Wright State University

Established in 1964 as an extension of Miami University and named after the Wright Brothers, Wright State University is now an independent public state-supported research institution.

Each year, Wright State enrolls over 13,600 undergraduate and 4,100 post-graduate students across its eight colleges. The doctoral-granting university is located on a 557-acre suburban campus in Fairborn, Ohio, just outside of Dayton and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. A branch location is also located on the shores of Grand Lake St. Mary's in Celina.

According to Forbes magazine, Wright State is ranked the 161st best college in the Midwest. Washington Monthly has named Wright State University the 117th top master's-level institution for social mobility. Consistently, Wright State is included on the Princeton Review's "Best in the Midwest." The U.S. News has recognized Wright State University for offering the 139th best clinical psychology and 191st best graduate psychology programs in America. Wright State was also named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for five years.

Wright State University Accreditation Details

Wright State University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA). In particular, the Psy.D. program is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) Commission on Accreditation. Counseling degrees follow the standards of the Council of Accreditation on Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The M.Ed. in School Counseling is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). The MRC program is also aligned with the guidelines of the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE).

Wright State University Application Requirements

Despite its acceptance rate of 96 percent, Wright State University still has selective admissions criteria that must be exceeded. First-year freshmen must be graduating with a high school diploma after completing the Ohio Core curriculum or another state equivalent. Passing the GED test is also acceptable. Applicants should have a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 2.5. Obtaining at least a 15 on the ACT or 740 on the SAT is satisfactory. Transfer students must demonstrate a minimum collegiate GPA of 2.0 at a regionally accredited college.

Graduate students must already hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited U.S. university or foreign equivalent. Three-year bachelor's programs are eligible from Bangladesh, Burma, India, Nepal, Pakistan, or Sri Lanka. Applicants to psychology and counseling programs must possess a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.7. Graduate entrance exam scores are required for anyone with a GPA under 3.3. Obtaining a GRE score of 291 or MAT score of 403 will be acceptable. Successfully completing an interview with program faculty is mandatory.

Before the December 1st deadline, Wright State University applicants must submit:

• Completed online application
• Official, sealed academic transcripts
• College entrance exam scores
• Two to three recommendation forms
• Statement of professional goals
• Current resume or CV (graduate students)
• Payment for the $40 application fee

Tuition and Financial Aid

Full-time undergrad students from Ohio pay $4,365 per semester or $8,730 yearly. Non-resident undergraduates are billed $8,549 per full-time semester or $17,098 each year. Room and board costs around $9,304 annually. Full-time master's students living in Ohio are charged $6,541 per semester. Out-of-state graduates must afford $11,112 each semester. Part-time graduates will pay $604 (in-state) or $1,029 (out-of-state) per credit. Psy.D. students must cover $7,680 (Ohio resident) or $12,272 (non-resident) every semester.

Raider Connect helps over 88 percent of full-time Wright State students receive financial aid. Students can borrow Federal Perkins, Federal Direct Stafford, Federal Direct Grad PLUS, or alternative/private loans. Certain students qualify for the Pell Grant, FSEOG Grant, or Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant. The Ohio College Opportunity Grant and Wright State University Need-Based Grant is available. Limited Federal Work-Study (FWS) and graduate assistantships are offered for tuition assistance. Scholarships are also abundant, including the Raider Excellence Scholarship, Dunbar Scholarship, Competitive Honors Scholarship, and Wright STEPP Scholarship.

Psychology and Counseling Degrees

At Wright State, there are seven top-notch psychology and counseling degrees for undergrad and graduate students to select from. Housed in Fawcett Hall, the Department of Psychology has 20,000 square feet reserved for psychological research. Students can get involved in the university's Virtual Environment Research, Interactive Technology, and Simulation (VERITAS) facility or the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). Degrees available are:

B.A./B.S. in Psychology

The B.A./B.S. in Psychology program at Wright State prepares students to apply psychological theory for better understanding human behavior and thought. Concentrations are offered in Behavioral Neuroscience, Cognition & Perception, or Industrial/Organizational. The 120-credit curriculum includes field practicum and senior independent research.

M.S./Ph.D. in Human Factors Psychology

Wright State's M.S./Ph.D. in Human Factors Psychology program will provide a master's or doctoral degree to graduate students studying how products and tools should be designed for productive, safe human use. Ranging from 37 to 91 credits, the program includes unique courses on motion perception, psychoacoustics, pscyhlinguistics, human performance, spatial knowledge, engineering psychology, physical ergonomics, and aviation psychology.

M.S./Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Focused in America's fastest-growing occupation, the M.S./Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology will cover 37 to 91 credits for graduate students seeking the psychological training to help improve employee well-being in diverse workplaces. Students will complete a master's thesis project and/or a doctoral dissertation studying workforce development issues.

M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Following CACREP guidelines, the M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program aims to produce counselors with the effective techniques to help individuals, families, and groups improve mental health. All qualifications for the Ohio Professional Counselor licensure exam are met. The three-year program includes 100 hours of field practicum and 600 hours internship.

M.Ed. in School Counseling

Featuring a rigorous 54-credit curriculum, the M.Ed. in School Counseling program is for Wright State students wishing to provide counseling services specifically to K-12 students. Along with courses in child development, crisis intervention, psychological assessment, behavior modification, family systems, and disabilities, the program culminates with a 600-hour school internship.

Master of Rehabilitation Counseling

Available on-campus in Dayton or fully online, the Master of Rehabilitation Counseling (MRC) program gives graduate students at Wright State experience working with people with severe physical, mental, emotional, and social disabilities. Students complete 600 hours of internship at a rehabilitation or human services agency. The 60-credit program also fulfills LPCC credentials.

Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.)

Fully APA accredited since 1982, the Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) program uses the scholar-practitioner model to provide stimulating, innovative clinical training. Students are exposed to various theoretical models in preparation for licensing as clinical psychologists. The five-year program requires clinical practica, a qualifying exam, dissertation research, and a culminating internship off-campus from Wright State University.