Wright State recognized among top public universities in latest U.S. News Best Colleges Rankings

Wright State University’s undergraduate programs in nursing and engineering were ranked among the nation’s best in the 2025 U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges Rankings.

Wright State’s undergraduate engineering and nursing programs were ranked among the top 200 programs in the country in the latest rankings from U.S. News, which were released in September.

Wright State was also recognized as a top public university, ranking among the top 225 public colleges and universities in the nation.

Wright State’s undergraduate programs in business, computer science and psychology were also recognized in the 2025 U.S. News Best Colleges Rankings.

“This recognition highlights the outstanding quality of education provided by our dedicated faculty and staff in the School of Nursing and the strong partnership with Premier Health, which ensures our students have access to top-tier clinical placement opportunities,” said Jim Denniston, Ph.D., dean of the College of Health, Education and Human Services. “These collaborative efforts have contributed to a remarkable 97% pass rate on the NCLEX licensure exam among recent B.S.N. graduates, surpassing the national pass rate of 88.5% and Ohio’s rate of 86.5%. This achievement demonstrates that Wright State B.S.N. graduates are among the most practice-ready nurses in the region.”

Nursing is the most popular major at Wright State. More than 360 first-time students in the fall 2024 class selected nursing as their area of study.

In addition to a traditional four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, Wright State offers a three-year option, allowing students to enter the workforce more quickly.

The nursing program at Wright State is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing. Graduates of the pre-licensure pathways are eligible to sit for the National Council of State Boards Licensing Examination (NCLEX) to become licensed as registered nurses.

“Our combination of high-quality didactic and clinical education, coupled with affordable tuition, supports the economic mobility of our students as they transition into the rapidly growing field of nursing,” Denniston said.

Wright State’s College of Engineering and Computer Science offers undergraduate degrees in biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, industrial and systems engineering, materials science and engineering and mechanical engineering.

The college offers well-equipped educational laboratories, excellent faculty, small class sizes, opportunities for undergraduate participation in funded research projects and a flexible program for working professionals.

Wright State’s undergraduate computer science program trains students to solve problems using technology and provides a solid foundation in programming and software development. Students work with software and software systems across multiple application areas, including machine learning, artificial intelligence, cyber security, mobile applications, web development and databases.

Graduates of Wright State’s engineering and computer science programs are in high demand and command some of the highest salaries among all undergraduate majors in the Dayton region and nationally.

Wright State’s Raj Soin College of Business offers bachelor’s degrees in accountancy, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, financial services, human resources management, international business, management, management information systems, marketing and supply chain management.

Students learn essential and intangible skills needed to enter the workforce confidently and successfully. The college offers innovative, rigorous coursework, relevant industry credentials and real-world practice.

The Raj Soin College of Business is accredited by AACSB International as a business school and in accounting. Less than 2% of business schools in the United States are accredited in both.

Wright State’s undergraduate psychology degree program helps students develop valuable skills in applying psychological theory, communicating effectively, collecting and analyzing data and interpreting statistical information.

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology can choose a concentration in behavioral neuroscience, clinical psychology, cognition and perception, industrial organizational psychology and pre-health sciences. Wright State’s psychology program is unique in that it focuses on human factors, which studies how humans and machines interact, and industrial organization, which studies how to efficiently organize work distribution and training.

Wright State’s psychology faculty have diverse interests but are unified in their focus on student learning and success. Faculty are highly motivated to help every student reach their potential, be prepared for their careers and demonstrate their excellence as members of the community.