University of Dayton vs. Wright State

Should I go to University of Dayton or Wright State University Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if University of Dayton or Wright State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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University of Dayton vs. Wright State University Main Campus comparison
University of Dayton Wright State University Main Campus College 3 College 4
University of Dayton Wright State University Main Campus
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Overview

University of Dayton Wright State
Location Dayton, OH Dayton, OH
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 11,304 9,884
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #206 #795
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website udayton.edu wright.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of Dayton Wright State
Tuition (In State) $47,600 $11,138
Tuition (Out of State) $47,600 $20,556
Room & Board $15,640 $10,900
Avg Net Price $31,551 $15,400
Avg Grant Aid $31,852 $7,890
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 90%

Admission

University of Dayton Wright State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 22,747 8,894
Admitted 14,023 8,463
Acceptance Rate 61.6% 95.2%Open
Enrolled % 13.6% 17.3%Open
Avg High School GPA 3.77 3.41
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 26/31 17/25
SAT Range 1195/1370 913/1230
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2026 Aug 23, 2026

Academics

University of Dayton Wright State
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (28%)
  • Engineering (13%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Health Professions (5%)
  • Business (29%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Education (7%)

Outcomes

University of Dayton Wright State
Graduation Rate 74% 40%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,300 $43,400
Making Student Loan Payments 84% 51%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $258

Diversity

University of Dayton Wright State
% Men 14% 14%
% Women 14% 16%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 78% 72%
% Black 3% 12%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 11% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

University of Dayton Wright State
% In-State 54% 95%
% Out-of-State 45% 5%

Campus

University of Dayton Wright State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Dayton is larger than than Wright State based on total student enrollment (11,304 students vs. 9,884 students)

University of Dayton vs. Wright State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Dayton or Wright State?

  • University of Dayton is 327.4% more expensive to attend than Wright State for in-state tuition ($47,600.00 vs. $11,138.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 131.6% higher at University of Dayton than Wright State University Main Campus ($47,600.00 vs. $20,556.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wright State University Main Campus than University of Dayton ($15,400 vs. $31,551)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wright State University Main Campus are 43.5% lower than costs at University of Dayton ($10,900 vs. $15,640)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Dayton than Wright State University Main Campus (95% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Dayton students is 303.7% larger than aid received Wright State University Main Campus ($31,852 vs. $7,890)

University of Dayton vs. Wright State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Dayton or Wright State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Wright State or University of Dayton .

  • The average SAT score at University of Dayton (1187) is 153 points higher than at Wright State (1034)
  • Incoming University of Dayton students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Wright State (22)
  • Accepted freshman University of Dayton students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at Wright State (3.41)
  • Wright State has a higher acceptance rate (95.2%) than University of Dayton (61.6%)

University of Dayton vs. Wright State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of Dayton or Wright State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Wright State and University of Dayton.

  • The graduation rate at University of Dayton is higher than Wright State University Main Campus (74% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from University of Dayton earn on average $13,900 more per year than Wright State graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $43,400)
  • Wright State University Main Campus students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than University of Dayton graduates. ($25,000 vs. $26,000)
  • Wright State graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than University of Dayton graduates. ($258 vs. $268)
  • More University of Dayton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wright State students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 51%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/