For Wayne State commuters, a trip downtown promises campus, city life

Yahoo

18-03-2025

Editor's note: This story is part of a series tracking the experiences of four graduating seniors at four different Michigan universities. It is a partnership between the Detroit Free Press, Michigan State University student reporters and the American Communities Project.
DETROIT, Mich. — Nestled just off the highway, Wayne State feels like a refuge, where students slip into focus amid the city's hum. In the library, they settle between shelves, some typing away while others lean against walls, braiding their hair or flipping through well-worn textbooks. Conversations ripple through the halls, not with idle gossip, but with plans—what's happening in the city, where the next community event will be, what's unfolding in Detroit's ongoing renaissance.
Unlike at traditional residential campuses, where students live just steps from their classrooms, Wayne State's commuter-heavy student body creates a different kind of college experience. With fewer than 10% of undergraduates living on campus, students balance coursework with jobs, family responsibilities, and long commutes. But what WSU lacks in dorm life, it makes up for in opportunity—students are immersed in the city, gaining hands-on experience through internships, community engagement, and a front-row seat to Detroit's cultural and economic resurgence.
As Associate Director of University Communications Katie McMillan puts it, 'Our students are drawn to that urban atmosphere because you're getting the best of both worlds: a world-class education in the heart of Detroit.'
Wayne State has long been a leader in health sciences, with its roots in the Detroit Medical College, which began as a Civil War hospital, says McMillan. This legacy has been especially important in recent years, with the COVID-19 pandemic elevating the university's public health services and commitment to empowering health education locally.
For Rania Umer, a senior majoring in global studies, Wayne State is a balancing act. After starting her college career remotely in 2022 and transferring from Washtenaw Community College, Umer moved to Canton before enrolling at Wayne State in Winter 2024.
Like many students at WSU, Umer has to juggle academics, student organizations, and the realities of daily travel to and from campus. While she values the flexibility commuting offers, she also acknowledges the challenges it brings, from coordinating study sessions to weighing whether an evening event is worth the extra drive.
'If I want to attend one of those events, I need to first see—well, it's going to take me thirty minutes to get there, and I need to be back by a certain time. I have a certain class in the morning, how can I fit this in—if I can fit this in?' said Umer. Still, she has found ways to stay involved, carving out time to study in the library and joining student organizations like the Pre-Law Student Association.
At 16,173 students, Wayne State is the largest university to call Michigan's largest city home. As one of Michigan's major research universities, Wayne State has a high rate of in-state students: 94.70%. It also serves a more diverse population than some of the state's other universities with 51.9% White, 17.9% Black, 14.5% Asian, 7.8% Hispanic, and 2.3% international students—something Umer deeply values.
'I'm Muslim, and the ease I have in finding a prayer room, the ease I have in being able to observe my religion during Ramadan and Eid—having professors who can be flexible—makes Wayne State unique. I know that this can be a point of contention at other universities,' said Umer.
Despite the challenges of a commuter campus, many students, like nursing major Jillian Gerard, have learned to embrace the power of openness and connection. While her time on campus may be limited, Gerard said the key to thriving in this unique environment is building relationships.
'I feel like the biggest thing is not being afraid to open up and talk to people,' Gerard said. "Being someone that's only here a couple days a week, being open and talking to people in their classes."
For Gerard, this openness is essential—whether it's forming study groups or taking down phone numbers to stay connected. It speaks to the idea that success at Wayne State isn't just about the courses or internships; it's about actively participating in a community where every conversation and connection can open doors.
Wayne State isn't just for academics; it's a campus deeply engaged with its community. Students live out their education in real-time, shaped by Detroit's vibrant culture, internships, and community projects.'We have a campus and a city. I see value in both, but it's us, we are the city,' McMillian said.
The university prides itself on preparing students for more than just a degree. "We want all of our students to not only leave with that world-class degree, but to leave with that background they need to get out there and not just work—but to have fulfilling careers, to have prosperous careers," McMillan adds.
After returning to Wayne State in January 2024 after a three-year break, Paul Munn noticed how the university's unique campus environment has shaped his experience.
'I do think you get a taste of what the real world is here, because the Wayne State campus is smaller, and more of a commuter campus. So, you kind of have a mix of life in the city and how to apply those tools, as well as being in the classroom,' said Munn.
It's this blend of academic rigor and urban immersion that defines the Wayne State experience—where students don't just learn from textbooks, but from the city itself, taking lessons from both the classroom and the community to move forward into the world.
And that's the ultimate goal at Wayne State—students don't just leave with a degree; they leave ready to make an impact, not just in Detroit, but in the world. 'They get their degrees and stay right here in this community,' McMillan reflects. 'What's good for them is good for us, we talk about how embedded we are with the community, it's a mutually beneficial process.'
It's a campus that aims to be engaged and thriving—not just a place where students exist, but where they work to shape something.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Wayne State students commute for a mix of campus, city life