Wright State University-Lake Campus
Celina, Ohio · Public
ROI Score: 48/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Wright State University-Lake Campus scores 48 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale. This small public branch campus in Celina, Ohio, has in-state tuition of $7,728 and a net price of $11,081. Despite affordable pricing, outcomes are weak: $34,500 average 6-year earnings, a 40.9% completion rate, and a 12.7-year payback period. The completion rate is the central problem - fewer than half of students who enroll graduate. The repayment rate of 71.4% at three years signals that a meaningful portion of borrowers are struggling with debt. Registered Nursing (22 graduates, $70,327 year-one, ROI grade B) and Mechanical Engineering (17 graduates, $66,331 year-one, ROI grade B) are the two programs with defensible ROI. Business Administration (46 graduates, $42,680 year-one, ROI grade C) and Teacher Education (44 graduates, $36,332 year-one, ROI grade D) are weaker. The Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies program carries an F-grade ROI with a 1.514 debt-to-earnings ratio. Admission rate data is not reported. Enrollment is 892, making it a very small campus. The low net price is the primary appeal; the outcomes data suggest the campus's academic support infrastructure is not retaining a sufficient portion of students.
Wright State University-Lake Campus
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $7,728/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $17,428/yr |
| Average net price | $11,081/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $44,324 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $49,500 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $34,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,750 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $241 |
| Estimated payback period | 12.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 40.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 892 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $7,728/year ($17,428/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $11,081/year, or roughly $44,324 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $7,349/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $15,152/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $22,750, which works out to about $241 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($34,500) and comes to 0.66, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $7,349 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $7,436 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $10,188 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $12,536 |
| $110,001+ | $15,152 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $7,349 per year at Wright State Lake Campus. Four years at $7,349 totals $29,396. For nursing students who complete, this is an exceptional value. The 40.9% completion rate is the critical caveat: low-income students who do not graduate accumulate debt without a degree.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $10,188 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $12,536. Both represent extremely low net costs for a four-year degree. Even at $12,536 annually, four-year all-in is $50,144. Against average earnings of $34,500 at year six, the payback is long, but nursing and engineering students well outperform that median.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $15,152 per year, totaling $60,608 over four years. The financial risk here is not cost but completion: students must actually graduate to capture the ROI. High-income families choosing this campus are likely doing so for geographic or family reasons.
Earnings by Major
Top 9 most popular majors at Wright State University-Lake Campus with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $60,039 | C |
| Teacher Education | $42,970 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $77,289 | B |
| Mechanical Engineering | $82,795 | B |
| Business Administration and Management | $58,039 | C+ |
| Psychology | $46,507 | D |
| Political Science and Government | $46,939 | D |
| English Language and Literature | $41,987 | D |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $42,817 | F |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is the strongest program at Wright State Lake Campus: 22 graduates, $70,327 year-one, $77,289 year-four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.370 (ROI grade B). Median debt of $25,987 at $70k year-one earnings is a 0.37 ratio - manageable. The low in-state tuition makes this nursing program affordable.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (17 graduates) earns $66,331 year-one and $82,795 year-four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.377 (ROI grade B). Median debt of $25,000 at $66k year-one earnings is a 0.38 ratio - reasonable. Wright State has a solid engineering tradition; the Lake Campus likely feeds the automotive and manufacturing sectors in northwest Ohio. Small graduate volume limits confidence, but the outcomes are consistent with regional engineering norms.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (46 graduates) earns $42,680 year-one and $60,039 year-four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.586 (ROI grade C). Median debt of $25,000 at $42,680 year-one is a 0.59 ratio - manageable but not comfortable. The four-year progression to $60k shows career advancement but not rapid growth, consistent with regional business roles in small-to-mid Ohio markets.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 64.9% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 71.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 56.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 66.4% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Wright State University-Lake Campus’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Enrollment | 892 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 21.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,112 |
The Scorecard does not report admission rate or test score ranges for Wright State Lake Campus. Students are admitted based primarily on high school transcript and placement testing rather than a competitive review process.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wright State University-Lake Campus (this school) | 48 | $11,081 | $49,500 |
| Oklahoma Panhandle State University | 53 | $7,413 | $44,933 |
| Bloomfield College of Montclair State University | 50 | $28,014 | $61,415 |
| University of Akron Wayne College | 48 | $6,032 | $46,600 |
| University of Virginia's College at Wise | 48 | $9,210 | $45,325 |
| University of Akron Main Campus | 38 | $13,946 | $46,600 |
Who Thrives Here
Wright State Lake Campus does not report an admission rate or test score ranges. At 892 enrolled, it is a commuter-oriented regional campus serving the Celina, Ohio, area. The Pell grant rate of 21.2% is moderate.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Wright State University-Lake Campus is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $11,081 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $49,500 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 12.7 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: its 40.9% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 71.4% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $22,750 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $34,500 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Wright State University-Lake Campus: Common Questions
Is Wright State University-Lake Campus worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Wright State University-Lake Campus scores 48/100 on our ROI scale. At $11,081 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $49,500 ten years after entry, so it takes about 12.7 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Wright State University-Lake Campus cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $11,081 a year, or roughly $44,324 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Wright State University-Lake Campus graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $49,500 ten years after enrolling, roughly $7,700 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Wright State University-Lake Campus?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 12.7 years for Wright State University-Lake Campus. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Wright State University-Lake Campus graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $22,750, against average earnings of $34,500 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Wright State University-Lake Campus?
The six-year graduation rate is 40.9%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.