Named after Orville and Wilbur Wright, who achieved the first powered, sustained, and controlled airplane flight, Wright State University is a great option for anyone seeking an exceptional, affordable education. Located in Dayton, Ohio, known as the crossroads of innovation, the national public university ranked in the top 6.4% out of 20,966 universities worldwide (for the second year in a row in the Global 2000 list by the Centre for World University Rankings) and the top 8% of universities for best value for international students by Study Abroad Aide.“We are thrilled that the Centre for World University Rankings has recognized Wright State and the world-class education it provides,” said Susan Schaurer, vice president for enrollment management.
“With one of the most affordable tuition rates in the state, the value of a Wright State degree is well-known to students in the region, throughout the state, and, with more than 1,000 international students, increasingly around the globe. We are excited for Wright State’s high-caliber academic programs and student outcomes to be recognized alongside so many notable colleges and universities.”
These rankings are no surprise to locals. The university was built on the back of Ohio Gov. James Rhodes’s efforts in the early 1960s to place public higher education facilities within 30 miles of every Ohioan. Today, it’s home to over 11,000 students, 15 academic programs, six colleges, a medical school, and a branch campus in Celina, Ohio – with scores of successful graduates calling it their alma mater.
That long list of flourishing graduates includes past international students. Around 11% of students are from abroad, with as many as 72 countries represented on campus. No matter where they come from, Wright State goes the extra mile to support them as soon as they arrive. Whether it’s adjusting to a new country, culture, or climate, there are people and resources available to help international students manage their transition, especially during the first few months.
MS in Mechanical Engineering graduate Srinivas Mellacheruvu found invaluable support from the faculty in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, particularly from Associate Professor Henry Young and Department Chair Raghavan Srinivasan.
Wright State University was ranked No. 2 among Ohio public universities for having the best impact on its graduates’ salaries in relation to tuition.
Wright State University is ranked in the top 6.4% of 20,966 universities globally in the 2024 Global 2000 list by the Center for World University Rankings. Source: Wright State University
Young played a key role in Mellacheruvu’s Wright State journey. He mentored Mellacheruvu, guided him through his master’s thesis, and hired him as a research assistant and later as a teaching assistant. Mellacheruvu is especially thankful for the opportunity to learn about product design and gain practical training in NASTRAN, a key finite element analysis program. “The software programs that I learned at Wright State were the cornerstones of my past few roles in the industry,” he says.
After graduation, Mellacheruvu built an impressive career at leading companies such as Leggett & Platt, Motorola, Apple, Google, and currently, Meta Platforms.
Such achievements are common among College of Engineering and Computer Science graduates. After all, this is the home of its Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Computer Science programs, which have earned national recognition with US News & World Report ranking seven of its graduate engineering programs among the best in the nation for 2024.
Wright State University’s affordable tuition and welcoming campus culture made it the perfect destination for more than 1,600 international students from 72 countries for Fall Semester 2024.
Wright State University offers strong programs that will help students gain an excellent return on investment. Source: Wright State University
Initiatives like the Work Forward Internship Program further make Wright State graduates great recruits for top companies. This program connects students in the College of Engineering and Computer Science with paid internships at corporate partners like Copeland, Leidos, and Winsupply. Unlike co-ops as offered by other universities, this program doesn’t add an extra year to a student’s academic calendar. Wright State students can gain work experience and still graduate in four years.
It’s a swift move from a degree to a career that wastes no time. The Raj Soin College of Business’s Accelerated Business Essentials program takes a similar approach. It streamlines the path to earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA), reducing the time and cost required. Students still complete modules in essential MBA foundation courses like Economics, Accounting, and Finance, preparing them for leadership roles in several industries.
Another program with versatile career options is the Management Information Systems (MIS) degree, which equips students with skills in computer-based systems, enabling them to help organizations make data-driven decisions. Wright State’s MIS program was one of the first in Ohio to earn accreditation, and it prepares graduates for careers in a wide range of sectors, including government, nonprofits, and private business.
The demand for data-literate managers is growing, with a McKinsey report predicting a shortfall of 1.5 million such professionals in the US alone in the coming years. Wright State is further addressing this need through its Master of Science in Marketing Analytics and Insights. This program trains students to interpret marketing data and develop insights to solve real-world business problems — something graduate Shucen Lui, now an associate buyer in procurement, has benefited from.
“The coursework equipped me with a wealth of technical skills and a valuable mindset that directly applies to my current role,” she says. “The practical experiences provided were hands-on and honed my problem-solving abilities, which have proven invaluable in the dynamic world of business.”
Sydney Richardson, another graduate who is now a marketing manager, agrees. “Wright State does a great job of prioritizing real-world applications and requiring that students complete key certifications that a lot of employers view as valuable,” she says. “I got enough hands-on experience and core knowledge to be able to feel confident in the workplace.”
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