First-time student enrollment increases at Wright State this fall

Wright State welcomed 1,541 first-time students to campus for the Fall Semester. (Photos by Erin Pence)

The number of first-time students who enrolled at Wright State University this fall is the highest in three years.

Wright State welcomed 1,541 first-time students this semester, a 10.5% increase from the fall of 2021 and the highest number of first-time students since 2019.

The number of first-time students from underrepresented groups increased by 27.6%, from 355 in fall 2021 to 453 in fall 2022.

And more first-generation college students and students who qualify for Pell grants also enrolled at Wright State this semester. The fall class includes 350 first-generation college students, an increase of 12.5%, and 586 Pell grant recipients, an increase of 10.8%.

“A key priority for Wright State is providing students with access to affordable college education, especially for those who otherwise may not have had the opportunity to pursue a college degree,” said Susan Schauer, vice president for enrollment management and student success.

While nationally the number of college students transferring to another institution has declined, the number of new students who transferred to Wright State increased to 703 for the Fall Semester.

The top three schools from which students transferred to Wright State were Sinclair Community College, Clark State Community College and Edison State Community, demonstrating the success of the Wright Path Program, Schauer said.

The Wright Path Program makes it easier for local community college students to transfer to Wright State to finish a bachelor’s degree.

The increase in the number of first-time and transfer students who enrolled at Wright State is tremendous news, Schauer said.

“This increased enrollment signals Wright State’s recognition as an excellent value in higher education and an outstanding destination for students to further their education,” she said. “Given the strong job market and knowing that many students must choose between enrolling in college and entering the workforce, we are thrilled to see students’ acknowledgment of Wright State as a wise investment in their future.”

New students were able to learn about opportunities to get involved at Wright State throughout First Weekend.

The most popular majors among newly enrolled students are nursing, mechanical engineering, elementary education and psychology.

The number of high school students taking College Credit Plus courses at Wright State increased by 5.7% to 884 in the fall of 2022 from 836 the previous fall.

Wright State’s Take Flight Program, a new program for academically accomplished students with financial need, exceeded the university’s expectations, with 163 students in the inaugural cohort, Schaurer said.

Launched in April, the Take Flight Program covers undergraduate tuition for Ohio students with a high school grade point average of 3.2 or higher and an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of 2,000 or less on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).