Wright State University-Main Campus
Dayton, Ohio · Public · 96.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 41/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Wright State University posts an ROI score of 41 (Below Benchmark) anchored by a 41.7% completion rate. In-state tuition runs $11,522 with average net price of $15,415 (about $61,660 over four years), which is reasonable on its face. The problem is the outcome side: earnings of $34,500 at six years rise to just $49,500 at ten, against a $22,750 median debt load and a $241/month payment. That produces a 13.9-year payback period and a 0.659 debt-to-earnings ratio - squarely in poor territory. Wright State's better STEM and nursing programs perform well, but the mass of psychology, education, communications, and arts grads pull the typical-student outcome down. This is a school where major selection and finishing on time aren't optional - they're the entire ROI thesis.
How Wright State University-Main Campus scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score41/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
Wright State University-Main Campus
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $11,522/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $21,222/yr |
| Average net price | $15,415/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $61,660 |
| 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 | 13.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 41.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 6,762 |
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: $11,522/year ($21,222/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 $15,415/year, or roughly $61,660 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 $11,952/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $20,720/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 | $11,952 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,631 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,501 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,734 |
| $110,001+ | $20,720 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families at $0-$30,000 pay $11,952 net; $30,001-$48,000 pay slightly less at $11,631 (a mild inverted bracket worth flagging, though the difference is small). That's roughly $46K-$48K over four years, the most affordable bracket. Pell plus state aid does meaningful work here. The risk isn't price - it's the 41.7% completion rate. Borrowing $22K and not finishing is the worst outcome, and it's the most common one.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Households at $48,001-$75,000 pay $14,501; $75,001-$110,000 pay $18,734. Total four-year cost lands around $58K-$75K. For working-class Dayton families, in-state pricing keeps the door open, but the 13.9-year payback and 0.659 debt-to-earnings ratio mean the typical graduate spends most of their twenties carrying loans. STEM/nursing majors flip those numbers; non-STEM majors don't.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $20,720 net (~$83K over four years). Higher-income students choosing Wright State usually do so for a specific program (engineering, nursing) or commuting convenience, not for headline ROI value.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Wright State University-Main Campus with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $77,289 | B |
| Psychology | $46,507 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $60,039 | C |
| Teacher Education | $42,970 | D |
| Mechanical Engineering | $82,795 | B |
| Finance and Financial Management | $71,696 | B |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $92,006 | B |
| Business Administration and Management | $58,039 | C+ |
| Biology | $62,925 | D |
| English Language and Literature | $41,987 | D |
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
Nursing is the largest cohort (141 graduates) and one of the strongest ROI bets at Wright State: $70,327 first-year earnings climb to $77,289 by year four, with $25,987 median debt yielding a 0.37 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B grade. The Dayton/Cincinnati hospital systems absorb these grads at solid wages. For a student certain about nursing, Wright State's value proposition holds up clearly.
Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineering is the program-level standout with a B+ grade. First-year earnings of $68,977 grow to $89,391 by year four against $23,250 debt - a 0.337 debt-to-earnings ratio. With 27 graduates and Wright-Patterson AFB plus regional aerospace and defense employers nearby, placement is strong. This is the highest-confidence ROI path at Wright State.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering pulls 66 graduates with $66,331 first-year earnings rising to $82,795 at year four. Median debt of $25,000 produces a 0.377 debt-to-earnings ratio (B grade). Solid program-level ROI.
Psychology
Psychology is the largest non-engineering major at 127 graduates and earns a D grade. First-year earnings of just $32,105 rising to $46,507 by year four against $27,700 in debt produces an 0.863 debt-to-earnings ratio. Without graduate school, this credential under-earns the cost. Students drawn to psychology should plan for an MA or PsyD path or seriously reconsider the major-school combo.
Teacher Education
Teacher education enrolls 81 graduates and posts a D grade with $36,332 first-year earnings, $42,970 by year four, and $27,000 median debt (0.743 debt-to-earnings). Ohio teacher salaries don't recover the cost quickly; loan-forgiveness programs (PSLF, state-specific) become essential to making the math work. Students entering this track should map the forgiveness pathway before borrowing.
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-Main 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
| Acceptance rate | 96.3% |
| Enrollment | 6,762 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 34.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,222 |
Wright State admits 96.3% of applicants, effectively open access. Test-score mid-ranges (SAT, ACT) are not reported in current Scorecard data, which is consistent with Wright State's test-optional posture. Open admissions plus the 41.7% completion rate signal a school admitting many academically underprepared students; prospective students should view their own preparation honestly before committing, since the modal Wright State student does not graduate.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wright State University-Main Campus (this school) | 41 | $15,415 | $49,500 |
| University of Akron Wayne College | 48 | $6,032 | $46,600 |
| Marshall University | 46 | $7,502 | $46,354 |
| University of Maine | 43 | $17,510 | $48,653 |
| Idaho State University | 38 | $12,193 | $45,608 |
| University of Akron Main Campus | 38 | $13,946 | $46,600 |
Who Thrives Here
Wright State fits Dayton-area and Ohio commuter students - especially first-generation and Pell-eligible (34.5% Pell rate) - who can leverage in-state pricing while living at home. Enrollment of 6,762 puts it in the smaller-mid-sized public range. The strongest student outcomes cluster in nursing (141 grads), engineering (computer, electrical, mechanical, biomedical), and computer/information sciences. Students drawn to psychology (127 grads), teacher education (81+35), communications, or arts need eyes wide open: those tracks consistently produce D and F ROI grades here. Disciplined, focused students do well; drifters do not.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Wright State University-Main Campus scores 41/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $15,415 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $49,500 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 13.9 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: its 41.7% 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%), a long payback period.
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-Main Campus: Common Questions
Is Wright State University-Main Campus worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Wright State University-Main Campus scores 41/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $15,415 a year after aid against $49,500 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 13.9 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Wright State University-Main 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 $15,415 a year, or roughly $61,660 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-Main 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-Main 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 13.9 years for Wright State University-Main Campus. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Wright State University-Main 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-Main Campus?
The six-year graduation rate is 41.7%. 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.