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Wright State University-Main Campus

Dayton, Ohio 45435-0001

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Campus Vibe

Mid-SizeSuburbanPublicBusiness Focus

Known for business — excellent value

Wright State University-Main Campus is a public institution in Dayton with particular strength in business and health sciences. With an average SAT of 1086, the school attracts a broad applicant pool.

A mid-sized campus of 6.3K undergraduates with a 15:1 student-faculty ratio. The suburban location offers a balance of campus life and nearby amenities.

46% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $49,500 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $15,216.

Established
1967
Motto
Ad docendum, Investigandum, Serviendum
Mascot
Gray Wolf, Raider personified as Rowdy Raider
Type
Public research university
Division
Division I

Campus Visits

44 upcoming visits · Next: Mon, Jun 1 · Campus Tour

Plan Your Visit

95%Acceptance
1086SAT Avg
6,330Students
15:1Student:Faculty
46%Grad Rate
$49,500Earnings 10yr
$15,216Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

Wright State University-Main Campus Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate95.2%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1086

Reading & WritingMid: 555
470620
MathMid: 543
443610

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 21
1725

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

95.2%

Trend

SAT Avg

1086

Yield Rate

35.0%

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition (in-state)$11,188
Tuition (out-of-state)$20,606
Room & Board$10,900
Books & Supplies$1,400
Total Cost of Attendance$23,255
Average Net Price$15,216
Median Debt at Graduation$22,750
Monthly Payment (10yr)$241

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$10,987
$30–48K$11,722
$48–75K$15,828
$75–110K$19,191
$110K+$20,250

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

57.7%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$15,854

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

43

Peer Average

37

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus police, emergency alert system, blue-light phones

Incident Breakdown (2024)

10

Burglary

2

Aggravated Assault

1

Robbery

3

Motor Vehicle Theft

5

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

13

Drug Arrests

9

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (248)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

63%

Negative
  • 63% first-year retention rate
  • Active student organizations
  • Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
6,330
Gender Split
54% / 46%
Women / Men
First Generation
35%
Pell Grant Recipients
33%

Race & Ethnicity

White 71%
Black 12%
Hispanic 4%
Asian 3%
Two+ 6%
Int'l 3%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate45.9%
Freshman Retention62.6%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$42,229
10 Years$49,500

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#230
2
vs 2024
Forbes
#198
1
vs 2024
Wall Street Journal
#29
1
vs 2024
Washington Monthly
#246
1
vs 2024

More About This School

History & Fun Facts

  • History Wright State University first opened in 1964 as a branch campus of Miami University and Ohio State University, occupying only a single building.
  • Groundwork on forming the institution began in 1961 during a time when the region lacked a public university for higher education.
  • A community-wide fundraising effort was conducted in 1962 to establish the university, and the campaign raised the $3 million needed in seed money.
  • The Ohio General Assembly passed legislation in 1965 that transformed the branch campus into a separate institution with its own Advisory Committee on November 5, 1965.
  • It was anticipated the campus would achieve full independent status by 1967 with its rapidly increasing enrollment of full-time students, projected to reach 5,000 within two years.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

CVG Cincinnati60 mi
CMH Columbus64 mi
IND Indianapolis119 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA700 mi · ~20h 13m drive
New York, NY534 mi · ~15h 26m drive
Hartford, CT611 mi · ~17h 39m drive
Providence, RI676 mi · ~19h 32m drive
Albany, NY571 mi · ~16h 30m drive
Syracuse, NY468 mi · ~13h 31m drive
Rochester, NY407 mi · ~11h 45m drive
Buffalo, NY344 mi · ~9h 56m drive
Philadelphia, PA472 mi · ~13h 38m drive
Pittsburgh, PA220 mi · ~6h 21m drive
Harrisburg, PA381 mi · ~11h drive
Newark, NJ525 mi · ~15h 10m drive
Washington, DC380 mi · ~10h 59m drive
Baltimore, MD398 mi · ~11h 30m drive
Atlanta, GA417 mi · ~12h 3m drive
Charlotte, NC361 mi · ~10h 26m drive
Raleigh, NC405 mi · ~11h 42m drive
Miami, FL994 mi · ~28h 43m drive
Orlando, FL792 mi · ~22h 53m drive
Tampa, FL823 mi · ~23h 47m drive
Nashville, TN290 mi · ~8h 23m drive
New Orleans, LA759 mi · ~21h 56m drive
Richmond, VA390 mi · ~11h 16m drive
Chicago, IL236 mi · ~6h 49m drive
Detroit, MI184 mi · ~5h 19m drive
Minneapolis, MN591 mi · ~17h 4m drive
St. Louis, MO338 mi · ~9h 46m drive
Kansas City, MO563 mi · ~16h 16m drive
Indianapolis, IN111 mi · ~3h 12m drive
Columbus, OH58 mi · ~1h 41m drive
Cleveland, OH172 mi · ~4h 58m drive
Milwaukee, WI300 mi · ~8h 40m drive
Dallas, TX857 mi · ~24h 45m drive
Houston, TX942 mi · ~27h 13m drive
Austin, TX1013 mi · ~29h 16m drive
San Antonio, TX1086 mi · ~31h 22m drive
Los Angeles, CA1917 mi · ~55h 23m drive
San Francisco, CA2055 mi · ~59h 22m drive
San Diego, CA1896 mi · ~54h 46m drive
Seattle, WA1965 mi · ~56h 46m drive
Portland, OR1982 mi · ~57h 15m drive
Denver, CO1109 mi · ~32h 2m drive
Phoenix, AZ1606 mi · ~46h 24m drive
Salt Lake City, UT1462 mi · ~42h 14m drive
Honolulu, HI4449 mi · ~128h 32m drive
Mid-Atlantic / Central (moderate winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Cincinnati (CVG)60 miles
Rental car
90 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
120 min$72-120
Columbus (CMH)64 miles
Rental car
96 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
128 min$77-128

Deadline Calendar

Wright State University-Main Campus Application Checklist

Decision Notifications

Wright State University-Main Campus — v2 Preview — TourStack