Excerpt from the Dayton Daily News
Wright State University is doubling-down on recruitment efforts in southwest Ohio - the school’s No. 1 source for students - to combat a statewide trend of smaller high school graduation classes.
According to a presentation at a June 18 board of trustees meeting, 10 of 16 counties that Wright State attracts the majority of its student population from are projected to have fewer high school graduates in upcoming years. The two counties that provide the largest number of graduates — Montgomery and Greene counties — are projected to grow, however. Greene County high schools are forecast to graduate 7.11% more students over the next few years; Montgomery County schools will grow 1 percent.
The university recently made available $1,000 welcome scholarships to first-year undergraduate students who are recent high school graduates.
“It’s my true belief that a culture that is truly focused on understanding and meeting the needs of our students will always be one of success,” said Wright State president Sue Edwards when she announced the awards. “Not just for our students, but for every member of the Wright State community and the region in which we serve.”
According to university data, Wright State has a higher percentage of its students from within the state than any other Ohio university.
Wright State has seen about a 30% decline in enrollment overall in the last five years. First-year undergraduate student enrollment has declined by 53% since 2015, according to university data.
