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Wright State University-Main Campus — ROI, Cost & Payback

Public · Dayton, OH · 6,762 students

The verdict

Wright State University-Main Campus charges a net price of $15,415/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $61,660. Graduates earn a median $49,500 ten years after entry, $1,140/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 54.1 years — a 20-year net return of $-38,860, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

$15,415
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$49,500
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
54.1 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
96%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Wright State University-Main Campus: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$15,415/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$61,660our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$49,500Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$1,140/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$22,750Scorecard, 2026
Payback54.1 yrsour math
20-year net return$-38,860our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

How we compute this. Payback = total net cost ÷ annual earnings premium, where the premium is median earnings 10 years after entry minus the $48,360 baseline (BLS 2024 median for a high-school-diploma worker 25+). Total net cost = net price × 4 years. We do not discount future dollars. The institution-wide earnings figure blends every major — a specific program's payback can be far better or worse. Full method on the methodology page.