Wright State University-Main Campus (WSU) History and Academics

History

The official charter for Wright State University was awarded in 1967 and it received its accreditation one year later. Since that time the University has been led by five different Presidents. The first residential students moved in in 1970. As the campus expanded, Trustees felt a revised mission statement was in order, and in 1986 issued a new mission identifying Wright State as a “metropolitan university.” The University hosted the first national conference of metropolitan universities in 1990, and is still a leading representative of such institutions in the country. When it first received its charter, Wright State had an enrollment of over 5,500 students. Today enrollment surpasses 16,000.

Wright State University is located in Dayton, Ohio. There is a branch campus located in Celina. Wright State University was founded in 1964 as a branch campus of Miami University and Ohio State University. The University now awards bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and professional degrees. The Lake campus, in Celina, awards associate degrees and a few other bachelor’s and master’s. Wright State is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Wright State University defines its mission as “to be a catalyst for educational excellence in the Miami Valley, meeting the need for an educated citizenry dedicated to lifelong learning and service.”

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Information Summary

Ranks 47th in Ohio and 1155th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	78.3
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$25,116
Admission Success rate	N/A
ACT / SAT 75%ile scores	25 / 1233
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	16 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	64% / 27%
Enrollment Total (all students)	14,403

Academics

Wright State includes ten different colleges and schools, including the University College, which focuses on advising, tutoring, learning services, testing, and orientation. Other colleges include the Raj Soin College of Business, the School of Medicine, the College of Engineering & Computer Science, and the School of Science & Mathematics. For a relatively mid-sized campus, Wright State offers an impressive selection of majors across the curriculum. Programs and majors of interest include Biological Sciences Education, Physics Education, Geological Science Education, Motion Picture Production, Criminal Justice, and Urban Affairs. Wright State also offers a “Writing Across the Curriculum” program to assist students in developing their written communication skills.

The University is composed of a number of different schools and colleges: the Raj Soin College of Business, the College of Liberal Arts, the University College, the School of Medicine, the College of Education and Human Services, the College of Nursing and Health, the School of Professional Psychology, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the College of Science and Mathematics, and the School of Graduate Studies.

Bachelor’s degrees are awarded in a number of different disciplines, including accountancy, art history, computer science, dance, English, geological sciences, Greek, human resource management, education, international business, mass communication, motion picture production, music, nursing, organizational leadership, philosophy, psychology, social and industrial communication, social work, theatre studies, and urban affairs. Students must also fulfill general education requirements. Wright State has a writing across the curriculum program.

Master’s degrees are awarded in accountancy, anatomy, biological sciences, business administration (MBA), education, counseling, engineering, English, logistics management, music education, nursing, pharmacology and toxicology, psychology, public health, and applied economics, among others. The Ed.S. is offered in educational leadership, advanced curriculum and instruction, higher education/adult continuing education, and superintendent.

The University awards five academic doctoral degrees, in biomedical sciences, computer science and engineering, engineering, environmental sciences, and psychology. Additionally, professional doctoral degree programs are offered in medicine (M.D.) and psychology (Psy. D.)

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Unique Programs

The University Center for International Education offers study abroad and work abroad opportunities. It also facilitates the admissions process for international students and provides learning services for students from other countries. Through the International Education center, Wright State offers unique scholarship opportunities to international students and also provides a Fulbright Scholars program.

The Information Technology Research Institute (ITRI) is a collaboration between the University and leading corporate and public institutions in the Miami Valley. The goal of the Institute is to conduct research and provide research to the public at a more rapid pace. Wright State’s programs in engineering, science, and other fields work with the Institute to get their research results in front of the public as soon as possible.

Admissions

New applicants to Wright State must have a 2.0 GPA and a score of 18 or better on the ACT or 840 or better on the SAT, as well as some college preparatory curriculum during high school. The admissions process operates on a rolling deadline, which means applications are accepted year-round.

Applications to the undergraduate programs are accepted on a rolling admission basis, with an application fee of $30. In addition to the application form and fee, students must provide transcripts, the college preparatory curriculum form, and test scores. Applications can be submitted on-line.

The college preparatory curriculum for Ohio includes four units of English, three units of mathematics, three units of social sciences, three units of science, two units of a foreign language, and one unit of visual or performing arts. Ohio residents who have completed the curriculum and have a 2.0 or higher GPA and ACT score of 18 or SAT score of 840 will be admitted.

Graduate students must provide the following for admissions to the graduate school: application and fee, transcripts, and materials required by the department. A graduate application has an application fee of $25.

Financial Aid

To be eligible for financial aid, Wright University students must demonstrate satisfactory academic progress. For undergraduates that means maintaining a course load of 12 or more hours and earning an average of 10.5 credit hours per semester. Students must also maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0.

Wright State facilitates federal student aid programs, including the Pell Grant, Stafford Loans, and PLUS Loans. Students who submit their FAFSA before the priority deadline are also considered for campus-based federal aid programs. The State of Ohio also offers aid programs such as grants, scholarships for particular groups (orphans, honors students, and children of safety officers), and grants. The office of financial aid can assist students in identifying and applying for institutional scholarships.

In-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students were $6477 for the academic year in 2004-2005. Students applying from out of state and graduate students will have different costs.

Financial aid is available with a combination of grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study programs.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 4459th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Ohio.

Students

Wright State has no housing requirements and campus-based housing is filled on a first-come, first served basis. For those students who choose to live on campus, roommate requests can be made along with the application for housing. Students have access to various activities, including recreational fitness and intramural sports. Recreational facilities include a billiards room, swimming pool, racquetball courts, and basketball courts. The Outdoor Resource Center provides rental equipment for camping, kayaking, and biking.

Wright State offers more than 130 student organizations including Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Video Gamers Community, Club Soccer, and Campus Crusade for Christ.

The Wright State University Library offers electronic catalogs and on-line databases, in additional to physical volumes stored on site. The special collection include materials related to the Wright Brothers and aviation history, local government records, university archives, and a digital collection. There is also a Health Sciences Library.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Student Graduation Demographics

Athletics

The Raiders participate in the Horizon League of the NCAA Division I. They compete in baseball, cross country, softball, volleyball and men’s and women’s basketball, soccer, and tennis. Student athletes at Wright State boast a 3.0 academic average, and have maintained that average for twelve consecutive semesters. The Wright State athletics department was rated seventh nationally for having the highest graduation rate of student athletes by USA Today and the NCAA.

Wright State University is an NCAA Division I school, with baseball, basketball, cross-country, diving, golf, soccer, swimming, and tennis for men and basketball, cross-country, diving, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field, and volleyball for women. The team nickname is the Raiders.

Like the University, the athletic program is relatively young, and the Raiders were an NCAA Division II school prior to 1987. The teams compete in the Horizon League. The spirit units include two co-educational cheerleading squads, a dance squad, and a mascot.

Sports facilities include a new baseball field, a new soccer field, and recently renovated softball field and tennis courts. Volleyball and basketball are played in an 11,000 seat arena.

Traditions

Wright State’s athletics Hall of Fame dates back to 1985 and includes men and women from some of the University’s most prominent sports. New inductees are added on an annual basis.

Local Community

Dayton offers students easy access to many great entertainment and cultural venues. For the artistically inclined there is the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, Dayton Art Institute, and Carillon Park. There are numerous outdoor activities, also, including the Glenn Helen Nature Preserve, paintball, and rock climbing. Dayton offers three different shopping malls, and four different entertainment districts, including the Schuster Performing Arts Center.

The town of Dayton is located in western Ohio and has a population of approximately 166,000. It is home to the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Ohio Aerospace Museum.

Wright State University-Main Campus