Financial Aid

Take Flight program

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About the Take Flight Program

As part of our commitment to transforming the lives of the students and communities we serve, Wright State is excited to offer the Take Flight program, a need-based program for academically accomplished students that covers the cost of up to 18 hours of undergraduate tuition each semester. To fund the program, Wright State combines federal and state grant funds with institutional grants and/or scholarships to meet the cost of undergraduate in-state tuition. Institutional scholarships and grants awarded as part of the Take Flight program are offered for a total of 8 semesters of full-time undergraduate study as long as the student continues to meet certain criteria.
 



Eligibility

To be considered for the program, students must meet the following:

  • Enroll at Wright State University's Dayton campus directly from high school as a first-time, full-time student for Fall 2025
  • Be an Ohio resident and meet all other requirements to be considered an in-state student 
  • Have a cumulative high school GPA of 3.2 or higher
  • Need-based requirements for the incoming 2025-26 Take Flight Program cohort will be released in Spring 2025.


Benefits

In addition to covering the cost of undergraduate tuition, the program also provides the following benefits:

  • Personal laptop for each participant
  • $100 textbook voucher for each year of participation
  • Dedicated success team, including academic advisor, success coach, and career consultant
  • On-campus employment through the Federal Work-Study Program (Note: You must have unmet need and satisfy federal requirements for Work-Study eligibility. Participation is contingent on you applying for and being hired by an on-campus employer who participates in the Federal Work Study Program.)

The Take Flight scholarship is intended to cover any remaining gap between federal, state, and institutional grants/scholarships and in-state undergraduate tuition. 

In-State Tuition
- Federal grants and scholarships
- State grants and scholarships
- Wright State scholarships, grants, and fee waivers
- Tuition-specific Veteran’s benefits
- Other external grants or scholarships designated by the donor to pay for tuition only
= Take Flight scholarship

Costs for housing, meals, books, supplies, transportation, course fees, lab fees, and personal expenses are not included in the Take Flight program but may be covered by other funding sources. If you are eligible for Take Flight, you may use federally guaranteed student loans, Federal Work-Study monies, and private loans to cover these expenses.
 



How to Apply

To be considered, students must apply for first-time admission for Fall 2025 and file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), available beginning December 2024. Students should apply by the priority admission deadlines of December 1, 2024, and February 1, 2025. Students will continue to be invited into the program, as spots become available, after these dates but are not guaranteed. Students will be notified if they are eligible for the Take Flight Program beginning Spring 2025 and will be asked to complete a release of information and complete the statement of intent by a specified date outlined in their offer letter to secure their spot in the program.

Students and families are encouraged to participate in one of Wright State’s FAFSA workshops or schedule an appointment to receive one-on-one assistance with applying for aid at Financial Aid 101.
 



Frequently Asked Questions

  • How is the Take Flight Scholarship amount determined?

    The Take Flight Scholarship is intended to cover any remaining gap between federal, state, and institutional grants/scholarships and in-state tuition. 

    In-State Tuition
    - Federal grants and scholarships
    - State grants and scholarships
    - Wright State scholarships, grants, and fee waivers
    - Tuition-specific Veteran’s benefits
    - Other external grants or scholarships designated by the donor to pay for tuition only
    = Take Flight Scholarship

    Costs for housing, meals, books, supplies, transportation, course fees, lab fees, and personal expenses are not included in the Take Flight program, but may be covered by other funding sources. If you are eligible for Take Flight, you may use federally guaranteed student loans, Federal Work-Study monies, and private loans to cover these expenses.

  • Do I need to apply?

    You need to apply for admission and file the FAFSA. Wright State will do the rest and determine if you meet the eligibility criteria. Students invited to participate will be asked to confirm their acceptance by a deadline date specified in their offer letter. Student confirm their acceptance by completing a Take Flight release of information form and the statement of intent. 

  • Do I need to re-apply every year to remain in the program?

    You need to file the FAFSA annually, beginning Oct 1 prior to the start of the next aid year. You need to file the FAFSA by our priority deadline of February 1 each year and continue to meet the following requirements:

    • File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 1
    • Have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of 2,000 or less
    • Maintain Ohio residency
    • Enroll full time on the Dayton campus
    • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
    • Meet standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress
    • Participate in workshops related to career and academic success selected from a series of offerings each semester
    • Complete all outstanding financial aid requirements to be considered for Title IV and state aid.
  • How do I pick up my laptop?

    New students enrolling for Fall Semester who are in the Take Flight Program will be invited to an event to pick up the laptop. Students not able to attend the event can pick up their laptops at the CATs Help Desk. Please be sure to bring a photo ID.

  • Do I get to keep the laptop?

    Students in the Take Flight program are eligible to receive a laptop computer to assist with their studies. Students will keep the laptop as long as they continue enrollment. Students who withdraw from classes prior to the next semester will need to return the laptop to CaTS and will have a transcript hold placed until returning the laptop.

  • How do I get the textbook voucher?

    Students in the Take Flight program can receive a $100 book voucher. Funds will be available on the Wright One card for eligible students beginning in August. Students can use the voucher in the on-campus bookstore or order books using the link in WINGS Express. To order books online, visit WINGS Express, click on Student and Financial Aid, then Registration & Records, and finally Order Books.

  • What is the difference between the Take Flight Program and the Take Flight Leadership Retreat?

    The Take Flight Leadership Retreat is just one benefits of the Take Flight program. Students don’t need to be eligible for the Take Flight program to participate in the Take Flight Leadership Retreat, but they do get preferential acceptance into the retreat. The retreat is a great way to get a jump start on meeting new friends and becoming familiar with campus!

  • How do I participate in the Federal Work Study Program?

    Students in the Take Flight program who meet the federal requirements will be offered Federal Work Study, a need-based work program. To qualify for on-campus employment through the Federal Work Study program, students must have unmet need and satisfy federal requirements for eligibility. Participation is contingent upon a student applying for and being hired by an on-campus employer who participates in the Federal Work Study program.

    Students typically work for a department or organization on campus at Wright State. Federal Work Study earnings are not applied to the student's account to pay toward their balance owed to Wright State. Like most jobs, the wages earned are given to the student to spend at their discretion. Participation is contingent on the student applying for, and being hired by, a participating on-campus employer.

    Follow these steps to participate in the Federal Work Study Program.

    1. Accept your Federal Work-Study award via WINGS Express.
    2. Log into Handshake, our online job portal, using your WINGS username and password.
    3. Search and apply for jobs. You can filter jobs by major, location, type, and other key words. Make sure and save your searches for future use.
    4. Create a profile (public or private) and upload your resume.
    5. Review student eligibility for working on-campus and other student employment information.
    6. Find and sign up for interviews, career planning and job search events, and career fairs.
  • Why participate in the Federal Work Study Program?

    When you file the FAFSA for a future year, the U.S. Department of Education will exclude any wages earned in the Federal Work Study position from your earned income on the FAFSA.