Wayne State celebrates 2025 graduates

Wayne State University celebrated more than 6,500 graduates in the 2025 calendar year, including approximately 1,900 at its Dec. 17 commencement ceremonies.

Interim President Richard A. Bierschbach congratulated the graduates and thanked them for their many contributions to Wayne State and the impact they will have moving forward.

"Through their curiosity, questions and leadership, our graduates helped Wayne State grow stronger, more innovative, and more connected to the communities we serve," said Interim President Richard A. Bierschbach. "Their contributions have led to the recognition and momentum Wayne State continues to build, and they have added to the heart and character of our institution. We hope that they will continue to use their unique gifts to shape and change the world."

The Class of 2025 joins more than 300,000 current WSU alumni. With eight out of every 10 Wayne State graduates choosing to live and work in Michigan, more than 5,000 new Warriors will remain in our state to make a difference, contribute to the growth of our economy, and support the vitality of our community.

"Wayne State is proud to offer a life-changing education that unlocks opportunities and helps students pursue their purpose," said Dr. Keith Whitfield, interim provost and senior vice president of academic affairs. "A college degree sets our students on a path for career success. It can be transformative for the student and often inspires and supports their family, too."

For the second consecutive year, Wayne State was ranked in the nation's top 100 public universities and named among the top 2% of national institutions for social mobility by U.S. News and World Report, highlighting the transformative impact of a Wayne State degree to put students from all walks of life ahead of where they started. Further, with the large number of graduates excelling in their fields and holding leadership positions nationwide, TIME magazine recognized Wayne State as a top 100 university for future leaders.

"Wayne State provided us with a special dynamic to grow within. The faculty here understood the reality of teaching students who are juggling jobs, commutes, and long nights. Some of us were here from morning to night, some between work shifts, and some were figuring out life one semester at a time. And with the city of Detroit around us, we often found ourselves intertwined in such a vibrant community," said graduate Jasmine Moussa Farhat, who earned a B.A. in law and a B.A. in economics, addressing her peers. "Besides searching for that perfect parking spot on Anthony Wayne Drive and walking through Gullen Mall on one of those perfect weather days, we all lived our own version of this campus that made it so special."

2025 graduation year snapshot

• Over 3,500 graduates - more than half of the Class of 2025 - earned their first degree, exemplifying Wayne State's role as an engine of opportunity.

• More than 1,500 graduates identified themselves as the first among their family to earn a degree.

• The university credentialed more than 1,000 health care professionals who will support the health and well-being of their communities and address workforce shortages.

• The top degree-awarding programs included business administration and management, computer science, public health, global supply chain management, psychology, nursing, library and information science, and finance.