 | $21,598 |
| South Dakota State University | $18,864 | $22,014 |
| University of Sioux Falls | $30,450 | $30,450 |
| Dakota Wesleyan University | $41,890 | $41,890 |
| Mount Marty University | $42,400 | $42,400 |
| Augustana University | $48,660 | $48,660 |
Costs comparisons above for 2023-24 include tuition (30 credit hours), fees, room, board, and average books and supplies for one year calculated from information available on college websites.
*South Dakota Advantage Program: New incoming freshmen and transfer students from North Dakota, Wyoming, Minnesota, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois qualify for resident tuition rates.
Paying for College
Scholarships
We offer hundreds of types of scholarships for academic achievement, leadership, financial need, talent and other qualities, and encouragement in a particular field of study.
Financial Aid
Need-based financial aid including grants, loans, and federal work study. This is determined by the information you provide when you file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Form.
Payment plans
Wayne State College offers payment plans through Nelnet Campus Commerce to make paying for college easier. A tuition payment plans breaks down your tuition balance into affordable monthly payments with no interest. Nelnet plans requires a $30/semester non-refundable enrollment fee. Payment methods include automatic bank payments (ACH), credit cards, or debit cards.
For more information about our payment plans, please visit MyCollegePaymentPlan.com/waynestate, or contact Student Financial Services at 402-375-7229 if you have any questions.