Wright State University

What Wright State University does

Wright State University is a public research university founded in 1967 and located in Fairborn, Ohio (Dayton metro), operating a main campus at 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy and a regional Lake Campus in Celina. The university is named for Ohio's Wright brothers and offers 160 undergraduate degree programs and 155 graduate degree options across colleges including Business (Raj Soin College of Business), Engineering and Computer Science, Medicine (Boomshoft School of Medicine), Liberal Arts, Science and Mathematics, and Health Education and Human Services. It serves traditional undergraduates, graduate students, College Credit Plus dual-enrollment students (grades 7-12), working professionals/adult learners via Coursera Career Academy credentials, and international students.

The university's core product is degree-granting education, with differentiated programs in cybersecurity (NSA-designated National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense through 2031), motion pictures (Tom Hanks Center, with Oscar/Emmy/Golden Globe alumni), nursing (mid-$6M facilities expansion underway to double enrollment to 740), and engineering (with Ohio Supercomputer Center access). Supporting infrastructure includes the PACK alumni mentorship program (~220 mentors serving ~800 students), Raider Cares 24/7 crisis line, Student Legal Services, Employee Assistance Program (with Izzy AI chatbot), and student housing/dining services. The institution is governed by the State of Ohio through a Board of Trustees, with no parent company or private equity ownership.

Wright State's revenue model is primarily tuition-driven (in-state undergrad $6,085/semester under the Wright Guarantee, non-resident $11,431/semester, graduate $7,580–$8,656/semester), supplemented by housing/dining (~$4,878/semester combined), federal and state grants (including $10.2M OFRN research, $579K EV training, $704K NSA award, $397K Dept. of Education), and NCAA Division I athletics revenue (Horizon League championships in golf and basketball). Go-to-market is sales-led via direct admissions, campus visits, virtual tours, open houses, and employer partnerships such as the Amazon Employee Students program, with marketing through wright.edu, social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube), and email/newsletter channels.

Name

Wright State University

Legal name

Wright State University

Website

https://wright.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Wright State University is a public research university in Fairborn, Ohio, offering 160 undergraduate and 155 graduate degree programs across business, engineering, medicine, science, and liberal arts, serving traditional students, dual-enrollment learners, and adult professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with Engineering/Polytechnic Emphasis (EDAHAAAD)

Keywords

• Public higher education
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate degree programs
• Cyber security education
• NCAA Division I athletics

Headquarters

HQ city

Dayton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, with in-state tuition at $6,085 per year (Wright Guarantee) and graduate tuition at $7,580-$8,656 for Ohio residents. Additional fees for specific programs.
2. Housing and Dining Services: Revenue from on-campus housing (The Woods residence halls, College Park, Forest Lane, University Park, The Village apartments) and meal plans. Housing costs approximately $2,878 per semester and dining plans around $2,000.
3. Grants and Research Funding: Federal and state grants including Ohio Department of Higher Education funding ($579K for EV training, $10.2M OFRN research), plus financial aid grants.
4. Athletics Revenue: NCAA Division I athletics programs generating revenue through ticket sales, media rights, and conference distributions. Men's basketball won 2026 Horizon League Championship.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Wright State University delivers accredited higher education services, offering 160 undergraduate and 155 graduate degree programs across colleges including Business, Engineering and Computer Science, Liberal Arts, Science and Mathematics, Health Education and Human Services, and the Boonshoft School of Medicine. Supplemental offerings include on-campus housing and dining, NCAA Division I athletics, academic and wellness support services, and specialized facilities such as the Tom Hanks Center for Motion Pictures and NSA-designated cybersecurity labs.

Product overview

Wright State University is a public research university offering a comprehensive portfolio of 160 undergraduate and 155 graduate degree programs across multiple colleges including Business, Engineering, Health, Liberal Arts, and Science. The university's academic offerings include specialized programs like the Motion Pictures program (B.A./B.F.A.) housed in the Tom Hanks Center for Motion Pictures, the NSA-designated Cyber Security program (National Center of Academic Excellence through 2031), and Museum Studies graduate certificates. Supporting services include the Wright Guarantee Tuition Program (fixed-rate tuition), PACK alumni mentorship program, campus housing, Raider Cares 24/7 mental health crisis line, Student Legal Services, Student Advocacy and Wellness Center, and Employee Assistance Program. Technology partnerships include Coursera Career Academy for professional credentials and Ohio Supercomputer Center for research computing. The university operates the Wright1 Card campus ID system, parking services, and dining services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs 160 bachelor's degree programs across business, engineering, health sciences, liberal arts, STEM, and other disciplines for traditional and transfer students.
• Graduate Degree Programs 155 master's, doctoral, and professional graduate programs across multiple academic colleges including the Boomshoft School of Medicine and Raj Soin College of Business.
• Motion Pictures Program (B.A. and B.F.A.) B.A. in Motion Picture History, Theory, and Criticism and B.F.A. in Motion Picture Production housed in the Tom Hanks Center for Motion Pictures, with alumni recognized by Oscars and Emmys.
• Master of Science in Cyber Security NSA-designated National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense program training students in network security, computer security, and legal aspects of cybersecurity; redesignated through 2031.
• Museum Studies Graduate Certificate Graduate certificate covering museum administration, exhibit interpretation, design technology, and artifacts and records management.
• Wright State University Lake Campus Regional campus in Celina, Ohio offering undergraduate and graduate programs in Business, Education, Nursing, Technical studies, Humanities, Social Sciences, Science, Mathematics, and Engineering.
• Campus Housing (Dorms and Apartments) On-campus housing including Hamilton Hall, Honors Community, The Woods dormitories, College Park, Forest Lane, University Park, and The Village apartments.
• Raider Cares Support Line 24/7 crisis phone service staffed by off-site mental health professionals providing emotional support, crisis intervention, and suicide prevention to current students.
• Student Legal Services Non-profit law firm employing licensed Ohio attorneys providing confidential legal assistance and representation for students in landlord-tenant, contracts, and other legal matters.
• Student Advocacy and Wellness Center Case management services supporting students with academic, personal, and systemic challenges, including Raider Food Pantry, Raid Our Closet, and power-based violence advocacy.
• Nursing Facilities Expansion and Modernization $6 million investment in new nursing simulation labs and clinical training spaces, expanding undergraduate nursing enrollment from 380 to 740 students with completion scheduled by 2027.
• Coursera Career Academy Partnership Partnership providing all Wright State students, faculty, and staff with free access to industry-recognized professional certificates and micro-credentials from Google, Meta, IBM, and other major employers.
• NCAA Division I Athletics Program NCAA Division I athletics including men's basketball, men's golf (10th Horizon League Championship), and other sports generating revenue through ticket sales, media rights, and conference distributions.
• College Credit Plus Program Dual enrollment program providing students in grades 7-12 the opportunity to earn college credit while completing high school graduation requirements.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% career outcomes and success rate for spring 2024 undergraduates
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability5 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• CourseracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2025Wright State University announced a new partnership with Coursera's Career Academy to provide all students, faculty, and staff with free access to industry-recognized professional certificates and micro-credentials from Google, Meta, IBM, and other major employers. The platform allows users to develop high-demand skills, explore career paths, and earn credentials demonstrating job readiness. The university also plans to explore integrating Coursera content into its academic courses and programs.
• Wright State Alumni AssociationcoreOthersWright State University's Alumni Association operates the PACK mentorship program connecting first-year students with approximately 220 alumni ambassadors serving nearly 800 students.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Northern Kentucky University: Regional public university in the Cincinnati metro serving a similar commuter-and-residential student mix with comparable tuition tier; competes indirectly for southwestern Ohio and northern Kentucky applicants.

Direct peers

• Youngstown State University: Ohio regional public university of similar enrollment scale, NCAA Division I Horizon League affiliation, and STEM/health-science focus; one of Wright State's most direct Horizon League and state-appropriations competitors.
• University of Akron: Ohio public regional university with similar undergraduate enrollment scale, STEM and health-science offerings, NCAA Division I athletics, and a comparable tuition guarantee model - directly competes for the same Ohio-resident applicant pool.
• Cleveland State University: Ohio urban public research university with comparable scale, engineering and health-sciences focus, and adult-learner orientation; a direct competitor for transfer students, graduate enrollment, and federal workforce-development funding.
• Bowling Green State University: Ohio public university of similar scale with overlapping programs in education, business, and health sciences and shared Horizon League history; competes for the same in-state tuition guarantee pool.
• University of Dayton: The closest direct peer - a private research university located in the same Dayton metro as Wright State, with comparable enrollment scale and overlapping engineering, business, and arts programs competing for the same regional student pool.
• Miami University (Ohio): Ohio public research university with stronger brand recognition but similar undergraduate-focused, residential model and NCAA Division I athletics; competes for academically qualified Ohio applicants seeking an in-state alternative to larger flagships.
• Kent State University: Ohio public research university with multiple campuses, NCAA Division I athletics, and parallel programs in nursing, cybersecurity, and motion pictures/media - competing for similar state appropriations and student segments.
• Central Michigan University: Midwestern public research university with comparable enrollment, NCAA Division I athletics (MAC), and parallel mix of STEM, health, and business programs - a strong structural analogue outside Ohio.
• University of Toledo: Ohio public research university with a parallel college portfolio (engineering, nursing, business, arts) and similar scale; competes head-to-head for in-state applicants, federal research dollars, and Horizon-adjacent graduate placements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/WrightStateU
• Facebookfacebook.com/134197899969704
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wright-state-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/wrightstateu
• TikToktiktok.com/@wrightstateu
• Xx.com/WrightState

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wright State University