Wright State University-Lake Campus — ROI, Cost & Payback
Wright State University-Lake Campus charges a net price of $11,081/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $44,324. Graduates earn a median $49,500 ten years after entry, $1,140/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 38.9 years — a 20-year net return of -$21,524, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Wright State University-Lake Campus's 38.9-year payback ranks #1,163 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 9% of them, and #57 of 144 in Ohio.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $11,081/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $44,324 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $49,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $1,140/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $22,750 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 38.9 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$21,524 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Wright State University-Lake Campus's own numbers. Net price $11,081 × 4 years = $44,324 total. Median earnings $49,500 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $1,140 a year of premium. $44,324 ÷ $1,140 = 38.9 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$21,524. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Wright State University-Lake Campus students graduate with?
A median $22,750 in federal loans among completers, or 46% of the $49,500 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Wright State University-Lake Campus students graduate?
41% finish their degree — 59% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $44,324 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $108,107 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Wright State University-Lake Campus expensive compared with other Ohio colleges?
Its $11,081 net price runs $8,702 below the $19,783 median across the 144 Ohio colleges we profile, and $34,806 less across the full degree.