Wright State University Nursing Programs: What to Know (2026)
Wright State’s Dayton Campus anchors nursing simulations and more than 200 clinical contracts across the Miami Valley, while the Lake Campus continues the four-year pre-licensure BSN pattern for students closer to Celina. This guide aligns with the university’s public pages on pre-licensure BSN, online RN-to-BSN completion, MSN concentrations, graduate certificates, and the DNP, plus 2025–26 Wright Guarantee tuition from the bursar and Ohio Board of Nursing 2024 NCLEX reporting context—verify deadlines and outcomes with Wright State and nursing.ohio.gov.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
Wright State highlights a three-year year-round BSN option on the Dayton Campus to enter practice sooner, pairs it with 750+ hours of clinical/lab/simulation immersion, stacks an online RN-to-BSN completion track for working RNs, and keeps graduate nurse practitioners clustered under one public college in the Miami Valley—use this block as your anchor before you compare Dayton-area alternatives.
Overview & Why Students Choose Wright State
The School of Nursing advertises mission-driven education on Dayton’s main campus with an optional three-year, year-round schedule—or a four-year, summers-off pattern for students who want parity with a more traditional academic calendar. The Lake Campus hosts the four-year summers-off option for students who live closer to Celina, sharing the same BSN credential and NCLEX eligibility pathway.
Public materials state Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accreditation for the pre-licensure BSN and note Ohio Board of Nursing approval; the academic catalog separately documents an online RN-to-BSN completion sequence for licensed nurses advancing to the BSN.
The Ohio Board of Nursing’s March 11, 2025 memorandum summarizing calendar-year 2024 NCLEX data reports an Ohio average first-time RN pass rate of 89.55%, a national average of 91.16%, and a regulatory benchmark of 86.60% (95% of the national average). NurseOnShift parsed the published PDF tables: Wright State is not listed among the programs appearing in the memo’s “pass rates below 95% of the national average” RN tables, nor in the RN “100% with 10+ candidates” highlight list—so a program-specific Wright State percentage is not stated in those excerpts. Use the full Ohio BON materials and Wright State disclosures for cohort detail.
Reasons students choose Wright State University School of Nursing
Three-year BSN option (Dayton)
Wright State markets a year-round professional-nursing sequence on the Dayton Campus so motivated students can finish sooner while still meeting the same degree requirements.
Deep clinical footprint
The program cites contracts with more than 200 agencies—hospitals, schools, county health departments, and more—supporting diverse rotations totaling 750+ hours.
Lake Campus access
Students who need a western Ohio site can pursue the four-year summers-off pattern at Lake while still graduating with the Dayton-based curriculum framework.
NP-rich MSN & DNP ladder
Graduate pages list seven MSN concentrations spanning administration and multiple APRN roles plus a Doctor of Nursing Practice for practice leadership.
Online RN-to-BSN lift
The catalog describes an online post-licensure BSN completion pathway tailored to diploma- or ADN-prepared RNs who still need occasional campus touchpoints.
Nursing Programs Offered
Programs below match the College of Health, Education, and Human Services nursing hub, the pre-licensure BSN page, and the Nursing Completion, BSN catalog entry. Delivery modes and sequencing can differ by concentration—confirm details before you apply.
Pre-licensure & RN completion
Pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.)
Dayton offers three-year year-round and four-year summers-off plans; Lake offers four-year summers-off only. Students enter after prerequisites, compete for capacity-limited seats, and complete more than 750 hours of clinical, lab, and simulation experience prior to NCLEX eligibility.
Nursing Completion, BSN (RN-to-BSN)
The catalog describes an online BSN completion pathway for diplomates or ADN-prepared RNs who hold an unencumbered license in the state where they complete clinical requirements. Students may need limited campus visits for orientation or advising.
Graduate nursing
Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.)
Wright State lists MSN concentrations in Administration of Nursing and Health Care Systems; Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP; Family NP; Neonatal NP; Pediatric NP—Acute Care; Pediatric NP—Primary Care; and Psychiatric–Mental Health NP.
Graduate certificates
Certificate pages name Family NP, Pediatric NP–Acute Care, Pediatric NP–Primary Care, and School Nurse credentials for nurses seeking targeted graduate-level preparation.
Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.)
The nursing site advertises a practice doctorate aligned with leadership and advanced nursing roles; confirm entry tracks (BSN-to-DNP vs. post-master’s) with the graduate nursing office.
Wright State’s public catalog excerpt reviewed for this page did not list a distinct second-degree ABSN or a Ph.D. in Nursing alongside these programs. If marketing materials add new pathways, verify them in the Wright State catalog before assuming availability.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
According to the Ohio Board of Nursing calendar-year 2024 NCLEX memorandum (issued March 11, 2025), Ohio’s average first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate was 89.55% across 8,715 Ohio-educated candidates, compared with a national average of 91.16% and a Board benchmark of 86.60% (95% of the national average for first-time testers who took the exam within six months of program completion).
NurseOnShift parsed the tables published in that PDF: Wright State University’s pre-licensure BSN program is not named in the sections that list Ohio RN programs with pass rates below that benchmark, nor does Wright State appear in the “100% pass rate with 10 or more candidates” highlight list contained in the same document extract. Because the memo does not reproduce a line-item percentage for every RN program, we do not state a Wright State percentage here. For the most current program-specific outcomes, contact the School of Nursing and review Ohio Board materials as they are updated.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Wright State BSN — published first-time % (OBN 2024 PDF tables we parsed) | Not shown as a dedicated line item in the extracted tables—confirm with the Ohio Board of Nursing and Wright State. |
| Ohio average NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate (calendar 2024) | 89.55% (8,715 first-time Ohio test takers) — Ohio Board of Nursing memorandum, March 11, 2025. |
| National average & benchmark (same memo) | National 91.16%; benchmark 95% of national = 86.60%. |
| Source | Ohio Board of Nursing 2024 Pass Rate Report (PDF); nursing.ohio.gov. Confirm the latest cohort data with Wright State and the Ohio Board of Nursing. |
NCLEX outcomes change by cohort and reporting methodology. Do not infer a Wright State pass rate from state averages alone—always request the school’s licensure disclosure and compare it with Ohio Board tables for the same reporting period.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
International applicants and internationally educated nurses must satisfy Wright State’s admissions office, the School of Nursing, and Ohio Board of Nursing expectations for transcripts, English proficiency, clinical clearance, and eventual RN licensure. Begin with Wright State’s central international resources and the checklist below, then confirm every requirement on wright.edu/admissions/international (or the current successor page) and nursing.ohio.gov.
- English-language proficiency: TOEFL, IELTS, or other requirements and minimum scores for this school.
- Transcript / credential evaluation: WES, CGFNS, or other evaluators required by the school.
- Ohio Board of Nursing: For RN licensure (with or without a U.S. degree), confirm NCLEX eligibility and document requirements with the Board.
- Immigration & visa: Program eligibility for F-1 or other visa types and impact on clinical placements.
Policies change frequently. Verify with Wright State’s international office, the School of Nursing, and the Ohio Board of Nursing. This is guidance, not legal advice.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
Wright State’s nursing program states that admission is competitive because clinical placement capacity is limited. Pre-licensure applicants must first be admitted as degree-seeking undergraduates, complete published science and general-education prerequisites with at least a C, maintain at least a 2.75 prerequisite GPA and 2.75 cumulative GPA on coursework from the past 10 years, obtain FBI/state background checks, and follow course-repeat policies for natural sciences.
Application timeline
| Entry Term | Deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-licensure BSN (traditional pathway) | May 15 (Fall cohort) | Submit the School of Nursing application/Intent to Enroll materials listed on the pre-licensure page once prerequisites are complete. |
| Pre-licensure BSN (traditional pathway) | September 15 (Spring cohort) | Same documentation expectations; confirm Lake vs. Dayton campus routing with a nursing advisor. |
| Direct admit from high school (Fall 2026 example) | Automatic consideration when admitted with nursing as intended major | Public materials cite a 3.5 high school cumulative GPA threshold for Fall 2026 direct-admit offers. |
| RN-to-BSN / graduate pathways | Varies | Use the catalog and graduate nursing pages for term-specific instructions; RN-to-BSN applicants need an active RN license where clinicals occur. |
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance Rate (Nursing) | Not publicly disclosed |
| Minimum GPA (pre-licensure) | 2.75 prerequisite GPA and 2.75 cumulative undergraduate GPA (10-year window), per public BSN admission page |
| TEAS / HESI | Not listed on the pre-licensure summary reviewed here—confirm with advisors if testing returns for a future cycle |
| Next step | Email nursing@wright.edu or call 937-775-3132 |
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
Wright State publishes 2025–2026 Wright Guarantee pricing for first-year and transfer undergraduates beginning Fall 2025 or Spring 2026, plus separate Non-Guarantee rates for continuing cohorts. Nursing students should also budget for clinical fees, uniforms, background checks, and travel to affiliate sites. Figures below come from the official tuition & fees page.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate Wright Guarantee — instructional tuition (2025–26, 11–18 semester hours) | $5,908 per semester (Ohio resident commuting example) vs. $11,000 per semester (non-Ohio resident column); part-time listed at $531/hour (Ohio Resident) and $1,000/hour non-resident for 1–10.5 hours. |
| Undergraduate Non-Guarantee — instructional tuition (2025–26, 11–18 hours) | $4,722 per semester (Ohio resident commuting example) vs. $9,814 per semester (non-Ohio column); part-time $426/hour Ohio vs. $895/hour non-Ohio for 1–10.5 hours. |
| Graduate Nursing (M.S.) & D.N.P. tuition (2025–26) | Bursar lists Nursing (M.S.) at $8,440 per semester (Ohio resident) and $13,434 (non-Ohio) for 11–18 graduate hours, with $780/hour (Ohio) or $1,245/hour (non-Ohio) for 1–10.5 hours; Doctor of Nursing Practice uses the same 11+ hour bands ($8,440 / $13,434) and 1–10.5 hour per-credit rates on the same table. |
| Housing & fees | Bursar tables add residence hall, dining, student activity, communications, hospitality fees, and book estimates—actual costs vary by lifestyle. |
| Source | Wright State Tuition & Fees (Enrollment Services). Confirm your cohort (Guarantee vs. Non-Guarantee) with the Bursar. |
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
Hard RN outcomes ride on NCLEX success for pre-licensure students; graduate students should track national certification pass rates where Wright State publishes them. NurseOnShift did not locate a consolidated Wright State licensure PDF comparable to some peer schools—ask the School of Nursing whether they issue an annual outcomes dashboard.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN (pre-licensure BSN) | See the NCLEX section above for Ohio Board 2024 context; Wright State program-specific percentages are not stated in the OBN PDF excerpts we parsed |
| APRN certification | Not publicly disclosed on the pages summarized here—confirm MSN/DNP outcome disclosures directly with the graduate nursing office |
| Job placement / salary | Not publicly disclosed on the pages summarized here; check Wright State career services or employer partnership pages if published |
| Source | Wright State School of Nursing; Ohio Board of Nursing. Confirm current reports with the university. |
Is Wright State University School of Nursing the Right Fit for You?
Wright State fits learners who value a public research university in the Dayton metro, want the option to compress pre-licensure study via a three-year calendar, or need a regional Lake Campus site while still completing the same BSN credential.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Want Miami Valley clinical immersion with 200+ affiliate agencies and a structured senior preceptorship.
- Prefer finishing the pre-licensure BSN on an accelerated academic calendar (year-round Dayton option).
- Are licensed RNs seeking an online RN-to-BSN completion while working in Ohio or neighboring states.
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Expect a guaranteed published NCLEX headline without doing their own lookup on Ohio Board releases.
- Need a marketed second-degree ABSN brand—Wright State’s public catalog emphasis is the standard pre-licensure BSN tracks noted above.
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
Dayton anchors southwest Ohio’s major hospital networks, federal health assets, and growing ambulatory enterprise, so Wright State nursing students rotate through adult, pediatric, behavioral health, and community-based settings without leaving a reasonable commute radius. The school’s contract list explicitly mentions hospitals, schools, public health departments, skilled nursing, and daycare partners—matching the breadth of employers hiring BSN graduates across the Miami Valley.
| Facility / system type | Details |
|---|---|
| Premier Health & Kettering Health anchors | Large Dayton-area nonprofit systems operate flagship hospitals, heart institutes, and specialty centers that routinely host student nurses. |
| VA & safety-net partners | The Miami Valley also includes VA-led care and county public health infrastructure important for community and mental-health rotations. |
| Columbus / Cincinnati access | Students occasionally compare logistics with central or southwest Ohio hubs; Wright State emphasizes local Miami Valley contracts but graduates remain mobile for licensure. |
Student Experience & Campus Life
Undergraduate nursing offices sit in 225 Millett Hall on the Dayton Campus, steps from the broader College of Health, Education, and Human Services ecosystem. The program promotes nursing skills lab tours during admissions visit days and expects students to complete CastleBranch clinical compliance steps before entering professional coursework. Organizations such as student nursing associations or honor societies may be available—confirm active chapters with the School of Nursing.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Campus location
- Dayton, OH
- School of Nursing address
- 225 Millett Hall, 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, Dayton, OH 45435, US
- School telephone
- 937-775-3132
- nursing@wright.edu
- Student success (NCLEX questions)
- Lisa Lambdin — 937-775-3579 · lisa.lambdin@wright.edu
- Website
- CHEHS Nursing hub
Official links
Your “Next 7 Days” checklist
- Download the latest handbooks & CastleBranch instructions for your admit term.
- Map prerequisite courses (sciences, statistics, English, psychology) against your transcripts and note the science repeat policy.
- Block out the May 15 / September 15 nursing application deadlines if you target pre-licensure entry.
- Bookmark the Ohio BON NCLEX memo you plan to watch for annual updates.
- Attend a scheduled nursing skills lab tour if you can visit Dayton.
- Email nursing@wright.edu with campus (Dayton vs. Lake) and pathway questions.
- Compare Wright Guarantee vs. Non-Guarantee tuition bands on the bursar page so you know which cohort rules apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Wright State University offer an accelerated second-degree BSN (ABSN)?
Wright State’s public nursing program list centers on a pre-licensure BSN with a three-year year-round option on the Dayton Campus, which compresses the timeline but is still the standard pre-licensure BSN sequence—not a separate second-degree ABSN brand like some schools publish. If you already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, confirm the best pathway with nursing@wright.edu.
What are the pre-licensure BSN application deadlines at Wright State?
The School of Nursing lists Fall admission applications due May 15 and Spring admission due September 15 for the traditional pathway; direct-admit materials reference upcoming Fall 2026 offers for qualifying high school graduates.
What GPA and prerequisites does Wright State require for competitive BSN admission?
Published criteria include a minimum 2.75 prerequisite GPA and 2.75 cumulative undergraduate GPA (coursework within the last 10 years), C or better in listed sciences and general education prerequisites, FBI/state background checks, and course-repeat limits on selected sciences. Nursing is capacity-limited.
How does the Ohio Board of Nursing 2024 NCLEX memorandum relate to Wright State?
The March 11, 2025 Ohio BON memo for calendar year 2024 does not name Wright State among Ohio RN programs reported under the pass rates below 95% of national average tables, and it does not list Wright State in the RN 100% with 10+ candidates highlight list—meaning NurseOnShift could not pull a line-item first-time percentage for Wright State from those published tables. Always confirm cohort-specific outcomes with Wright State and the Ohio Board of Nursing.
What tuition does Wright State publish for undergraduates in 2025–26?
Wright Guarantee tables show Ohio resident tuition of $5,908 per semester for 11–18 undergraduate hours ($531/hour part-time) versus $11,000 per semester for non-Ohio residents at that band ($1,000/hour part-time), before fees, housing, or course-specific charges.
What graduate nursing tuition bands does Wright State list for 2025–26?
The bursar page lists Nursing (M.S.) at $8,440 per semester for Ohio residents and $13,434 for non-Ohio residents when enrolled 11–18 graduate hours, with $780/hour or $1,245/hour for 1–10.5 hours; DNP uses the same published bands on that table.
Is Wright State’s nursing program CCNE-accredited?
Wright State publicly states CCNE accreditation for the pre-licensure BSN on its nursing pages and CCNE accreditation for the RN-to-BSN completion program in the academic catalog; confirm all tracks and graduate programs with CCNE and the university.
Where is Wright State's School of Nursing office?
Undergraduate materials list School of Nursing offices at 225 Millett Hall with phone 937-775-3132 and email nursing@wright.edu.
References
- Wright State University — College of Health, Education, and Human Services (Nursing)health-education-human-services.wright.edu/nursing
- Pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in NursingPre-licensure BSN page
- Wright State Academic Catalog — Nursing Completion, BSNcatalog.wright.edu (RN-to-BSN)
- Wright State — Tuition & Fees (2025–26 tables)wright.edu/bursar/tuition-fees
- Ohio Board of Nursinghttps://nursing.ohio.gov/
- Ohio Board of Nursing — 2024 NCLEX Pass Rate Report (PDF)2024_Pass_Rate_Report.pdf
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)ncsbn.org
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Registered Nursesbls.gov/ooh
Editorial Standards & Review
About the author: Francesco Di Siena, RN, writes evidence-based nursing education guides for NurseOnShift.
Review: This page was reviewed by Araceli Collado, RN, for Wright State program pathways (Dayton/Lake pre-licensure BSN, online RN-to-BSN), 2025–26 bursar tuition bands, CCNE statements on the official nursing pages, and Ohio Board of Nursing calendar-year 2024 NCLEX memo context.
Disclaimer: This page is for general reference only. It does not constitute professional, admissions, or financial advice. Requirements, deadlines, tuition, and policies change; always verify with the institution and the Ohio Board of Nursing.
Published: March 31, 2026 · Last reviewed: March 31, 2026 · Medical Review Process · Editorial Policy