Wayne State University Swimming — Division II Recruiting Profile
At a Glance
Wayne State University Swim Program Overview
Wayne State University fields men's varsity · women's varsity in NCAA Division II, competing in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate. Division II programs offer a strong blend of competitive athletics and academic life, with scholarship money available at most programs and a focus on the student-athlete experience.
NCAA Division II swimming allows up to 8.1 scholarship equivalencies per gender. Wayne State University can distribute this pool across as many swimmers as the coaching staff chooses — typically resulting in partial scholarships for most varsity athletes. D2 coaches also stack academic and need-based aid on top of athletic money, making D2 programs an excellent value for academically strong swimmers.
Academically, Wayne State University has an enrollment of 7,727, a 55.0% acceptance rate, a Niche overall grade of C+. As a public university, it offers in-state tuition of $12,700 for Michigan residents — a significant advantage over the $32,400 out-of-state rate.
Recruiting Time Standards
Calibrated benchmarks for Wayne State University based on historical recruiting classes. A cut = scholarship / elite tier. B cut = scoring varsity. C cut = walk-on / depth.
| Event | A Cut | B Cut | C Cut |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 Free | 22.18 | 22.96 | 24.08 |
| 100 Free | 48.72 | 50.62 | 52.64 |
| 200 Free | 1:45.84 | 1:49.76 | 1:54.24 |
| 500 Free | 4:45.60 | 4:54.56 | 5:04.64 |
| 1000 Free | 9:49.12 | 10:04.80 | 10:22.72 |
| 1650 Free | 16:25.60 | 16:48.00 | 17:17.12 |
| 100 Back | 53.20 | 55.10 | 57.68 |
| 200 Back | 1:55.36 | 1:59.84 | 2:05.44 |
| 100 Breast | 59.36 | 1:01.60 | 1:04.40 |
| 200 Breast | 2:07.68 | 2:13.28 | 2:18.88 |
| 100 Fly | 52.08 | 54.32 | 56.56 |
| 200 Fly | 1:54.24 | 1:58.72 | 2:03.76 |
| 200 IM | 1:48.64 | 1:53.12 | 1:57.60 |
| 400 IM | 3:52.96 | 4:01.92 | 4:10.88 |
Wayne State University Swimming Division and Conference
Wayne State University competes in NCAA Division II, in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate. Division II offers a highly competitive environment with scholarship funding and a strong emphasis on balancing athletic and academic life. The Great Lakes Intercollegiate conducts a conference championship each season, which influences national rankings and NCAA qualifying bids.
Is Wayne State University a good fit for swimmers?
Wayne State University is a NCAA Division II swim program competing in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate, a competitive NCAA conference. Division II swimming offers a highly competitive environment with scholarship funding and a strong emphasis on the complete student-athlete experience. It is a common destination for talented swimmers who want athletic aid without the full intensity of a D1 program.
Competing in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate, Wayne State University swimmers face some of the strongest programs in the country throughout the season. Conference championship performance influences team rankings, national reputation, and how many swimmers earn bids to the NCAA Championships in March.
NCAA D2 programs may distribute up to 8.1 scholarship equivalencies per gender. At Wayne State University, the coaching staff spreads this pool across the roster — most recruited swimmers receive partial athletic scholarships. Strong academic records can stack additional institutional aid on top of athletic money, making D2 programs excellent value for scholar-athletes.
Who should consider Wayne State University for swimming?
Wayne State University is an ideal recruiting target for swimmers who want to compete at the NCAA Division II level in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate while studying in Detroit, Michigan. As a public university, Wayne State University is especially cost-competitive for Michigan residents: in-state tuition of $12,700 is significantly below the out-of-state rate of $32,400. For recruited out-of-state swimmers, an athletic scholarship can close that gap and make the net cost of attendance highly competitive.
Based on Wayne State University's historical recruiting classes, the breakdown by tier for the 50 Free looks like this:
- Scholarship-target level (A cut) — 22.18 or faster in the 50 Free: These recruits are the top priority for coaching staff and are first in line for athletic aid discussions.
- Scoring varsity level (B cut) — 22.96: Expected to contribute points in dual meets and conference scoring situations. Strong candidates for partial athletic and merit aid packages.
- Walk-on / preferred walk-on (C cut) — 24.08: Adds training depth to the program. Walk-ons at D1 programs routinely drop significant time and can earn scholarship money in later years based on performance.
Coaches recruit on your best event — a single A-cut can open a recruiting conversation regardless of other events. See the full recruiting time standards table above for all 14 tracked events and identify where you stand across your entire event lineup.
Academically, Wayne State University admits 55.0% of applicants — a moderately selective school where strong grades will support your recruiting candidacy. Recruited athletes are expected to meet the standard admissions profile, and coaches typically have some ability to advocate for borderline candidates when the athletic need is strong.
Tuition, Costs & Financial Aid
Sticker price
In-state tuition: $12,700
Out-of-state tuition: $32,400
Room & board: $11,200
After aid
Average net price: $23,700 (IPEDS)
Meets full need: No
Merit aid availability: medium
Need aid availability: medium
Academic Profile
Admissions
Acceptance rate: 55.0%
Total enrollment: 7,727
Institution type: public
NCAA eligibility requires a minimum 2.3 GPA and 16 core courses for D1/D2, and a 2.0 GPA for D3, plus academic progress standards in each year. Wayne State University's admissions profile reflects the general academic baseline — most coaches prefer recruits who meet or comfortably exceed those standards.
Campus & Location
Wayne State University is located in Detroit, Michigan. Browse all NCAA swim programs in Michigan →
Coaching Staff & Recruiting Contact
Frequently Asked Questions
- What division does Wayne State University swim in?
- Wayne State University competes in NCAA Division II, in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate. The program offers men's varsity · women's varsity.
- What recruiting times does Wayne State University swimming look for?
- For the 50 Free, Wayne State University's A-cut recruiting standard is 22.18, the B cut is 22.96, and the C cut is 24.08. A cuts target scholarship-level recruits, B cuts are solid scoring varsity, and C cuts cover walk-on depth. See the full table above for all 14 tracked events.
- How much does Wayne State University cost after financial aid?
- IPEDS data shows an average net price of $23,700 per year at Wayne State University. Your real cost depends on your family's FAFSA Student Aid Index (SAI), any athletic aid, and merit scholarships.
- Does Wayne State University swimming offer athletic scholarships?
- Yes. Division II programs can offer up to 8.1 scholarship equivalencies per gender. Wayne State University's coaching staff decides how to split the pool — typically resulting in partial scholarships for most varsity swimmers.
- Does Wayne State University meet 100% of demonstrated financial need?
- Wayne State University does not commit to meeting 100% of financial need. Aid packages typically include a combination of grants, loans, and work-study based on FAFSA results.
- How selective is Wayne State University academically?
- Wayne State University accepts 55.0% of applicants. Recruited swimmers are expected to meet or exceed the general admissions academic standards, though coaches may have limited bandwidth to advocate for borderline academic cases.
- What conference does Wayne State University swimming compete in?
- Wayne State University swims in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate. Conference championship performance influences NCAA qualifying times and the program's national ranking each season.
- Is Wayne State University public or private, and does it matter for swim recruits?
- Wayne State University is a public university. In-state students from Michigan pay $12,700 in tuition vs. $32,400 out-of-state. Athletic scholarships can offset the out-of-state premium for recruited swimmers, making the net cost competitive regardless of home state.
Similar Programs
Other NCAA Division II programs in and around Michigan — explore schools with comparable recruiting profiles
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Programs
Wayne State University competes against these schools throughout the season at dual meets and the Great Lakes Intercollegiate championship
Do your times fit Wayne State University?
Enter your best event times and we'll tell you exactly how you compare to Wayne State University's A, B, and C recruiting benchmarks — across all 14 events.
You'll also get a ranked list of every program that fits your times, GPA, and budget. No credit card required.
Sources: NCAA, IPEDS, Niche.com, ProductiveRecruit. Recruiting time tiers (A/B/C) are University Swim Fit-calibrated benchmarks based on division, program tier, and historical recruiting classes.