Head-to-head comparison
Wright State University-Main Campus vs Wright State University-Lake Campus: which has better ROI?
Option A Dayton, OH
Wright State University-Main Campus
- Net price / year
- $15,415
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,500
- Payback
- 54.1 yrs
Option B Celina, OH
Wright State University-Lake Campus
- Net price / year
- $11,081
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,500
- Payback
- 38.9 yrs
Wright State University-Lake Campus has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $44,324 in 38.9 years versus 54.1 years at Wright State University-Main Campus, on median earnings of $49,500 vs $49,500 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Wright State University-Main Campus | Wright State University-Lake Campus |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,415 | $11,081 |
| Total net cost | $61,660 | $44,324 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,500 | $49,500 |
| Median debt | $22,750 | $22,750 |
| Payback | 54.1 yrs | 38.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$38,860 | -$21,524 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Wright State University-Main Campus or Wright State University-Lake Campus?
Wright State University-Lake Campus, at $11,081 a year after aid versus $15,415 — a gap of $4,334 a year, or $17,336 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Wright State University-Main Campus or Wright State University-Lake Campus graduates earn more?
Graduates of both report a median $49,500 ten years after entry, so earnings do not separate them either — the ROI difference comes entirely from what each degree costs. Figures are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, not programme-level pay.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Wright State University-Main Campus or Wright State University-Lake Campus?
Completers at both borrow a median $22,750, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
42% of students finish at Wright State University-Main Campus, against 41% at Wright State University-Lake Campus. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.